Mario and Luigi set off from the main part of Mushroom Kingdom. They
planned to stop by Tadpole Pond first, to seek information from
Frogfucious, the wisest of frogs and perhaps the wisest of all. Mario
remembered how he had assisted him and Mallow several times before on their
quest to find the seven stars, which had been scattered across the world.
Now the Star Road was rebuilt, and wishes were accessible.
After then, the two brothers would use the underground/water pipeline to reach Yoshi Island, where they would find their trusting pal Yoshi and ask for his help. Of course, there was little need to ask, for Yoshi was always happy to help the Mario Bros., especially when it meant dealing with Bowser.
Mario and Luigi knew they couldn't combat Bowser alone. Oddly enough, he was multiple times mightier than any time before. A formidable foe, at the least. That was why they needed advice from Frogfucious and Yoshi as a fighting partner.
After passing through a sewer filled with grotesque creatures of all sorts, the Mario Bros. came to a River Rapids (I forget what the name of that big waterfall was) and then Tadpole Pond. It was dusk, and it was getting darker by the minute. Mario and Luigi entered quietly, hoping some of the tadpoles were not already asleep.
"Who is Frogfucious?" Luigi asked Mario. His red brother turned around.
"For the last time, he is a wise frog here! He gave me advice and the location of a couple stars back when Smithy had taken over!" Only, Smithy had taken over, and the two Brothers didn't realize it.
"Oh, okay," Luigi said. The two kept close, because by now it was dark and they couldn't see well, meaning they might accidentally slip into the cold pond waters.
Finally Luigi spotted light glittering off the water, and both him and Mario halted. Mario bent down and softly whispered to the surface of the water, "Hello? Is anybody in there?"
After a second of waiting, the water rippled a bit and out from it appeared a tadpole. "Yeah? What is it?" he asked, annoyed for being awakened at such an hour.
"I need to speak with Frogfucious," Mario said.
"We can't just let ANY foreigner come into our wise sage's island. Go away; some of us are trying to get some sleep."
"Do recognize the name 'Mario' by any chance?" Mario asked matter-of- factly.
The tadpole's eyes widened. "YOU'RE Mario?! Why, I remember last time when you came! Our great wise sage Frogfucious considered you a most honorable warrior! Sure you can come!"
Before Mario could thank the tadpole, it turned around and whistled. Eight others sprouted from the water and instantly formatted into a straight line. The original came and positioned in the front of the line. Mario and Luigi gently stepped on each one's head and made it to a small isle.
On the isle were several weird objects. There was a painting of a frog with a scholar's cap on with a signature at the bottom of the picture saying, "Frogfucious graduates from Amphibian University." Next to it was several framed sayings and mottoes; one that caught Luigi's eye said "The wise shall inherit the earth" and another said, "Wisdom shall prevail over brutality."
Mario saw Frogfucious at the opposite end of the island, meditating on the ground. "Frogfucious!" Mario called out, "hey, Frogfucious!"
The wise frog turned around. "Ahhh… Mario, I was expecting you."
"How did you know that Mario was coming?" Luigi inquired, confused with the sage.
"I was expecting you too, Luigi. I see you have come to me in trouble.
"Yes," Mario started, "see, while going to-
"No, you don't need to tell me," Frogfucious interrupted, "I know what is wrong. I can see what is going on outside of this pond. Peach has been captured."
"Yes, and by Bowser. We are locked out of her castle, and we were on our way to Marrymore to find a key to get inside the castle again."
"What you said is incorrect in one way, young warrior," Frogfucious said wisely, "but I cannot tell you how it is wrong. You will find trouble in Marrymore, and even before it, but you must be strong and overcome your enemy, whom you have not yet really known."
Mario and Luigi both looked at him with puzzled expressions. "What do you mean, 'we are incorrect in one way'? We both saw it happen! Bowser grabbed Peach and threw us out of the top of his castle! And we're definitely going to Marrymore! It's in black and white!"
