KART CHAMPIONS
EPISODE II
"THE CHALLENGE"
Lakitu: All right! Remember the things I said! Ready? Three!
*Mario's hands begin to sweat under his gloves.*
Lakitu: Two!
*Mario and Luigi glance nervously between each other.*
Lakitu: One!
*Mario, then grips the steering wheel, and forces a smile for Peach.*
Lakitu: GO!!!
*Mario and his friends stamp on the gas and zoom away into the distance.*
Toad: Comin' at ya!
Mario: Outta the way!
*Mario and Toad, in the lead, fight for first. The first string of item boxes approaches*
Toad: *Snags the one on the left*
Mario: *Gets the one in the middle*
*They open the item boxes, but keep their eyes on the road. Mario gets a red shell*
Toad: Take this! *Drops a banana directly in front of Mario*
Mario: Aaahhh!!! *Spins in circles, but throws his shell*
Toad: *Races around corner, but red shell hits and he tumbles into the water*
*By now, DK and Peach have passed Mario, and Yoshi is approaching*
Yoshi: Hey, Mario! You all right?
Mario: Yeah, I'm fine.
*They approach a ramp with red arrows on it*
Mario: Here goes...
*They shoot over the ramp, and land on the ground*
Mario: I oughta use "bounce" on the next one...
*They fly over the next ramp, but Mario presses his "bounce" button and shoots high in the air, over the next ramp, saving time*
Yoshi: *Drives over ramp normally*
Mario: *Several yards ahead now, approaching DK*
*The next row of item boxes approaches*
Mario: *Grabs the right one, the only one remaining. Opens it, finds a model of a Boo.
Drops it in the hole in the back of the kart and presses the button. Seconds later,
a Boo appears*
Mario: Slow DK down for me.
Boo: *Disappears, reappears by DK, flies around and around his head*
DK: Aaahh! Aahhh! *Drives off the side of the road*
Mario: *Zooms past DK, approaches the finish line*
Lakitu: Good going, Mario! Second lap!
*Mario now approaches Luigi*
Luigi: You'll never pass me!
Mario: It would be a sorry day if I didn't...
*They approach the row of item boxes*
Luigi: Let's see what I get...
Mario: *Snatches a star, drops it in the hole in the kart*
Luigi: Take this!! *Fires three red shells at Mario, one after the other*
Mario: *Presses the button quickly, shield forms around Mario, shells bounce off
harmlessly*
Luigi: Hey! *Steers wildly toward him*
Mario: *Smirks, continues driving.*
Luigi: Did you really think I'd hit you? Geez, I was just trying to freak you out...
*Mario spots a thin ramp that appears to lead over a small island*
Mario: See you at the finish line! *Drives over the ramp, shoots over the island, and
presses "bounce" when he lands – shoots over part of the track*
Luigi: Whoa...
*Unfortunately, Yoshi sees what Mario does, copies him exactly, and now still follows close behind.*
*Mario now approaches a struggling Peach, who seems to be having troubles with her kart.*
Mario: Hey! Peach! What's wrong?
Peach: I dunno...my kart's going all weird...
Mario: What's it doing?
Peach: It keeps sliding through all my turns...
Mario: Check the drift turn button. Is it stuck?
Peach: Yeah, you're right!
Mario: Speaking of drift turns... *Slides around the corner, and lets go, getting a boost
of speed, and rushes past Peach*
*Mario once again approaches Toad, in the lead*
Toad: Haven't you learned your lesson, Mario?
Mario: I'll tell you...after you get second place!
Toad: Well then, I suppose I'll never know! *Throws a green shell behind him*
Mario: *Dodges*
Toad: *Throws two more green shells*
Mario: *Dodges*
Toad: Urrgg...
*Mario snags an item box and checks inside – gets three mushrooms. He drops them all down the hole and presses the button*
Mario: Yee-ha! See you at the finish line!
*Crosses the finish line*
Lakitu: Hold that first! Final lap!
Mario: Yes! I'm gonna make it!
*Suddenly, a spiny shell streaks toward Mario at a blinding speed. It rams into the kart and explodes, but all the spikes miss the kart. Mario and his kart tumble into the water*
Mario: *Chokes on seawater.*
Lakitu: Hey, Mario! *Pulls him and the kart out of the water and back on the track*
Hurry, quick!
*Mario is now in sixth, with only Bowser behind him. The places are now, from first to last, Toad, Yoshi, Peach, Luigi, DK, Mario, Bowser*
Mario: Oh, boy...
Bowser: Hey, Mario! Not so good now, are you??
Mario: *Goes over the two ramps once again, ignoring Bowser's taunts...suddenly,
something catches his eye. A ramp, hidden behind a rock, seems to lead into a
hole in the wall of the island. Mario, thinking he has nothing to lose, drives up
the ramp and into the hole*
*Bowser thinks Mario just made another mistake, and continues on around the island*
*Toad is streaking for the finish line*
Toad: Yesss!!
*Suddenly, Mario fires out of a tunnel in the island wall and across the finish line, about a foot in front of Toad*
Toad: ...Wha...?
Lakitu: And the winner is...Mario! Great job, Mario! You found the secret entrance!
Mario: All right!
Lakitu: Why don't you and Toad come over here so you won't get hit by whoever that is
over there...
Yoshi: *Streaks for the finish line* Yes! I got third!...Whoa, Mario! How'd you get up
here?? *Parks kart*
Mario: Yoshi! Watch out!
*Luigi is hurtling toward Yoshi, and just suddenly notices*
Yoshi: *Does 180 degree spin and just manages to get out of the way*
Luigi: *Covers eyes with hands* Aaaahhhh!!!! *Spins into the water*
Lakitu: *Pulls him out with his fishing rod* Nice spin, Yoshi.
Yoshi: Thanks!
Peach: Here I come! Fifth place!
*Everyone waits, and soon DK shows up, followed closely by Bowser*
Bowser: Aarrgg! Get out of my way!
DK: *Throws three red shells directly into Bowser's kart* Finish!
Lakitu: And that leaves Bowser...ungh...*Pulls him out of the water and stops him from
tumbling*...with last. Great race, everyone! I saw a lot of good techniques
being used, and a lot of competitive spirits... *Glances at Bowser*
Bowser: *Glares menacingly*
Lakitu: We'll do one more race at two, but rest up first. There's a lodge up the island
some – stay there 'till noon. Then we'll do our race and head back to the resort.
Luigi: That was fun!
Mario: Luigi, tell me honestly...how many times did you fall in the water?
Luigi: Um...three.
Peach: I didn't fall in at all...
Toad: Neither did I...
Yoshi: Once.
Mario: Same here.
DK: ......Four...
Bowser: ...
DK: What about you, Bowser?
Bowser: ......
DK: Ookaayy, let's just go to the lodge.
*The seven approach "Troopa Lodge," and sign in for their rooms*
Luigi: Hey, Yoshi! Let's get rooms next to each other again!
Yoshi: Yeah, OK! Hey, Toad? Get the one between Peach and me, like before.
Mario: It's gonna be a little different, but I'd say mostly the same as at the resort...hey
Yoshi. You know what the best part is? No Wario!
Yoshi: Heh...definetely.
*There is only one floor in the lodge and the rooms are not nearly as fancy as at the resort, but everyone still has a good time*
Mario: Hey, check it out! This place has intercoms!
Luigi: I wonder why?
Mario: I dunno, but I've got an idea...
