Disclaimer: I don't own Bowser, Mario, or any other Nintendo characters. I also don't own any of the people/characters/events/places that I may allude to.

Chapter 1: The Adventure Begins

"Man, what a lazy summer day," Michael thought aloud. He was sitting at his computer desk above his bed, staring out the window. The smog from the new factories built nearby was heavy, which kept him from opening the windows in the house, and the still air was stifling. "Why did Bowser have to build those factories in this part of the state? It's not like there's any resources around here. If the smog wasn't so bad, I would go outside." Mike said, conversing with himself. Mike was a tall, thin kid with short brown hair and brown eyes. He was wearing his favorite outfit, a blue T-shirt with drab olive-green khaki shorts. He climbed down the ladder from the desk to the floor and started pacing. "What to do… What to do…" he mused to himself. "I can't go outside. Both of my parents are at meetings across the country. I'd play my 64 or Cube, but that's all I've done the past few days, and they've gotten a bit boring. Besides, they're illegal. If I was caught with one, then that's game over for me. Man, I wish something would happen!!" Suddenly, as if fate had obeyed his request, the doorbell rang, and the person started to pound on the door. "Once upon a midday dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious way of removing bore," Mike started, misquoting Poe's The Raven. "While I paced, my mouth sounding, suddenly there came a pounding, As of some one quite astounding, rapping at my house's door. ' It's some visitor,' I muttered, 'pounding at my house's door - Only this and nothing more," he continued. He walked up to the door and opened it slowly, while also looking through the open crack to see whom it was. Outside stood a girl about Mike's age, with shoulder-length brown hair a shade lighter than Mike's and tied into a ponytail. She wore a dark green T-shirt and jeans. She also wore a very stern and serious expression. "Hey, Rose, what are you doing here?" Mike asked his cousin.

"Can't talk. Things to do," she replied shortly.

"What 'things'?" Mike asked.

"Here," Rose said, handing Mike a duffel bag, "Pack up some things."

"Again with the things! What are they for?" Mike asked, getting irritated.

"A trip."

"Woah, don't get technical on me. Could you keep it general, please?" Mike replied, smiling as if he had just made a terrific joke.

"JUST DO IT!!!" Rose screamed at him. Mike turned and ran back to his room. Best to just play along and see where this goes, he thought to himself. Besides, when she yells like that, she's about to rip your head off. He started shoving clothes and other things into his pack, like his pocketknife and a few books. He also grabbed his walking staff on the way out his door. I may need this, he thought. Rose was still waiting for him near the door. "What took you?" she asked impatiently.

"Rose, please, just tell me what's going on," Mike pleaded.

"I can't tell you now."

"Well then, I guess I can't go with you now."

"Mike," she said, calming down slightly, "this is serious."

"Then give me a serious reason why I should go with you."

"Come on, Mike. What's the harm in coming?" she pleaded.

"What's the harm in staying?" he replied. Realizing that this was getting her nowhere fast, she grabbed Mike's wrist and pulled him out the door. "Hey!" was all he managed to shout before she had gotten him to the backyard. He finally managed to break free when they had entered the yard, where a two-foot round, green pipe stood. "What's that doing here?" Mike asked.

"That's our ride out of here." Rose replied, whom now tried pushing her cousin towards the pipe.

"Last time I checked, Rose, those things are illegal to people who don't have any kind of access rights."

"Stop whining and get into it!"

"Not until you tell me what's going on!"

"I already told you I can't tell you."

"Then I'm staying here."

"Mike, you've got to understand," Rose pleaded desperately. "You've always wanted to do something with your life, to change the world. This is that chance, Mike. A chance to really do something wonderful. Please, just believe me and get into the pipe." Mike stood there looking at his cousin for a few long seconds. Then he turned and walked towards the pipe. Rose looked up and said, "Thanks, Mike."

"I'm only doing this to get you to leave me alone."

"Sure," Rose said, not believing him for a moment.

"Now, how do you use this thing?" Mike said when he got to the edge of the pipe. Rose smiled and gave him a hard shove. Mike fell into the pipe, yelling. Rose jumped up onto the lip and then jumped into the pipe herself.