"It is not in black and white. There are many things you overlooked. It is for me to know what your flaw is, but I cannot tell. Go on with your quest."
After thinking for several minutes of thinking, the Mario Bros. left the isle with a hardy "Thank you for your help" given to Frogfucious. They exited the pond warily because at night many creatures stalked and hunted. Mario and Luigi continued on, following a dirt path that went to the pipe network.
"What did Frogfucious mean?" Luigi asked Mario now that they were traveling along the trail. "I SAW with my own two eyes Bowser deliberately attack us. I gleaned, after the unlocked doors and dark castle and mysterious silence, that Bowser had taken Peach, even though we didn't see it happen exactly."
"I'm equally confused," Mario agreed, "but nevertheless we should heed his words. Now, we have to travel through the underground pipelines. It will be a little difficult, but I've done it before so we can make it. Since I've done it before I'll be navigator; you just watch out for anything weird, okay?"
Luigi gave a sour look. "Fine, but next time I'M leading."
"Sure, now let's go."
The two walked steadily along the road until the came to a fork in it. Mario pointed out that the duo should move left. Sure enough, after walking half a mile on it the came to a pipe's end sticking five feet out the dirt. "Ready?" Mario said. Luigi nodded. "Then let's go!"
Then the two leapt into the air and fell directly in the hole in the middle of the pipe.
~Luigi~
I glided with my brother down the tube, yelling in happiness and anxiety fear simultaneously. It was like a slide, except that when you came to the end there was nothing to cushion your landing except for bricks and stones. As I thought, when we came out the pipe we landed hard on the stone floor, bruising but not daunting us. It was dark, very dark at that. But with two of us we could make our way.
We found light occasionally when crossing paths with these tiny flames with four limbs and no head. Either they were pyromaniacs that had lit themselves on fire or were naturally that way. I decided to stick with the latter. Oh well, it doesn't matter; they lit our way, right? Yeah.
After a while there became a shortage of the fire things and we had to feel around to get anywhere safely. There were a bunch of small pipes lining our way down the hall, some of which had holes on their sides. Due to the darkness neither of us wanted to go any further without knowing for sure where our next step took us, so after seeing alternate openings, we accepted and went through.
Because the pipes were small the darkness was compact and therefore darker than ever. Fortunately we didn't run into anything plugging our way while we excruciatingly crawled along the tube, and my brother and I came to the end of it in a relatively short time.
The other end of the pipe led to a square room with sewage water filling up the bottom. There was a pipe head sticking out on each side of the room, including the pipe we were in. The two pipes closest to me had water pouring out into the tub of it at the room's base, but the one parallel to me had none coming out like the one we were in. So we chose quickly to go in it, although we had to swim the sewage wastewater.
After going the mentioned pipe we arrived it a hall lined with torches on either side. Naturally I walked down, though the hall seemed endless. It was surely leading us both past Yoshi's Island by now. Finally we saw the light at the end of the path, LITERALLY. It was a door. But it seemed to be expecting us, anticipation our imminent entrance. It was right there in the center, so it must have been the end of the pipelines or the beginning; either way was out. I opened it while Mario just stared at it, until of course I opened the door, then he snapped out of his fancy.
After going in, we came in a small room with a pipe sticking out of the ceiling. Mario and I jumped up and were sucked into, and after being pulled by an unseen force we came to the pipe's top, which was on a fairly large island surrounded by transparent water.
We hopped from atop the pipe. It was serene a day, with few clouds that I could spot. I turned around while my brother continued looking around, marveling at the isle. Maybe he'd not visualized it like this; or else he was just wondering if it was any different. I remembered that he'd been here before, blocking out the former possibility. As I turned around, I saw a sign lying on the ground as if it were broken. There was a snapped stake in the ground, cut just like the sign on the ground's bottom, so it was indeed broken. On it read, "Yoshi's Island."