*Mario explains his plan to Luigi, and he laughs.*
Mario: Okay, ready? You do the voice thing, and I'll turn on the intercom. Make sure
that one's on.
Luigi: Okay, go for it!
*Mario runs outside to Yoshi's door.*
Mario: Yooossshhiiii.... *Jumps into broom closet in hall.*
Yoshi: *Opens his door, looks around, and walks down hall to investigate.*
Mario: *Jumps into Yoshi's room, flips on intercom sets the trap in the closet, and runs
back into his room.*
*Yoshi soon decides it is nothing, and walks back to his room.*
Mario: Go!
Luigi: Uh oh, he's back already? I'd better hide quick! *Blows on intercom a few times
to make shuffling noise.*
Yoshi: Who's there?
*Silence.*
Yoshi: I said WHO'S THERE??
*Yoshi suddenly spies the partially open closet, sneaks over, and slams it open.*
*A giant rubber snake springs out at Yoshi.*
Yoshi: AAAHHH!!! AAHH!! Huh?
*Mario walks in and laughs histerically*
Mario: Hah ha ha ha ha!!
Yoshi: You idiot! That wasn't funny!
Mario: Hah hah hah ha ha ha!!!
Yoshi: Get outta here!
Mario: Oh, come on!
Yoshi: Oh, whatever...let's go eat. Oh, that's right...I'm never eating with you again.
Mario: Come on...you can forgive Luigi, can't you?
Yoshi: No.
Mario: By the way, you still owe me five coins...
Yoshi: Let's just get out of here.
*Mario and Yoshi go for spaghetti, and Luigi wonders where they are*
Luigi: They couldn't have gone far... *Enters Yoshi's room, looks behind things,
leaves. Decides to go ask Lakitu*
Luigi: *Walks to Lakitu's room - knocks*
Lakitu: Who is it?
Luigi: Luigi.
Lakitu: Oh. Come in!
Luigi: *Walks in, closes door* Hey, do you know where Mario and Yoshi went?
Lakitu: No idea, but Luigi? There's something I'd like to talk to you about.
Luigi: Sure, what?
Lakitu: Bowser has been really quiet recently. I think something's up with him...
Luigi: Seems like there always is...why talk to me about it?
Lakitu: I'd ask Mario to do this, but...since he's not here...
Luigi: You want me to find out what's up with him?
Lakitu: Yes. I knew you'd understand...
Luigi: But I can't do that! I...I, um, I just can't!
Lakitu: Why?
Luigi: I...I...um...oh all right. I'll see what I can do.
*Unfortunately, Bowser has been listening through the door and now formulates a desperate plan to keep Luigi from finding out what he is doing*
Luigi: I guess I'd better be going... *Leaves, enters his room*
*Bowser grabs his plan book and tosses it out the window*
Bowser: I know what's going on anyway.
*By now Mario and Yoshi are returning from their spaghetti lunch, in the middle of a heated argument*
Yoshi: ...the one who started flinging noodles at me in the first place!
Mario: You turned the bowl over!
Yoshi: But I didn't trip the poor man!
Mario: Well, he was being annoying. He couldn't get our order right, anyway! Besides,
you were the one that started yelling!
*Mario and Yoshi stop as Luigi comes out to greet them*
Luigi: Where were you guys? I got kind of worried...
Mario: You get worried about everything.
Yoshi: Mario and I were thinking...we kind of want to do something, but we don't know
what. Got any suggestions?
Luigi: Maybe some kind of game?
Yoshi: Like a board game? No way!
Luigi: No, like volleyball!
Mario: Come on, we just played that yesterday.
Luigi: We could eat...
Yoshi: We just did!
Luigi: Without me?? Awww...
Mario: We couldn't find you, so we just left.
Luigi: Ummm, baseball?
Yoshi: We don't have a bat!
Luigi: Geez! Umm, hide and go seek?
Mario: *Glances at Yoshi, then stares at Luigi* You're serious, aren't you??
Luigi: Yeah.
Yoshi: Sure! I don't think I've played that in about 6 years. Let's go get everybody
else...this should be interesting.
*They manage to get DK and Toad, but no one else wants to play*
Toad: Since we're playing this anyway, I might as well do THIS - 1, 2, 3, NOT IT!!
DK: NOT IT!
Luigi: NOT IT!!
Yoshi: NOT IT!!!
Mario: NOT...aww. OK, I'm it. I'll count to 100. Ready? *Faces wall* Go!
Yoshi: *Runs, whispers to DK for a minute*
DK: *Nods quickly* Good idea.
Yoshi: *Stands on DK's shoulders, gets on top of a tree, and hides in leaves*
*DK, a natural born climber, quickly gets in the tree next to Yoshi*
Mario: ...88...89...90...91...
Toad: Uh oh...
*Luigi and Toad begin running frantically, trying to hide*
Luigi: *Crashes into Toad, both fall down*
Mario: 94...95...96...97...
Toad: *Races like a bullet around to the back of the building to hide*
Mario: ...98...99...
Luigi: *Leaps into thin nearby bush to hide – easy to see*
Mario: ...100! Ready or not, here I come! *Takes a quick glance around* Geez, Luigi!
I counted to 100...
Luigi: Oh, be quiet.
*Luigi hasn't noticed, but the bush he hid in is directly below Bowser's window*
Luigi: *Begins to walk, suddenly slips on Bowser's book and falls* Whoa!
Mario: Hey, you all right? What did you slip on?
Luigi: *Suddenly sees the book and is prepared to spill everything, but something holds
him back* Just a leaf. *Stuffs the book into his pocket when Mario isn't
looking*
Mario: Hmm, where could the others be?
Yoshi (whispering): DK, move so I can see Mario!
DK: No, cause then I won't be able to see!
Yoshi: Move! *Shoves DK to the side*
DK: Don't you push me! *Shoves Yoshi back*
Yoshi: *Pushes DK*
DK: *Falls off the edge, but grabs Yoshi*
*They both fall in a heap on the ground and Mario tags them before they can get away*
Yoshi: Really nice, DK...
DK: You shoved me first!
Yoshi: But you pulled me over the edge! That gave me away!
DK: Because you pushed me over the edge and gave me away!
Mario: *Has just found Toad* You two be quiet. Since I spotted Luigi first, he's it.
Toad: Where'd he go?
DK: I dunno, I guess he went to use the bathroom or something...
Mario: OK then, DK. I saw you second, so that means you're it.
DK: OK. 1...2...3...4...5...6...7...
*Meanwhile, Luigi is in his and Mario's room, looking through Bowser's book*
Luigi: This part looks interesting: "Today I came up with a brilliant plan. I've decided
that when no one is around, I'm going to capture Lakitu and not let him go until
he pays the ransom! And the ransom is to make Mario get last in our next race!
Bwa ha ha ha!!" When no one is around? Everyone is outside now! Oh no!
*Luigi knocks on Lakitu's door, and sure enough there is no answer. Luigi now is stuck*
Luigi: Should I tell Mario or confront Bowser myself? Mario's always the hero...I think
it's my turn! *Boldly marches to Bowser's room and knocks on the door*
Bowser: What??!! *Sounds really stressed*
Luigi: Bowser? I know what you're up to. I won't let you get away with this! Why
don't you come out and fight?!
*Silence*
Bowser: Wah ha ha ha ha ha hah!! You?!? Ha ha ha ha ha!!
Luigi: If you don't come out, I...I'm going in there!
Bowser: Okay! Come in!
