five
It was a while after the evil muffin thing was cleared up. Peach had returned a letter threatening to sue with some of the most talented lawyers in all of the Mushroom Kingdom.
Bowser was living happily and had beaten all of his video games. He was getting along well with everyone in the Mushroom Kingdom. It was almost as if he had forgotten that he was the villain. His heart, and his entire attitude towards everyone, had changed. It was as if he had found a new way of life.
- - - - -
Life was supposedly going perfectly until Peach got a disturbing letter from Mario. This is what it said:
Dear Princess,
You have perfect reason to be afraid, for even though my first two plans have failed, my third attempt will prevail. I have created something far greater than before. You cannot stop it. Your army of toadstools cannot stop it. Not even your precious Bowser can stop it. For it is Bowser that you cannot stop. If Bowser can defeat me, then Bowser can defeat you. You have a local barber in your kingdom by the name of Mr. Cut-A-Lot. He has betrayed you by allowing me to clone your "hero." I have made a second Bowser, but not just any Bowser, a Giga Bowser! A Bowser which is twice as large, twice as cunning, and twice as powerful. Giga Bowser is coming to destroy you and your precious kingdom and subjects. You will meet the wrath of Giga Bowser and his complete master, Mario! In seven days, you will meet your doom!
The news was shocking. Bowser didn't know what to do. He knew that this was going to be worse than both the Tropicle Tennis Tournament and the Evil Muffins put together. And this was going to need as much thinking as he could.
"We need something. Some weapon or something that is powerful enough to stop this evil Giga Bowser clone. But what?"
- - - - -
It was Saturday afternoon and Bowser stopped by Mr. Cut-A-Lot's barber shop. He went in for the usual trim off the top and clipping of his claws when he remembered Mario's note.
Hey, did you really allow Mario to clone me?
The short, cheerful Toadstool gave a look at Bowser. Let me see. I short man in red came in about a week ago, asked for some hair and left. If I'm right, it was your hair he wanted.
I see. Did he do anything else here?
He had a shave and a trim of the mustache.
If he made a clone, just by getting my hair, Bowser thought, maybe I can use his own against him.
Do you have any of the hairs off his beard left?
Yea, but it wasn't his beard I shaved...