~Mario~
"Look at this!" Luigi suddenly shouted. I turned, having been fancying what it would be like to meet the yoshis again promptly, then tell them the world was at bad stake with Bowser's newfound power and the capturing of Peach and then requesting for Yoshi's assistance. It wouldn't go well with a bunch of pacifists. After I'd wheeled around, I saw Luigi looking and pointing down at a sign. It read, "Yoshi's Island," but was also broken off its stable placement.
"Yeah, what the big deal?" I said, "it's just a sign. This IS Yoshi's Island, y'know."
"Where are all the yoshis then?"
"Further on," I answered, "they like to hide their villages deeper in the island so they won't be susceptible to enemies or weather. Speaking of such villages, we best be moving along. We aren't making good time conversing about useless topics, and we need to get back to Peach soon as possible." Luigi shrugged and sighed, then we raced onward for the yoshis.
The island was coated with thorns and brambles, and only thicker they became as we advanced to our destination. There were however, berries scattered all 'round on the thorns, so occasionally my brother and I had a quick snack. After an hour of treading down thicket, I fell upon an area with logged trees. As we came deeper and deeper into the island's core, less and less trees remained until I came to something that caught my eye suspiciously. "What's that?" Luigi asked.
Not wanted to admit to my own younger brother that I didn't know, I replied snappily, "It's a... a… log pile! Yeah, that's what it is."
He gave me a puzzled look. "Really?"
I gave a harsh sigh. "Look, I don't know, okay?"
"Alright, then let's investigate." We approached, and as I came closer, it became evident that the 'pile of wood' was actually a leveled house. "What happened here?" Luigi asked himself aloud.
"Let's find out." I removed one of the boards with my foot, accidentally revealing a yoshi corpse. It had a chunk of its body removed on its left flank, the side facing us, and its ribs were showing. Its face held a terrified expression, like it'd
"What a gruesome sight," Luigi said part-penitently, "Perhaps a storm…?"
"No, that would only account for the destroyed house. No storm could have done this type of damage to a yoshi. This guy's side was bit off; the aptitude of the wound being caused from a predatory, loathsome, monstrous fiend is high. Very high."
Luigi gave a scared look, typical from my brother after that "King Boo" incident, or whatever he called it. He frightened easier when in dark places. "It could be Bowser, though he would have nothing to gain from this evil act," I mentally considered. To check for the time of the murder, I softly placed my index finger along the blood trail outlining the hole in its body. Then I rubbed it along the trail of blood, afterwards picking my finger up from the yoshi and smearing the blood between my thumb and finger. "It's fresh," I said solemnly to Luigi without turning around at him. He was likely petrified with trepidation. Not wishing to listen to any suspected griping, I swiftly ordered, "Let's move on; since the blood's fresh so is the killer and close."
It only took a short run to reach the village. It was somewhat how I would have imagined it would look like after being sabotaged: half destroyed, homes in flames, few survivors apparent. I glanced at my surroundings to see if I missed any. There were weeping yoshi mothers at the foot of dead yoshis, bodies scattered everywhere around. The closer I walked to the inhabitants to observe them to try to decipher what had happened the more the clouds regrouped and became larger a cluster. Figuring consulting a mournful yoshi might affront him, I asked a nearby olive-colored yoshi who looked as if he was unaffected by this sudden death on the island.
"What has gone on here?" I asked as I approached. Luigi followed, having curiosity in him too.
"Weren't you here?" the thing said callously.
"Well, yeah," I replied, "Why aren't you sad like every other individual on this island?"
"I come from another island and arrived here only recently," the yoshi stated. "Where I come from yoshis such as these are not allowed to cry. While here some call me callous and soulless, on my island I am called 'typical'."
"Oh? And where do YOU come from?" I said with abrupt confidence.
"Yoshi Battle Island," he answered matter-of-factly, "where the weak are made strong and the strong invincible."
"Enough about you," Luigi interrupted, "how about explaining what happened here. It was some sort of massacre!"