*Luigi opens the door and leaps in. Suddenly there is a loud thump and Luigi falls to the floor. Bowser ties him up and throws him in the closet next to Lakitu*
Bowser (thinking): At some point, Mario's gonna notice. If he asks me, let's
see...hmm......
*Meanwhile, the game continues outside*
DK: OK, Toad's the last one...man, where is he??
Mario: *Spots Toad on the roof of the lodge, stifles laughter*
Toad: *Disappears from sight*
DK: *Watches Mario, sees where he is looking. Climbs up pole to roof* Toad, what are
you doing up here? That's against the rules!
Toad: Mario! You gave it away!
Mario: Sorry...oh well. Say, where'd Luigi head off too?
DK: Well, I guess he wasn't in the bathroom...
Mario: I'm gonna go check up on him. Yoshi is officially it!
Yoshi: Aww...OK! 1...2...3...4...5...6...
*Mario heads inside, goes to his room*
Mario: Luigi? *Heads to Yoshi's room*
Mario: Luigi??? *Heads to DK's room*
Mario: Luigi?????
*Mario goes to Peach's room*
Mario: Hey, Peach. Have you seen Luigi?
Peach: I thought he was playing a game with you.
Mario: He was, but he disappeared. He slipped on something, and started acting really
strangely, and left...
Peach: What did he slip on?
Mario: He said it was a leaf, but I didn't believe him...
Peach: Do you think he hit his head really hard and started wandering around?
Mario: No, I doubt it. But it seems he's not in the lodge, and he's not outside...
Peach: Have you asked anyone else?
Mario: I asked everyone outside, and looked in their rooms. No Luigi.
Peach: What about Wario? Could he have come back?
Mario: There would be no clues leading him to this lodge, so he's probably still at the
resort. No, it couldn't be Wario.
Peach: Well, who else is there??
Mario: There's that Koopa guy, but he wouldn't know we're here either. I know I'm
missing somebody...
Peach: What about Bowser?
Mario: That's who I forgot...but he probably wouldn't know. I suppose it's worth a try...
Peach: Good luck!
Mario: *Smiles* See you later...
*Mario heads down to Bowser's room*
Mario: Hey, Bowser?
Bowser: Looking for Luigi? I have absolutely no idea where Luigi is.
Mario: Huh? What did you do, Bowser?!
Bowser: *Nasty grin spreads on face* Hmm, I might be willing to make you a little
deal...I'll race you. One on one. You win, Luigi mysteriously
appears on your bed the next morning. You lose......heh heh heh...
Mario: When?
Bowser: 12:00. The jungle. You don't show up...guess what? I WIN. Bye, Mario...
Mario: That's our driving session! You won't get away with this!!!
Bowser: I suppose we will find that out, won't we...? *Shoves Mario out, closes door*
*Mario heads for his room, fuming. Bowser had no right to do this. The minutes pass...*
*And the hour arrives! Everyone has already left...*
Mario: *Drives his kart into the heart of the jungle on Koopa Troopa Island*
Bowser: Ah, there you are! I was wondering if you would decide to show up. Not that
you had much choice...
Mario: Just get on with it.
Bowser (sarcastically): Let's hear a round of applause for our "guests" today! Lakitu
and Boo!
Lakitu: *Looks pained, gives Mario a pleading look*
Lakitu: 3...
Lakitu: 2...
Lakitu: 1...
Lakitu: GO!!!
*As Lakitu waves the flag, he drops a piece of paper in Mario's kart as it passes by*
*Mario has barely enough time to notice "Get Red" scrawled quickly on the paper*
Bowser: *Has already taken the lead and is approaching the item boxes...grabs middle
one and opens it*
*Mario grabs the one on the left and opens it. He finds two mushrooms inside, and tosses them into the hole in the kart. Suddenly, before Mario can hit the button, Boo appears and grabs the mushrooms. He then disappears and reappears by Bowser, who puts them in his kart*
Bowser: Bwa ha ha! Let's see you get out of this one, Mario!! *Shoots into the
distance*
*Coming up next is the first ramp, which leads over a lava pit. Mario flies over the ramp, and lands safely on the other side*
Mario: Whew!
*Suddenly two red shells streak toward Mario. Both explode and Mario flies into the air*
Mario: AAAHHHH!!!! *Lands and tumbles on the ground*
*As soon as Mario gets his bearings, he slams on the gas and shoots through an overpass of low trees. He is approaching a cave in the island wall*
*Inside are many underground lakes and rock formations. Mario, using expert braking tactics, zips around each but keeps up his speed. Coming up is the next row of item boxes. Mario grabs the one in the middle*
Mario: Yes! *Sees a red shell inside*
*Mario decides it would probably be a good idea to hang onto it until he could see Bowser near him, and sets it down in his kart. Just before he reaches the exit of the cave, he notices an odd assortment of colored coconuts*
Mario: That's pretty weird...
*Mario shoots over a ramp that leads over a second pit of lava, and lands safely*
*The finish line now approaches...*
Lakitu: Did you do it? Get red!
*Before Mario can ask what he means, he is already past him*
Mario: *Shoots over the ramp that leads over the first lava pit*
*Suddenly, Mario hears something behind him. Bowser is approaching!*
Mario: Hah! Guess I really got you, huh?! You're behind me!
*They enter the island cave*
Bowser: Wah ha ha ha!!! You don't get it. I'm about to lap you! I'm almost done with
the race! Wah ha ha ha ha!!! *Zooms past Mario*
Mario: Oh, no! I've gotta do something! *Throws his red shell, but it bumps into a rock
formation and explodes*
*Mario remembers Lakitu's advice*
Mario: Get red...get red...it doesn't mean anything!!!
*Suddenly, Mario passes the colored coconuts, and spots a large red one*
Mario: Get red!! *Does 180 degree spin, grabs red and races on*
*Cracks open coconut on the side of his kart and three items fall out!*
Mario: *Sees a Boo model, a lightning bolt model, and a triple mushroom* Yes!
*Throws in the Boo and presses the button*
*A second later, Boo appears near him*
Mario: *Suddenly sees Bowser in the distance, about to fly over the final lava pit* See
Bowser over there?
Boo: *Nods*
Mario: Slow him down just as he is about to go over the ramp.
Boo: *Disappears*
Mario: Luigi, I'm coming! This had better work... *Throws in the mushroom, but
watches Bowser in the distance*
*Boo appears directly in front of Bowser's face*
Bowser: AAAHH! ARRRGG! *Spins over the edge of the ramp, not fast enough to
make it over the lava pit. Falls into lava* AAHHH! OWW! AWWRGH!!
Mario: *Races over Bowser, but still watches him*
*Lakitu isn't at the finish line as Mario passes it, as he is attempting to save Bowser from certain death*
Mario: *Flies over first ramp, and enters cave. He activates the mushroom and slams
small formations out of the way. This saves a lot of time. Quickly zips around
other formations and exits the cave*
*As Mario exits, he sees that Lakitu now has a charred Bowser and is about to carry him to land. This is the exact moment Mario had been waiting for: Lakitu is carrying Bowser, but hasn't put him on land yet*
Mario: NOW!! *Slams the lightning into the hole and punches the button. A massive
blast of electrical energy rockets into the sky, and slams on Lakitu and Bowser*
Lakitu: Owch! Ah! Ow! *Is shocked and drops Bowser back into the lava*
Mario: Yes!!! *Shoots over Lakitu's second rescue scene*
*Lakitu quickly puts Bowser on land, and although he is burned, shocked, and furious, he still quickly catches up to Mario*
Mario: Now I really am ahead of you!
