Title: The Lesson
Author: SelenityK
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. They belong to Nintendo and others.
Author's Note: Hey all, I'm back from the dead. I couldn't find this story for the longest time, between moving to a different town and going to college in VA. Anyway, here is the fifth installment. Love it, hate it, review it!
The Lesson
Chapter Five
The sun peaked through the dense foliage of forest. It had bee n a hard night for Mario; he had not slept on the ground in so long! Mario rubbed his aching lower back, and then did a few stretches. Today would be the day. He and Bowser would have to somehow find their way out of the forest and to Peach! Explanations would be demanded. If Peach did not comply… Mario did not want to even consider that route, but Peach had kidnapped Bowser and him for some odd reason, and he and Bowser both wanted an answer.
Mario walked a few paces and knocked on Bowser's hard exterior. Small grumbles were heard, and Bowser's head slowly emerged from the inside of his shell. Bowser roared, emitting flames through his mouth, nose, and other areas, scorching the ground underneath.
"Now what?" Bowser asked, a hint of fatigue in his voice. Bowser sat up and pushed himself under a tree.
"We go back to the Mushroom Kingdom, of course. If we want to get there in time, we'd better start out right away." Mario answered.
Bowser sighed inwardly. Now he was trying to find his way back to the Mushroom Kingdom. With Mario of all people! Mario his worst enemy, here because of Peach! It was always because of Peach!
Bowser nodded his head in agreement, and they began to walk in a direction which told them was 'out'. The sun was just coming over the trees when Bowser and Mario decided to stop for food. Mario picked up a few nonpoisonous plants and grubs and ate them. Bowser tried, but it was for naught. Bowser, being a carnivorous sort, spit the plants and grub out of his mouth. They had definitely better get back to the Mushroom Kingdom soon. Bowser did not want to have to go without meat!
With the sun over the trees, the forest was not as forbidding as it was at nighttime, but squirrels were definitely not singing and dancing in the forest, and the birds were especially not chirpy.
After the travelers had eaten, they continued on the journey to find an exit out of the forest. As to be expected, the two enemies did not converse. After all, they ARE enemies, though in this case, the enemy of my enemy is my friend applies. Bowser and Mario had worked together before this, only to defeat Smithy when Smithy had taken over Bowser's keep. The truce was called off and it was back to war.
Mario was thinking his own thoughts during this time. Why had Peach kidnapped him was one of the thoughts that rotated in Mario's mind. Not to mention the fact that Mario had done everything in the world to protect Peach from the likes of Bowser and this was how she repayed him?
Bowser, au contraire, only had one thought in mind, and that was the thought of revenge. He didn't know where and certainly didn't care how. It was time for that bimbo to be taught a few lessons of her own.
**********
Toad came into Peach's sitting room. Peach was at her desk, brow creased in fury. Her usually perfect hair was now unkempt, which was strange for Peach, to say the least.
"Princess?" Toad cleared his throat. "I wanted to inform you that I've prepared the troops. We're ready to fire, if you give the orders."
Peach ignored Toad and continued in her writing frenzy.
Toad went bravely on. "I'm also worried. Mario's missing and he's one of our best fighters. Intelligience agents also report that Bowser has disappeared. This could be some contrived plot by Bowser. I honestly don't know if we will defeat the Koopas this time."
Peach looked up, her eyes as cold as liquid nitrogen. "Toad, get those troops out there and fight to the death if you have to. I want both Mario and Bowser found alive. Now leave my presence!"
Toad left the room quietly, a frown plastered on his face. This was most unlike Peach. She never ordered her troops to fight to the death for her. The troops would normally do that anyway. It was also peculiar how Peach had left the castle that morning with a zombie look on her face and returned with torn clothing.
Toad supposed that Kamek could have placed a zombie curse on Peach, but that didn't seem…right. There would have been some sign of Kamek or Bowser, and according to Lakitu, Bowser had vanished along with Mario. Something was, without a doubt, wrong with the Princess. For now, Toad would do as Peach asked, er, commanded, but he would be doing an investigation of his own.
End Chapter Five.
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