"Well," he started, "I didn't see much 'cause I was on the other side of the island, but as I heard screams, I saw these yoshis attacking each other. But as I came in full sight of the assault, I realized these yoshis were METAL, mechanical. They, the mechanical yoshies, were snares, obviously, catching the yoshis off-guard, then terminating them. They had giant teeth and horns that could rip holes in yoshis. I was there in time and destroyed many of them with my bare hands."
"Your ego's showing…" I thought.
"Do you know where Yoshi is?" Luigi cut in. "The sole reason we are here is because we need his help in defeating a foe. I mean, just in case you've ever come across his name or anythi—
"Yoshi? I remember him. I switched places with him after a requested duel. He was no match for myself, but considering his potential, I allowed him a training permit at Yoshi Battle Island. He isn't here, basically. I'm glad he wasn't here, too, 'cause his house is gone now."
"Well—Hey! Wait a minute! You mentioned you beat Yoshi, right?"
"Uh… huh…" answered the yoshi, understanding narrowly.
"Well, we needed Yoshi for a warrior, but if you're tougher, then that's all the better! We just need you to help us a bit, okay?"
The yoshi stared at me in disbelief. "What on earth would motivate me to help you two humans out?!"
"Well," I began, "there is action involved…"
His ears perked up like a dog. "Did you say 'action'?"
"Uh huh. You'll face your toughest opponent ever in only a matter of days!"
Then the yoshi eyed us both incredulously. "I may be gullible a little, but I'm not stupid. I've faced rivals who would boggle your minds, and even tear up you yourselves."
Both Luigi and I sighed. "Look," Luigi suddenly said like he was annoyed, amidst all his silence, "I will give you all the money in my pockets currently, which happens to be two grand, by the way, if the opponent we speak of is not formidable. Deal?"
He stared at Luigi harshly for a second, to see if he suddenly cracked up laughing at the stern face, which, if it were a trick, would give away his trick instantly. But Luigi did not even grin, instead he remained sober throughout the odd examination, and eventually, the yoshi extended his hand and shook with Luigi, saying, "Deal." I smiled.
"Alright! Great!" I exclaimed, then turned around. "now let's go, we have much to do in little time." Before I even took a step, I turned around back at the yoshi. "Sorry to interrupt, but I never got your name."
"I go by the name 'Zoshi'," he replied, acting with honor-like pride, "What are yours?"
"I'm Mario," I responded, "and this is my brother, Luigi."
We bowed, as if instinct from having done it continuously in Peach's court when entering. Instead of snickering, Zoshi raised an eyebrow. "Come on, I thought you said we had no time to waste, and two grand is a lot to bet so I expect a worthy enemy."
"Oh, you'll get one, that's for sure," I thought as the three of us exited the island and went out through the pipe network again.
It was only a short way to Marrymore now. After Moleville, I recalled a shortcut that led us right through the fields and rocky hills that Booster's Tower and Way bordered. Afterwards, we arrived back to the end of the trail that we had used to stop at both of those places then Marrymore. Now Luigi and I were sweating madly, but Zoshi acted as if he was adapted to or bred in the heat.
We came to a placid forest. Passing through it was a short act and soon we saw neighborhoods of houses. Then there was the church, the church that Booster had almost married Peach in. It was the same old place, with the casual cordial townsfolk.
Then I caught a glimpse of something I didn't think I really saw at first. I looked deeper into the object that had caught my eye, and, as if fate would have it, there was Bowser.
~Smithy~
I peered over the side of the turret. Yes, everything was going according to plan. Bowser's fortress was supplying a sufficient base AND factory altogether. My 'metal yoshis' deployed recently were sure to have killed of that pitiful race, as I knew that was where that fool Mario would seek help. He probably thought Techna was Bowser and that HE captured Peach! Heh! What a fool!