Bowser: Not for long! *Uses a mushroom and rockets ahead of Mario. Is within
viewing distance of the finish line!*
*They reach the final stretch, and the last string of item boxes*
*Mario gets a Boo, and Bowser gets a red shell*
Mario: *Throws in the Boo and presses the button*
*Boo appears, just as Bowser throws his red shell behind him and laughs maniacally*
Mario: Make me invisible! *Slowly fades away as Boo flies around him*
*Because Bowser is the only remaining player that is visible, the red shell changes course, rockets into Bowser as he is about two yards from the finish line, explodes, and causes Bowser to crash backward into the thick underbrush, screaming and cursing*
Mario: *Streaks across the finish line, still invisible*
Bowser: *Quickly gets his kart on the course and goes quickly across the finish line*
YESS!!! BWA HA HA HA! I BEAT MARIO!! I WIN!!!
Mario: *Fades back*
Bowser: What??!! No!! AARRGG! *Rears up and shoots a blast of flame at Mario*
Mario: *Does 180 degree spin and drives out of the way*
Bowser: AAAAARRRRGGGHHHH!!!!!!
Lakitu: Mario WINS, fair and square!! Now get outta here! If I hear you've done
anything, to ANYBODY, you will be disqualified from our races and kicked out of
the club!! You hear me??!
Bowser: *Stamps on the gas and blows dirt and exhaust all over Lakitu and Mario*
Lakitu: Mario! YOU DID IT! This is so great! You're the best! You know? You
might be the best driver we have!!
Mario: Wow! I...uh... *Turns red* Um...thanks. It was for Luigi, though.
Lakitu: Let's go ahead and get back to the lodge. The driving session should be over by
now. We should see how they did!
*Mario and Lakitu hike to Troopa Lodge*
Peach: Mario!!! *Runs over and hugs him* You're safe!
Mario: Yeah...I...I'm fine...
Peach: I...thought...you weren't coming back...
Mario: Peach...
*Silence for a moment*
Peach: But you're okay! Oh, I'm so happy! *Runs down the hall*
Mario: *Grins, just stands there a minute, and heads for Yoshi's room*
Mario: Hey, Yoshi! How'd the race go??
Yoshi: Trust me, you didn't miss out on much. Lakitu, you, Luigi, and Bowser
disappeared, and our temporary coach was this lame para-goomba who obviously
had no idea what a race even was. Everybody tried to use your shortcut, because
Toad went and told everyone exactly how you won, so the race only lasted like
two minutes. I actually won, DK got second, Peach got third, and Toad got last.
He was so furious that everyone used "his" shortcut, but he kept missing the cave!
Mario: Huh... I guess I really didn't miss on much!
Yoshi: So...what were you guys doing?
*Mario tells him the story of Luigi's capture, and his and Bowser's secret race*
Yoshi: That no good Koopa! It figures he'd boss everyone around so much. That just
really stinks. What's really good, though, is that it's just like you never missed
our driving session anyway. You had your own, and it was probably better than
ours...
Mario: Hey, you know what? We're about to head back to the resort! Isn't that great?
Yoshi: Yeah, I'm sick of this Troopa-Whatever mudhole. It really shows you just how
great the resort really is...
Mario: Ha ha! No kidding.
Yoshi: So where's Bowser, Luigi, and Lakitu?
Mario: Bowser's probably already back by now, Luigi's gonna be here tomorrow
morning, and Lakitu's on his way back.
Yoshi: Wow, Mario! That's really some story. And you came out of it fine! You're a
great racer, you know. One more race with us and you'll be ready for the big
leagues!
Mario: ..."Big Leagues?"......
Yoshi: Yeah! Every few months we do a special Kart Grand Prix! Only experienced
racers are allowed to join it. All of us have been able to go, and it looks like you
and Luigi could too, the way you're progressing!
Mario: What about Wario?
Yoshi: Y'know, sad as it is, he has been taking that secret training, so he'll probably
make it in too...
Mario: He's probably force Lakitu to let him in, even if he's not supposed to go....
Yoshi: You've got a point... oh well. Anyway, at this month's grand prix, we're racing
for the Flower Cup! Lakitu says he's leaving the tracks a surprise, and it's
supposed to be really fun! A couple of months ago we raced at Luigi Raceway...
Mario: Wait a minute! Luigi Raceway?!
Yoshi: Hey, you've got a Mario Raceway too, y'know... A lotta people think you guys
are heroes...in fact, I think I've got one too – Yoshi Valley, I believe it's called.
Mario: Well, yeah, but geez! A racetrack for Luigi?!
Yoshi: Well, ANYWAY... We raced at Luigi Raceway, here, and Kalimari Desert.
We've been all over the world...we even raced at Bowser's Castle when he let
us!! That's always been everyone's favorite.
Mario: Wow...hey, guess what! Lakitu's coming in! I saw him out your window.
Yoshi: Oh, good. Then we can get off this rock!
*Lakitu arrives, and indeed takes them back to the resort, on a ferry*
*An hour or so later...*
Wario: *Hiding in bushes* Ah! THERE they are! They must be getting on the ferry to
go to their secret practice!! *Ducks down, and doesn't notice Mario and
everyone else go inside the lobby* The ferry is about to leave! I'd better get on!
*Leaps out of the bushes and onto the platform just as the ferry leaves*
*The ferry pulls away into the evening fog. It passes by Koopa Troopa Island and (to Wario's dismay) heads toward Yo'ster Isle. Wario leaps off and swims to the shore of Koopa Troopa Island. He now has find a boat to get back*
Wario: *Spots a passing Koopa* When's the next ferry?!
Koopa: Err... *Glances nervously at Wario* Um...tomorrow, I think...
Wario: AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
Koopa: Aaaahhh! *Runs in terror*
Wario: You're gonna pay for this, Mario. You're gonna pay...
*At the resort*
Mario: Finally back! *Collapses onto bed*
*Mario's stomach rumbles - he realizes he hasn't eaten since his and Yoshi's spaghetti lunch. He heads for the food that he brought with him and grabs a plate of lasagna. Mario puts it in the microwave and turns it on for two minutes. He sits down and is suddenly, incredibly tired. He puts his head down on the table and...... and suddenly sits up. There is a knock at the door. Someone snickers on the other side. There is the sound of something heavy being dragged on the other side. The person knocks again*
Mario: Who could that be?
*Wario is on the other side of the door! With him, he brings the mashed remains of Mario's destroyed kart!!*
Mario: What did you do?!
Wario: Wah ha ha ha! I've got you now! Now you'll never beat me! You'll NEVER
MAKE IT TO THE BIG LEAGUES...!
Mario: You...you...how could you do this??!!
Wario: Ha ha hah! You're so scared you can't even FIGHT!! *Barges toward Mario*
Mario: *Is suddenly frozen in place* NO!!!
*Just as Wario hits him, the timer dings. Mario sits up from his place at the table. Wario was never there*
Mario: Man, I musta fallen asleep... that was pretty weird...
*Mario reaches in and takes out the lasagna and is just about to take a bite... and then he suddenly sits up. There is a knock at the door. Someone snickers on the other side. There is the sound of something heavy being dragged on the other side. The person knocks again...exactly like the dream*
Mario: *Freezes in place* No... NO... NO...!!
*The doorknob slowly turns...*
Mario: NO!!!
*The door begins to open...slowly, slowly...*
Mario: NO!!!! AAAHHHH!!!!!!
*Directly on the other side of the door...IS......*
TO BE CONTINUED...
