Back to the Maze

"You know, you could just tell me where the heck Bowser's Keep is and I could be on my
way." Maurice whined. He did not like the fact of being dragged from Tadpole Pond to Mario's
Pad back to the Forest Maze.
"Well you know you could just leave and find it for yourself, but I guarantee that no one, I
repeat, NO ONE will take you to Bowser's Keep except for me. So suck it up. I'm sure your
used to worse conditions than this." Geno replied, annoyed.
Of course, conditions were good. It was as sunny day. But the thing that ruined Geno's
day was having to go back to the Forest Maze. He shuddered at the name. He remembered being
in there all alone with no one. He would've failed his mission had it not been for Mario and
Mallow. But now, he was stronger and could take on almost any foe.
"Humph," Maurice remarked. "You are so much like my brother, its creepy man."
"Whose your brother?" Geno asked.
Maurice's eyes widened. "Uh... never mind. Don't worry about it." Maurice quickly
explained. "You wouldn't like him."
Geno turned and walked some more. "Here we are," he stated. "The entrance to the
Forest Maze."

**********

Makrinin watched as his troops trained. He trained them hard. The higher the class, more
work but more rest. Just then a lonely troopa came up to him. "Sir! Sir!" he yelled.
"Yes?" Makrinin growled.
"We have justed received word that the troops that you left to fight with that stranger are
dead except for the sky-troopa that barely escaped."
"Humph," Makrinin said. "Maybe there is more to him than meets the eye. It will be fun
torturing him."
"Also," the troopa informed. "They were also attacked by a black yoshi."
"A WHAT!?!?" Makrinin screamed. "Where did they say they were going!?!? WHERE
WHERE!?!?"
The troopa was taken back, he had never seen Makrinin like this. "They said something
about M... Mario's pad sire."
Makrinin's blood boiled. "Gather up troops! Of the best! We are going to Mario's Pad.
And this time, we shall win!"
"Yes Sir!" The Troopa saluted, and ran off.
It is no coincidence. Makrinin thought. The black yoshi is Maurice and they want to get
Mario's help. It won't happen. I won't allow it. I'll finish them off. Mario, Maurice, and Geno.
They are going to die.

***********

"Why were you scared of those caverns?" Maurice asked as he made it out of the caverns
of the forest maze.
"It is not that which that I am scared of." Geno stated. "It's what lies beyond it. The grave
of Bowyer."
"Who's Bowyer?" Maurice asked.
"An enemy who once froze people and almost killed them." Geno replied. "Had it not
been for Mallow, Mario, and I, everyone would have died. It freaks me out man."
Geno and Maurice trotted through the forest, using Geno's tracking ability to find it. Then
they came to a clearing, the star at the other end. Geno and Maurice rushed to it. But right before
they got there, a miniature mountian of rocks shot up and sent the duo flying backwards. They
both fell on their backs and stood up quickly. Another mountain of rocks shot up but began to
take form. It had arms, legs, torso, and a head but in rock form. Maurice drew his weapons and
Geno got in fighting stance.
Maurice fired some lasers but they had little affect and only phased him for a few seconds.
Geno tried a kick, but ended up hurting his foot and receiving a punch from the slow moving rock
creature. Maurice jumped at him and tried to bash his head in with the bottom of his weapon and
ended up getting shoved out of the way. Maurice landed beside Geno and the rock creature did
some sort of spell that made the earth rise below them and stab them.
While being hurt, Maurice shot a laser at the rock creature's legs and he tripped and fell
which caused the spell to break loose. Geno toke advantage of this and shot a Geno Beam at his
leg which vaporized it, making him unable to stand up. The rock creature rolled up into a ball and
started rolling blindly. Maurice and Geno barely dodged these attacks. Geno's attacks were to
slow to keep up with the speed of the rock creature.
Maurice got an idea and aimed his weapon at the ground. He put it on full power and
fired. It made a big hole in the ground; big enough so the rock creature could get stuck in it.
Maurice lured the rock creature towards the hole and it got stuck in it. Geno caught on and
jumped above the rock creature. He shot a very powerful Geno Beam at it and was vaporized in a
few seconds.
Geno landed safely on the ground. Maurice and he were panting for air. "Well," Maurice
started. "That was difficult."
"I pray that there are no more creatures like that in this forest." Geno exclaimed. "Oh, the
star." he gasped. He picked up the star. "Five more left." Geno said aloud. "Come with me
Maurice to Rose Town. There we shall rest at an inn of whom the innkeepers are friends of
mine."
Maurice snorted and walked towards Geno. They walked together to the exit.

************

"Where are they?!?!" Makrinin yelled as he rammed his fist in Mario's gut. They had
captured him when he returned from Peach's castle. Two of his strongest warriors were
restraining him. He was internally bleeding.
"I told you I don't know!" He said as he gasped for air. "Geno wouldn't come to earth
unless it was for the seven stars! That's all he cares about!"
Makrinin stopped. "That's ALL he cares about? Nothing else?"
"Yes and No." Mario replied. "In the beginning that was it, but know he cares for many
others. But, I doubt he would sacrifice a star for a human being."
"So all I must do is destroy it and that's it?"
"Makrinin, you fool! You cannot destroy a star! They are unbreakable!"
"But I have a star, so that means eventually he would come for it?"
"Yes... yes he would."
Makrinin snorted. "Take Mario with us back to the castle, Bowser should be arriving soon
and we're going to have a little 'fun' with both of them. But, to make Geno and Maurice's
pathetic lives more miserable. I shall do something to Bowser's Keep..."

************

Geno and Maurice were about to make it to the rose town inn, when suddenly, the ground
started to shake. It shook violently then stopped. They looked north and saw what had happened.
Bowser's Keep had just been lifted into the sky...

To Be Continued.....