Techna was steadily making his way to Marrymore, where my assistant Terra said he had landed and, unfortunately, survived somehow. In any manner, he was in a weakened state, so it was no sweat for Techna to permanently put an end to him. Yeeeeeeeeeessss… All was going perfect…
After then, the two brothers would use the underground/water pipeline to reach Yoshi Island, where they would find their trusting pal Yoshi and ask for his help. Of course, there was little need to ask, for Yoshi was always happy to help the Mario Bros., especially when it meant dealing with Bowser.
Mario and Luigi knew they couldn't combat Bowser alone. Oddly enough, he was multiple times mightier than any time before. A formidable foe, at the least. That was why they needed advice from Frogfucious and Yoshi as a fighting partner.
After passing through a sewer filled with grotesque creatures of all sorts, the Mario Bros. came to a River Rapids (I forget what the name of that big waterfall was) and then Tadpole Pond. It was dusk, and it was getting darker by the minute. Mario and Luigi entered quietly, hoping some of the tadpoles were not already asleep.
"Who is Frogfucious?" Luigi asked Mario. His red brother turned around.
"For the last time, he is a wise frog here! He gave me advice and the location of a couple stars back when Smithy had taken over!" Only, Smithy had taken over, and the two Brothers didn't realize it.
"Oh, okay," Luigi said. The two kept close, because by now it was dark and they couldn't see well, meaning they might accidentally slip into the cold pond waters.
Finally Luigi spotted light glittering off the water, and both him and Mario halted. Mario bent down and softly whispered to the surface of the water, "Hello? Is anybody in there?"
After a second of waiting, the water rippled a bit and out from it appeared a tadpole. "Yeah? What is it?" he asked, annoyed for being awakened at such an hour.
"I need to speak with Frogfucious," Mario said.
"We can't just let ANY foreigner come into our wise sage's island. Go away; some of us are trying to get some sleep."
"Do recognize the name 'Mario' by any chance?" Mario asked matter-of- factly.
The tadpole's eyes widened. "YOU'RE Mario?! Why, I remember last time when you came! Our great wise sage Frogfucious considered you a most honorable warrior! Sure you can come!"
Before Mario could thank the tadpole, it turned around and whistled. Eight others sprouted from the water and instantly formatted into a straight line. The original came and positioned in the front of the line. Mario and Luigi gently stepped on each one's head and made it to a small isle.
On the isle were several weird objects. There was a painting of a frog with a scholar's cap on with a signature at the bottom of the picture saying, "Frogfucious graduates from Amphibian University." Next to it was several framed sayings and mottoes; one that caught Luigi's eye said "The wise shall inherit the earth" and another said, "Wisdom shall prevail over brutality."
Mario saw Frogfucious at the opposite end of the island, meditating on the ground. "Frogfucious!" Mario called out, "hey, Frogfucious!"
The wise frog turned around. "Ahhh… Mario, I was expecting you."
"How did you know that Mario was coming?" Luigi inquired, confused with the sage.
"I was expecting you too, Luigi. I see you have come to me in trouble.
"Yes," Mario started, "see, while going to-
"No, you don't need to tell me," Frogfucious interrupted, "I know what is wrong. I can see what is going on outside of this pond. Peach has been captured."
"Yes, and by Bowser. We are locked out of her castle, and we were on our way to Marrymore to find a key to get inside the castle again."
"What you said is incorrect in one way, young warrior," Frogfucious said wisely, "but I cannot tell you how it is wrong. You will find trouble in Marrymore, and even before it, but you must be strong and overcome your enemy, whom you have not yet really known."
Mario and Luigi both looked at him with puzzled expressions. "What do you mean, 'we are incorrect in one way'? We both saw it happen! Bowser grabbed Peach and threw us out of the top of his castle! And we're definitely going to Marrymore! It's in black and white!"
"It is not in black and white. There are many things you overlooked. It is for me to know what your flaw is, but I cannot tell. Go on with your quest."