EPISODE II
"THE CHALLENGE"
Lakitu: All right! Remember the things I said! Ready? Three!
*Mario's hands begin to sweat under his gloves.*
Lakitu: Two!
*Mario and Luigi glance nervously between each other.*
Lakitu: One!
*Mario, then grips the steering wheel, and forces a smile for Peach.*
Lakitu: GO!!!
*Mario and his friends stamp on the gas and zoom away into the distance.*
Toad: Comin' at ya!
Mario: Outta the way!
*Mario and Toad, in the lead, fight for first. The first string of item boxes approaches*
Toad: *Snags the one on the left*
Mario: *Gets the one in the middle*
*They open the item boxes, but keep their eyes on the road. Mario gets a red shell*
Toad: Take this! *Drops a banana directly in front of Mario*
Mario: Aaahhh!!! *Spins in circles, but throws his shell*
Toad: *Races around corner, but red shell hits and he tumbles into the water*
*By now, DK and Peach have passed Mario, and Yoshi is approaching*
Yoshi: Hey, Mario! You all right?
Mario: Yeah, I'm fine.
*They approach a ramp with red arrows on it*
Mario: Here goes...
*They shoot over the ramp, and land on the ground*
Mario: I oughta use "bounce" on the next one...
*They fly over the next ramp, but Mario presses his "bounce" button and shoots high in the air, over the next ramp, saving time*
Yoshi: *Drives over ramp normally*
Mario: *Several yards ahead now, approaching DK*
*The next row of item boxes approaches*
Mario: *Grabs the right one, the only one remaining. Opens it, finds a model of a Boo.
Drops it in the hole in the back of the kart and presses the button. Seconds later,
a Boo appears*
Mario: Slow DK down for me.
Boo: *Disappears, reappears by DK, flies around and around his head*
DK: Aaahh! Aahhh! *Drives off the side of the road*
Mario: *Zooms past DK, approaches the finish line*
Lakitu: Good going, Mario! Second lap!
*Mario now approaches Luigi*
Luigi: You'll never pass me!
Mario: It would be a sorry day if I didn't...
*They approach the row of item boxes*
Luigi: Let's see what I get...
Mario: *Snatches a star, drops it in the hole in the kart*
Luigi: Take this!! *Fires three red shells at Mario, one after the other*
Mario: *Presses the button quickly, shield forms around Mario, shells bounce off
harmlessly*
Luigi: Hey! *Steers wildly toward him*
Mario: *Smirks, continues driving.*
Luigi: Did you really think I'd hit you? Geez, I was just trying to freak you out...
*Mario spots a thin ramp that appears to lead over a small island*
Mario: See you at the finish line! *Drives over the ramp, shoots over the island, and
presses "bounce" when he lands – shoots over part of the track*
Luigi: Whoa...
*Unfortunately, Yoshi sees what Mario does, copies him exactly, and now still follows close behind.*
*Mario now approaches a struggling Peach, who seems to be having troubles with her kart.*
Mario: Hey! Peach! What's wrong?
Peach: I dunno...my kart's going all weird...
Mario: What's it doing?
Peach: It keeps sliding through all my turns...
Mario: Check the drift turn button. Is it stuck?
Peach: Yeah, you're right!
Mario: Speaking of drift turns... *Slides around the corner, and lets go, getting a boost
of speed, and rushes past Peach*
*Mario once again approaches Toad, in the lead*
Toad: Haven't you learned your lesson, Mario?
Mario: I'll tell you...after you get second place!
Toad: Well then, I suppose I'll never know! *Throws a green shell behind him*
Mario: *Dodges*
Toad: *Throws two more green shells*
Mario: *Dodges*
Toad: Urrgg...
*Mario snags an item box and checks inside – gets three mushrooms. He drops them all down the hole and presses the button*
Mario: Yee-ha! See you at the finish line!
*Crosses the finish line*
Lakitu: Hold that first! Final lap!
Mario: Yes! I'm gonna make it!
*Suddenly, a spiny shell streaks toward Mario at a blinding speed. It rams into the kart and explodes, but all the spikes miss the kart. Mario and his kart tumble into the water*
Mario: *Chokes on seawater.*
Lakitu: Hey, Mario! *Pulls him and the kart out of the water and back on the track*
Hurry, quick!
*Mario is now in sixth, with only Bowser behind him. The places are now, from first to last, Toad, Yoshi, Peach, Luigi, DK, Mario, Bowser*
Mario: Oh, boy...
Bowser: Hey, Mario! Not so good now, are you??
Mario: *Goes over the two ramps once again, ignoring Bowser's taunts...suddenly,
something catches his eye. A ramp, hidden behind a rock, seems to lead into a
hole in the wall of the island. Mario, thinking he has nothing to lose, drives up
the ramp and into the hole*
*Bowser thinks Mario just made another mistake, and continues on around the island*
*Toad is streaking for the finish line*
Toad: Yesss!!
*Suddenly, Mario fires out of a tunnel in the island wall and across the finish line, about a foot in front of Toad*
Toad: ...Wha...?
Lakitu: And the winner is...Mario! Great job, Mario! You found the secret entrance!
Mario: All right!
Lakitu: Why don't you and Toad come over here so you won't get hit by whoever that is
over there...
Yoshi: *Streaks for the finish line* Yes! I got third!...Whoa, Mario! How'd you get up
here?? *Parks kart*
Mario: Yoshi! Watch out!
*Luigi is hurtling toward Yoshi, and just suddenly notices*
Yoshi: *Does 180 degree spin and just manages to get out of the way*
Luigi: *Covers eyes with hands* Aaaahhhh!!!! *Spins into the water*
Lakitu: *Pulls him out with his fishing rod* Nice spin, Yoshi.
Yoshi: Thanks!
Peach: Here I come! Fifth place!
*Everyone waits, and soon DK shows up, followed closely by Bowser*
Bowser: Aarrgg! Get out of my way!
DK: *Throws three red shells directly into Bowser's kart* Finish!
Lakitu: And that leaves Bowser...ungh...*Pulls him out of the water and stops him from
tumbling*...with last. Great race, everyone! I saw a lot of good techniques
being used, and a lot of competitive spirits... *Glances at Bowser*
Bowser: *Glares menacingly*
Lakitu: We'll do one more race at two, but rest up first. There's a lodge up the island
some – stay there 'till noon. Then we'll do our race and head back to the resort.
Luigi: That was fun!
Mario: Luigi, tell me honestly...how many times did you fall in the water?
Luigi: Um...three.
Peach: I didn't fall in at all...
Toad: Neither did I...
Yoshi: Once.
Mario: Same here.
DK: ......Four...
Bowser: ...
DK: What about you, Bowser?
Bowser: ......
DK: Ookaayy, let's just go to the lodge.
*The seven approach "Troopa Lodge," and sign in for their rooms*
Luigi: Hey, Yoshi! Let's get rooms next to each other again!
Yoshi: Yeah, OK! Hey, Toad? Get the one between Peach and me, like before.
Mario: It's gonna be a little different, but I'd say mostly the same as at the resort...hey
Yoshi. You know what the best part is? No Wario!
Yoshi: Heh...definetely.
*There is only one floor in the lodge and the rooms are not nearly as fancy as at the resort, but everyone still has a good time*
Mario: Hey, check it out! This place has intercoms!
Luigi: I wonder why?
Mario: I dunno, but I've got an idea...
*Mario explains his plan to Luigi, and he laughs.*
Mario: Okay, ready? You do the voice thing, and I'll turn on the intercom. Make sure
that one's on.
Luigi: Okay, go for it!
*Mario runs outside to Yoshi's door.*
Mario: Yooossshhiiii.... *Jumps into broom closet in hall.*
Yoshi: *Opens his door, looks around, and walks down hall to investigate.*
Mario: *Jumps into Yoshi's room, flips on intercom sets the trap in the closet, and runs
back into his room.*
*Yoshi soon decides it is nothing, and walks back to his room.*
Mario: Go!
Luigi: Uh oh, he's back already? I'd better hide quick! *Blows on intercom a few times
to make shuffling noise.*
Yoshi: Who's there?
*Silence.*
Yoshi: I said WHO'S THERE??
*Yoshi suddenly spies the partially open closet, sneaks over, and slams it open.*
*A giant rubber snake springs out at Yoshi.*
Yoshi: AAAHHH!!! AAHH!! Huh?
*Mario walks in and laughs histerically*
Mario: Hah ha ha ha ha!!
Yoshi: You idiot! That wasn't funny!
Mario: Hah hah hah ha ha ha!!!
Yoshi: Get outta here!
Mario: Oh, come on!
Yoshi: Oh, whatever...let's go eat. Oh, that's right...I'm never eating with you again.
Mario: Come on...you can forgive Luigi, can't you?
Yoshi: No.
Mario: By the way, you still owe me five coins...
Yoshi: Let's just get out of here.
*Mario and Yoshi go for spaghetti, and Luigi wonders where they are*
Luigi: They couldn't have gone far... *Enters Yoshi's room, looks behind things,
leaves. Decides to go ask Lakitu*
Luigi: *Walks to Lakitu's room - knocks*
Lakitu: Who is it?
Luigi: Luigi.
Lakitu: Oh. Come in!
Luigi: *Walks in, closes door* Hey, do you know where Mario and Yoshi went?
Lakitu: No idea, but Luigi? There's something I'd like to talk to you about.
Luigi: Sure, what?
Lakitu: Bowser has been really quiet recently. I think something's up with him...
Luigi: Seems like there always is...why talk to me about it?
Lakitu: I'd ask Mario to do this, but...since he's not here...
Luigi: You want me to find out what's up with him?
Lakitu: Yes. I knew you'd understand...
Luigi: But I can't do that! I...I, um, I just can't!
Lakitu: Why?
Luigi: I...I...um...oh all right. I'll see what I can do.
*Unfortunately, Bowser has been listening through the door and now formulates a desperate plan to keep Luigi from finding out what he is doing*
Luigi: I guess I'd better be going... *Leaves, enters his room*
*Bowser grabs his plan book and tosses it out the window*
Bowser: I know what's going on anyway.
*By now Mario and Yoshi are returning from their spaghetti lunch, in the middle of a heated argument*
Yoshi: ...the one who started flinging noodles at me in the first place!
Mario: You turned the bowl over!
Yoshi: But I didn't trip the poor man!
Mario: Well, he was being annoying. He couldn't get our order right, anyway! Besides,
you were the one that started yelling!
*Mario and Yoshi stop as Luigi comes out to greet them*
Luigi: Where were you guys? I got kind of worried...
Mario: You get worried about everything.
Yoshi: Mario and I were thinking...we kind of want to do something, but we don't know
what. Got any suggestions?
Luigi: Maybe some kind of game?
Yoshi: Like a board game? No way!
Luigi: No, like volleyball!
Mario: Come on, we just played that yesterday.
Luigi: We could eat...
Yoshi: We just did!
Luigi: Without me?? Awww...
Mario: We couldn't find you, so we just left.
Luigi: Ummm, baseball?
Yoshi: We don't have a bat!
Luigi: Geez! Umm, hide and go seek?
Mario: *Glances at Yoshi, then stares at Luigi* You're serious, aren't you??
Luigi: Yeah.
Yoshi: Sure! I don't think I've played that in about 6 years. Let's go get everybody
else...this should be interesting.
*They manage to get DK and Toad, but no one else wants to play*
Toad: Since we're playing this anyway, I might as well do THIS - 1, 2, 3, NOT IT!!
DK: NOT IT!
Luigi: NOT IT!!
Yoshi: NOT IT!!!
Mario: NOT...aww. OK, I'm it. I'll count to 100. Ready? *Faces wall* Go!
Yoshi: *Runs, whispers to DK for a minute*
DK: *Nods quickly* Good idea.
Yoshi: *Stands on DK's shoulders, gets on top of a tree, and hides in leaves*
*DK, a natural born climber, quickly gets in the tree next to Yoshi*
Mario: ...88...89...90...91...
Toad: Uh oh...
*Luigi and Toad begin running frantically, trying to hide*
Luigi: *Crashes into Toad, both fall down*
Mario: 94...95...96...97...
Toad: *Races like a bullet around to the back of the building to hide*
Mario: ...98...99...
Luigi: *Leaps into thin nearby bush to hide – easy to see*
Mario: ...100! Ready or not, here I come! *Takes a quick glance around* Geez, Luigi!
I counted to 100...
Luigi: Oh, be quiet.
*Luigi hasn't noticed, but the bush he hid in is directly below Bowser's window*
Luigi: *Begins to walk, suddenly slips on Bowser's book and falls* Whoa!
Mario: Hey, you all right? What did you slip on?
Luigi: *Suddenly sees the book and is prepared to spill everything, but something holds
him back* Just a leaf. *Stuffs the book into his pocket when Mario isn't
looking*
Mario: Hmm, where could the others be?
Yoshi (whispering): DK, move so I can see Mario!
DK: No, cause then I won't be able to see!
Yoshi: Move! *Shoves DK to the side*
DK: Don't you push me! *Shoves Yoshi back*
Yoshi: *Pushes DK*
DK: *Falls off the edge, but grabs Yoshi*
*They both fall in a heap on the ground and Mario tags them before they can get away*
Yoshi: Really nice, DK...
DK: You shoved me first!
Yoshi: But you pulled me over the edge! That gave me away!
DK: Because you pushed me over the edge and gave me away!
Mario: *Has just found Toad* You two be quiet. Since I spotted Luigi first, he's it.
Toad: Where'd he go?
DK: I dunno, I guess he went to use the bathroom or something...
Mario: OK then, DK. I saw you second, so that means you're it.
DK: OK. 1...2...3...4...5...6...7...
*Meanwhile, Luigi is in his and Mario's room, looking through Bowser's book*
Luigi: This part looks interesting: "Today I came up with a brilliant plan. I've decided
that when no one is around, I'm going to capture Lakitu and not let him go until
he pays the ransom! And the ransom is to make Mario get last in our next race!
Bwa ha ha ha!!" When no one is around? Everyone is outside now! Oh no!
*Luigi knocks on Lakitu's door, and sure enough there is no answer. Luigi now is stuck*
Luigi: Should I tell Mario or confront Bowser myself? Mario's always the hero...I think
it's my turn! *Boldly marches to Bowser's room and knocks on the door*
Bowser: What??!! *Sounds really stressed*
Luigi: Bowser? I know what you're up to. I won't let you get away with this! Why
don't you come out and fight?!
*Silence*
Bowser: Wah ha ha ha ha ha hah!! You?!? Ha ha ha ha ha!!
Luigi: If you don't come out, I...I'm going in there!
Bowser: Okay! Come in!