After thinking for several minutes of thinking, the Mario Bros. left the isle with a hardy "Thank you for your help" given to Frogfucious. They exited the pond warily because at night many creatures stalked and hunted. Mario and Luigi continued on, following a dirt path that went to the pipe network.
"What did Frogfucious mean?" Luigi asked Mario now that they were traveling along the trail. "I SAW with my own two eyes Bowser deliberately attack us. I gleaned, after the unlocked doors and dark castle and mysterious silence, that Bowser had taken Peach, even though we didn't see it happen exactly."
"I'm equally confused," Mario agreed, "but nevertheless we should heed his words. Now, we have to travel through the underground pipelines. It will be a little difficult, but I've done it before so we can make it. Since I've done it before I'll be navigator; you just watch out for anything weird, okay?"
Luigi gave a sour look. "Fine, but next time I'M leading."
"Sure, now let's go."
The two walked steadily along the road until the came to a fork in it. Mario pointed out that the duo should move left. Sure enough, after walking half a mile on it the came to a pipe's end sticking five feet out the dirt. "Ready?" Mario said. Luigi nodded. "Then let's go!"
Then the two leapt into the air and fell directly in the hole in the middle of the pipe.
~Luigi~
I glided with my brother down the tube, yelling in happiness and anxiety fear simultaneously. It was like a slide, except that when you came to the end there was nothing to cushion your landing except for bricks and stones. As I thought, when we came out the pipe we landed hard on the stone floor, bruising but not daunting us. It was dark, very dark at that. But with two of us we could make our way.
We found light occasionally when crossing paths with these tiny flames with four limbs and no head. Either they were pyromaniacs that had lit themselves on fire or were naturally that way. I decided to stick with the latter. Oh well, it doesn't matter; they lit our way, right? Yeah.
After a while there became a shortage of the fire things and we had to feel around to get anywhere safely. There were a bunch of small pipes lining our way down the hall, some of which had holes on their sides. Due to the darkness neither of us wanted to go any further without knowing for sure where our next step took us, so after seeing alternate openings, we accepted and went through.
Because the pipes were small the darkness was compact and therefore darker than ever. Fortunately we didn't run into anything plugging our way while we excruciatingly crawled along the tube, and my brother and I came to the end of it in a relatively short time.
The other end of the pipe led to a square room with sewage water filling up the bottom. There was a pipe head sticking out on each side of the room, including the pipe we were in. The two pipes closest to me had water pouring out into the tub of it at the room's base, but the one parallel to me had none coming out like the one we were in. So we chose quickly to go in it, although we had to swim the sewage wastewater.
After going the mentioned pipe we arrived it a hall lined with torches on either side. Naturally I walked down, though the hall seemed endless. It was surely leading us both past Yoshi's Island by now. Finally we saw the light at the end of the path, LITERALLY. It was a door. But it seemed to be expecting us, anticipation our imminent entrance. It was right there in the center, so it must have been the end of the pipelines or the beginning; either way was out. I opened it while Mario just stared at it, until of course I opened the door, then he snapped out of his fancy.
After going in, we came in a small room with a pipe sticking out of the ceiling. Mario and I jumped up and were sucked into, and after being pulled by an unseen force we came to the pipe's top, which was on a fairly large island surrounded by transparent water.
We hopped from atop the pipe. It was serene a day, with few clouds that I could spot. I turned around while my brother continued looking around, marveling at the isle. Maybe he'd not visualized it like this; or else he was just wondering if it was any different. I remembered that he'd been here before, blocking out the former possibility. As I turned around, I saw a sign lying on the ground as if it were broken. There was a snapped stake in the ground, cut just like the sign on the ground's bottom, so it was indeed broken. On it read, "Yoshi's Island."