*Luigi opens the door and leaps in. Suddenly there is a loud thump and Luigi falls to the floor. Bowser ties him up and throws him in the closet next to Lakitu*
Bowser (thinking): At some point, Mario's gonna notice. If he asks me, let's
see...hmm......
*Meanwhile, the game continues outside*
DK: OK, Toad's the last one...man, where is he??
Mario: *Spots Toad on the roof of the lodge, stifles laughter*
Toad: *Disappears from sight*
DK: *Watches Mario, sees where he is looking. Climbs up pole to roof* Toad, what are
you doing up here? That's against the rules!
Toad: Mario! You gave it away!
Mario: Sorry...oh well. Say, where'd Luigi head off too?
DK: Well, I guess he wasn't in the bathroom...
Mario: I'm gonna go check up on him. Yoshi is officially it!
Yoshi: Aww...OK! 1...2...3...4...5...6...
*Mario heads inside, goes to his room*
Mario: Luigi? *Heads to Yoshi's room*
Mario: Luigi??? *Heads to DK's room*
Mario: Luigi?????
*Mario goes to Peach's room*
Mario: Hey, Peach. Have you seen Luigi?
Peach: I thought he was playing a game with you.
Mario: He was, but he disappeared. He slipped on something, and started acting really
strangely, and left...
Peach: What did he slip on?
Mario: He said it was a leaf, but I didn't believe him...
Peach: Do you think he hit his head really hard and started wandering around?
Mario: No, I doubt it. But it seems he's not in the lodge, and he's not outside...
Peach: Have you asked anyone else?
Mario: I asked everyone outside, and looked in their rooms. No Luigi.
Peach: What about Wario? Could he have come back?
Mario: There would be no clues leading him to this lodge, so he's probably still at the
resort. No, it couldn't be Wario.
Peach: Well, who else is there??
Mario: There's that Koopa guy, but he wouldn't know we're here either. I know I'm
missing somebody...
Peach: What about Bowser?
Mario: That's who I forgot...but he probably wouldn't know. I suppose it's worth a try...
Peach: Good luck!
Mario: *Smiles* See you later...
*Mario heads down to Bowser's room*
Mario: Hey, Bowser?
Bowser: Looking for Luigi? I have absolutely no idea where Luigi is.
Mario: Huh? What did you do, Bowser?!
Bowser: *Nasty grin spreads on face* Hmm, I might be willing to make you a little
deal...I'll race you. One on one. You win, Luigi mysteriously
appears on your bed the next morning. You lose......heh heh heh...
Mario: When?
Bowser: 12:00. The jungle. You don't show up...guess what? I WIN. Bye, Mario...
Mario: That's our driving session! You won't get away with this!!!
Bowser: I suppose we will find that out, won't we...? *Shoves Mario out, closes door*
*Mario heads for his room, fuming. Bowser had no right to do this. The minutes pass...*
*And the hour arrives! Everyone has already left...*
Mario: *Drives his kart into the heart of the jungle on Koopa Troopa Island*
Bowser: Ah, there you are! I was wondering if you would decide to show up. Not that
you had much choice...
Mario: Just get on with it.
Bowser (sarcastically): Let's hear a round of applause for our "guests" today! Lakitu
and Boo!
Lakitu: *Looks pained, gives Mario a pleading look*
Lakitu: 3...
Lakitu: 2...
Lakitu: 1...
Lakitu: GO!!!
*As Lakitu waves the flag, he drops a piece of paper in Mario's kart as it passes by*
*Mario has barely enough time to notice "Get Red" scrawled quickly on the paper*
Bowser: *Has already taken the lead and is approaching the item boxes...grabs middle
one and opens it*
*Mario grabs the one on the left and opens it. He finds two mushrooms inside, and tosses them into the hole in the kart. Suddenly, before Mario can hit the button, Boo appears and grabs the mushrooms. He then disappears and reappears by Bowser, who puts them in his kart*
Bowser: Bwa ha ha! Let's see you get out of this one, Mario!! *Shoots into the
distance*
*Coming up next is the first ramp, which leads over a lava pit. Mario flies over the ramp, and lands safely on the other side*
Mario: Whew!
*Suddenly two red shells streak toward Mario. Both explode and Mario flies into the air*
Mario: AAAHHHH!!!! *Lands and tumbles on the ground*
*As soon as Mario gets his bearings, he slams on the gas and shoots through an overpass of low trees. He is approaching a cave in the island wall*
*Inside are many underground lakes and rock formations. Mario, using expert braking tactics, zips around each but keeps up his speed. Coming up is the next row of item boxes. Mario grabs the one in the middle*
Mario: Yes! *Sees a red shell inside*
*Mario decides it would probably be a good idea to hang onto it until he could see Bowser near him, and sets it down in his kart. Just before he reaches the exit of the cave, he notices an odd assortment of colored coconuts*
Mario: That's pretty weird...
*Mario shoots over a ramp that leads over a second pit of lava, and lands safely*
*The finish line now approaches...*
Lakitu: Did you do it? Get red!
*Before Mario can ask what he means, he is already past him*
Mario: *Shoots over the ramp that leads over the first lava pit*
*Suddenly, Mario hears something behind him. Bowser is approaching!*
Mario: Hah! Guess I really got you, huh?! You're behind me!
*They enter the island cave*
Bowser: Wah ha ha ha!!! You don't get it. I'm about to lap you! I'm almost done with
the race! Wah ha ha ha ha!!! *Zooms past Mario*
Mario: Oh, no! I've gotta do something! *Throws his red shell, but it bumps into a rock
formation and explodes*
*Mario remembers Lakitu's advice*
Mario: Get red...get red...it doesn't mean anything!!!
*Suddenly, Mario passes the colored coconuts, and spots a large red one*
Mario: Get red!! *Does 180 degree spin, grabs red and races on*
*Cracks open coconut on the side of his kart and three items fall out!*
Mario: *Sees a Boo model, a lightning bolt model, and a triple mushroom* Yes!
*Throws in the Boo and presses the button*
*A second later, Boo appears near him*
Mario: *Suddenly sees Bowser in the distance, about to fly over the final lava pit* See
Bowser over there?
Boo: *Nods*
Mario: Slow him down just as he is about to go over the ramp.
Boo: *Disappears*
Mario: Luigi, I'm coming! This had better work... *Throws in the mushroom, but
watches Bowser in the distance*
*Boo appears directly in front of Bowser's face*
Bowser: AAAHH! ARRRGG! *Spins over the edge of the ramp, not fast enough to
make it over the lava pit. Falls into lava* AAHHH! OWW! AWWRGH!!
Mario: *Races over Bowser, but still watches him*
*Lakitu isn't at the finish line as Mario passes it, as he is attempting to save Bowser from certain death*
Mario: *Flies over first ramp, and enters cave. He activates the mushroom and slams
small formations out of the way. This saves a lot of time. Quickly zips around
other formations and exits the cave*
*As Mario exits, he sees that Lakitu now has a charred Bowser and is about to carry him to land. This is the exact moment Mario had been waiting for: Lakitu is carrying Bowser, but hasn't put him on land yet*
Mario: NOW!! *Slams the lightning into the hole and punches the button. A massive
blast of electrical energy rockets into the sky, and slams on Lakitu and Bowser*
Lakitu: Owch! Ah! Ow! *Is shocked and drops Bowser back into the lava*
Mario: Yes!!! *Shoots over Lakitu's second rescue scene*
*Lakitu quickly puts Bowser on land, and although he is burned, shocked, and furious, he still quickly catches up to Mario*
Mario: Now I really am ahead of you!