~Mario~
"Look at this!" Luigi suddenly shouted. I turned, having been fancying what it would be like to meet the yoshis again promptly, then tell them the world was at bad stake with Bowser's newfound power and the capturing of Peach and then requesting for Yoshi's assistance. It wouldn't go well with a bunch of pacifists. After I'd wheeled around, I saw Luigi looking and pointing down at a sign. It read, "Yoshi's Island," but was also broken off its stable placement.
"Yeah, what the big deal?" I said, "it's just a sign. This IS Yoshi's Island, y'know."
"Where are all the yoshis then?"
"Further on," I answered, "they like to hide their villages deeper in the island so they won't be susceptible to enemies or weather. Speaking of such villages, we best be moving along. We aren't making good time conversing about useless topics, and we need to get back to Peach soon as possible." Luigi shrugged and sighed, then we raced onward for the yoshis.
The island was coated with thorns and brambles, and only thicker they became as we advanced to our destination. There were however, berries scattered all 'round on the thorns, so occasionally my brother and I had a quick snack. After an hour of treading down thicket, I fell upon an area with logged trees. As we came deeper and deeper into the island's core, less and less trees remained until I came to something that caught my eye suspiciously. "What's that?" Luigi asked.
Not wanted to admit to my own younger brother that I didn't know, I replied snappily, "It's a... a… log pile! Yeah, that's what it is."
He gave me a puzzled look. "Really?"
I gave a harsh sigh. "Look, I don't know, okay?"
"Alright, then let's investigate." We approached, and as I came closer, it became evident that the 'pile of wood' was actually a leveled house. "What happened here?" Luigi asked himself aloud.
"Let's find out." I removed one of the boards with my foot, accidentally revealing a yoshi corpse. It had a chunk of its body removed on its left flank, the side facing us, and its ribs were showing. Its face held a terrified expression, like it'd
"What a gruesome sight," Luigi said part-penitently, "Perhaps a storm…?"
"No, that would only account for the destroyed house. No storm could have done this type of damage to a yoshi. This guy's side was bit off; the aptitude of the wound being caused from a predatory, loathsome, monstrous fiend is high. Very high."
Luigi gave a scared look, typical from my brother after that "King Boo" incident, or whatever he called it. He frightened easier when in dark places. "It could be Bowser, though he would have nothing to gain from this evil act," I mentally considered. To check for the time of the murder, I softly placed my index finger along the blood trail outlining the hole in its body. Then I rubbed it along the trail of blood, afterwards picking my finger up from the yoshi and smearing the blood between my thumb and finger. "It's fresh," I said solemnly to Luigi without turning around at him. He was likely petrified with trepidation. Not wishing to listen to any suspected griping, I swiftly ordered, "Let's move on; since the blood's fresh so is the killer and close."
It only took a short run to reach the village. It was somewhat how I would have imagined it would look like after being sabotaged: half destroyed, homes in flames, few survivors apparent. I glanced at my surroundings to see if I missed any. There were weeping yoshi mothers at the foot of dead yoshis, bodies scattered everywhere around. The closer I walked to the inhabitants to observe them to try to decipher what had happened the more the clouds regrouped and became larger a cluster. Figuring consulting a mournful yoshi might affront him, I asked a nearby olive-colored yoshi who looked as if he was unaffected by this sudden death on the island.
"What has gone on here?" I asked as I approached. Luigi followed, having curiosity in him too.
"Weren't you here?" the thing said callously.
"Well, yeah," I replied, "Why aren't you sad like every other individual on this island?"
"I come from another island and arrived here only recently," the yoshi stated. "Where I come from yoshis such as these are not allowed to cry. While here some call me callous and soulless, on my island I am called 'typical'."
"Oh? And where do YOU come from?" I said with abrupt confidence.
"Yoshi Battle Island," he answered matter-of-factly, "where the weak are made strong and the strong invincible."
"Enough about you," Luigi interrupted, "how about explaining what happened here. It was some sort of massacre!"
"Well," he started, "I didn't see much 'cause I was on the other side of the island, but as I heard screams, I saw these yoshis attacking each other. But as I came in full sight of the assault, I realized these yoshis were METAL, mechanical. They, the mechanical yoshies, were snares, obviously, catching the yoshis off-guard, then terminating them. They had giant teeth and horns that could rip holes in yoshis. I was there in time and destroyed many of them with my bare hands."
"Your ego's showing…" I thought.
"Do you know where Yoshi is?" Luigi cut in. "The sole reason we are here is because we need his help in defeating a foe. I mean, just in case you've ever come across his name or anythi—
"Yoshi? I remember him. I switched places with him after a requested duel. He was no match for myself, but considering his potential, I allowed him a training permit at Yoshi Battle Island. He isn't here, basically. I'm glad he wasn't here, too, 'cause his house is gone now."
"Well—Hey! Wait a minute! You mentioned you beat Yoshi, right?"
"Uh… huh…" answered the yoshi, understanding narrowly.
"Well, we needed Yoshi for a warrior, but if you're tougher, then that's all the better! We just need you to help us a bit, okay?"
The yoshi stared at me in disbelief. "What on earth would motivate me to help you two humans out?!"
"Well," I began, "there is action involved…"
His ears perked up like a dog. "Did you say 'action'?"
"Uh huh. You'll face your toughest opponent ever in only a matter of days!"
Then the yoshi eyed us both incredulously. "I may be gullible a little, but I'm not stupid. I've faced rivals who would boggle your minds, and even tear up you yourselves."
Both Luigi and I sighed. "Look," Luigi suddenly said like he was annoyed, amidst all his silence, "I will give you all the money in my pockets currently, which happens to be two grand, by the way, if the opponent we speak of is not formidable. Deal?"
He stared at Luigi harshly for a second, to see if he suddenly cracked up laughing at the stern face, which, if it were a trick, would give away his trick instantly. But Luigi did not even grin, instead he remained sober throughout the odd examination, and eventually, the yoshi extended his hand and shook with Luigi, saying, "Deal." I smiled.
"Alright! Great!" I exclaimed, then turned around. "now let's go, we have much to do in little time." Before I even took a step, I turned around back at the yoshi. "Sorry to interrupt, but I never got your name."
"I go by the name 'Zoshi'," he replied, acting with honor-like pride, "What are yours?"
"I'm Mario," I responded, "and this is my brother, Luigi."
We bowed, as if instinct from having done it continuously in Peach's court when entering. Instead of snickering, Zoshi raised an eyebrow. "Come on, I thought you said we had no time to waste, and two grand is a lot to bet so I expect a worthy enemy."
"Oh, you'll get one, that's for sure," I thought as the three of us exited the island and went out through the pipe network again.
It was only a short way to Marrymore now. After Moleville, I recalled a shortcut that led us right through the fields and rocky hills that Booster's Tower and Way bordered. Afterwards, we arrived back to the end of the trail that we had used to stop at both of those places then Marrymore. Now Luigi and I were sweating madly, but Zoshi acted as if he was adapted to or bred in the heat.
We came to a placid forest. Passing through it was a short act and soon we saw neighborhoods of houses. Then there was the church, the church that Booster had almost married Peach in. It was the same old place, with the casual cordial townsfolk.
Then I caught a glimpse of something I didn't think I really saw at first. I looked deeper into the object that had caught my eye, and, as if fate would have it, there was Bowser.
~Smithy~
I peered over the side of the turret. Yes, everything was going according to plan. Bowser's fortress was supplying a sufficient base AND factory altogether. My 'metal yoshis' deployed recently were sure to have killed of that pitiful race, as I knew that was where that fool Mario would seek help. He probably thought Techna was Bowser and that HE captured Peach! Heh! What a fool!
Techna was steadily making his way to Marrymore, where my assistant Terra said he had landed and, unfortunately, survived somehow. In any manner, he was in a weakened state, so it was no sweat for Techna to permanently put an end to him. Yeeeeeeeeeessss… All was going perfect…