Bowser: Not for long! *Uses a mushroom and rockets ahead of Mario. Is within
viewing distance of the finish line!*
*They reach the final stretch, and the last string of item boxes*
*Mario gets a Boo, and Bowser gets a red shell*
Mario: *Throws in the Boo and presses the button*
*Boo appears, just as Bowser throws his red shell behind him and laughs maniacally*
Mario: Make me invisible! *Slowly fades away as Boo flies around him*
*Because Bowser is the only remaining player that is visible, the red shell changes course, rockets into Bowser as he is about two yards from the finish line, explodes, and causes Bowser to crash backward into the thick underbrush, screaming and cursing*
Mario: *Streaks across the finish line, still invisible*
Bowser: *Quickly gets his kart on the course and goes quickly across the finish line*
YESS!!! BWA HA HA HA! I BEAT MARIO!! I WIN!!!
Mario: *Fades back*
Bowser: What??!! No!! AARRGG! *Rears up and shoots a blast of flame at Mario*
Mario: *Does 180 degree spin and drives out of the way*
Bowser: AAAAARRRRGGGHHHH!!!!!!
Lakitu: Mario WINS, fair and square!! Now get outta here! If I hear you've done
anything, to ANYBODY, you will be disqualified from our races and kicked out of
the club!! You hear me??!
Bowser: *Stamps on the gas and blows dirt and exhaust all over Lakitu and Mario*
Lakitu: Mario! YOU DID IT! This is so great! You're the best! You know? You
might be the best driver we have!!
Mario: Wow! I...uh... *Turns red* Um...thanks. It was for Luigi, though.
Lakitu: Let's go ahead and get back to the lodge. The driving session should be over by
now. We should see how they did!
*Mario and Lakitu hike to Troopa Lodge*
Peach: Mario!!! *Runs over and hugs him* You're safe!
Mario: Yeah...I...I'm fine...
Peach: I...thought...you weren't coming back...
Mario: Peach...
*Silence for a moment*
Peach: But you're okay! Oh, I'm so happy! *Runs down the hall*
Mario: *Grins, just stands there a minute, and heads for Yoshi's room*
Mario: Hey, Yoshi! How'd the race go??
Yoshi: Trust me, you didn't miss out on much. Lakitu, you, Luigi, and Bowser
disappeared, and our temporary coach was this lame para-goomba who obviously
had no idea what a race even was. Everybody tried to use your shortcut, because
Toad went and told everyone exactly how you won, so the race only lasted like
two minutes. I actually won, DK got second, Peach got third, and Toad got last.
He was so furious that everyone used "his" shortcut, but he kept missing the cave!
Mario: Huh... I guess I really didn't miss on much!
Yoshi: So...what were you guys doing?
*Mario tells him the story of Luigi's capture, and his and Bowser's secret race*
Yoshi: That no good Koopa! It figures he'd boss everyone around so much. That just
really stinks. What's really good, though, is that it's just like you never missed
our driving session anyway. You had your own, and it was probably better than
ours...
Mario: Hey, you know what? We're about to head back to the resort! Isn't that great?
Yoshi: Yeah, I'm sick of this Troopa-Whatever mudhole. It really shows you just how
great the resort really is...
Mario: Ha ha! No kidding.
Yoshi: So where's Bowser, Luigi, and Lakitu?
Mario: Bowser's probably already back by now, Luigi's gonna be here tomorrow
morning, and Lakitu's on his way back.
Yoshi: Wow, Mario! That's really some story. And you came out of it fine! You're a
great racer, you know. One more race with us and you'll be ready for the big
leagues!
Mario: ..."Big Leagues?"......
Yoshi: Yeah! Every few months we do a special Kart Grand Prix! Only experienced
racers are allowed to join it. All of us have been able to go, and it looks like you
and Luigi could too, the way you're progressing!
Mario: What about Wario?
Yoshi: Y'know, sad as it is, he has been taking that secret training, so he'll probably
make it in too...
Mario: He's probably force Lakitu to let him in, even if he's not supposed to go....
Yoshi: You've got a point... oh well. Anyway, at this month's grand prix, we're racing
for the Flower Cup! Lakitu says he's leaving the tracks a surprise, and it's
supposed to be really fun! A couple of months ago we raced at Luigi Raceway...
Mario: Wait a minute! Luigi Raceway?!
Yoshi: Hey, you've got a Mario Raceway too, y'know... A lotta people think you guys
are heroes...in fact, I think I've got one too – Yoshi Valley, I believe it's called.
Mario: Well, yeah, but geez! A racetrack for Luigi?!
Yoshi: Well, ANYWAY... We raced at Luigi Raceway, here, and Kalimari Desert.
We've been all over the world...we even raced at Bowser's Castle when he let
us!! That's always been everyone's favorite.
Mario: Wow...hey, guess what! Lakitu's coming in! I saw him out your window.
Yoshi: Oh, good. Then we can get off this rock!
*Lakitu arrives, and indeed takes them back to the resort, on a ferry*
*An hour or so later...*
Wario: *Hiding in bushes* Ah! THERE they are! They must be getting on the ferry to
go to their secret practice!! *Ducks down, and doesn't notice Mario and
everyone else go inside the lobby* The ferry is about to leave! I'd better get on!
*Leaps out of the bushes and onto the platform just as the ferry leaves*
*The ferry pulls away into the evening fog. It passes by Koopa Troopa Island and (to Wario's dismay) heads toward Yo'ster Isle. Wario leaps off and swims to the shore of Koopa Troopa Island. He now has find a boat to get back*
Wario: *Spots a passing Koopa* When's the next ferry?!
Koopa: Err... *Glances nervously at Wario* Um...tomorrow, I think...
Wario: AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
Koopa: Aaaahhh! *Runs in terror*
Wario: You're gonna pay for this, Mario. You're gonna pay...
*At the resort*
Mario: Finally back! *Collapses onto bed*
*Mario's stomach rumbles - he realizes he hasn't eaten since his and Yoshi's spaghetti lunch. He heads for the food that he brought with him and grabs a plate of lasagna. Mario puts it in the microwave and turns it on for two minutes. He sits down and is suddenly, incredibly tired. He puts his head down on the table and...... and suddenly sits up. There is a knock at the door. Someone snickers on the other side. There is the sound of something heavy being dragged on the other side. The person knocks again*
Mario: Who could that be?
*Wario is on the other side of the door! With him, he brings the mashed remains of Mario's destroyed kart!!*
Mario: What did you do?!
Wario: Wah ha ha ha! I've got you now! Now you'll never beat me! You'll NEVER
MAKE IT TO THE BIG LEAGUES...!
Mario: You...you...how could you do this??!!
Wario: Ha ha hah! You're so scared you can't even FIGHT!! *Barges toward Mario*
Mario: *Is suddenly frozen in place* NO!!!
*Just as Wario hits him, the timer dings. Mario sits up from his place at the table. Wario was never there*
Mario: Man, I musta fallen asleep... that was pretty weird...
*Mario reaches in and takes out the lasagna and is just about to take a bite... and then he suddenly sits up. There is a knock at the door. Someone snickers on the other side. There is the sound of something heavy being dragged on the other side. The person knocks again...exactly like the dream*
Mario: *Freezes in place* No... NO... NO...!!
*The doorknob slowly turns...*
Mario: NO!!!
*The door begins to open...slowly, slowly...*
Mario: NO!!!! AAAHHHH!!!!!!
*Directly on the other side of the door...IS......*
TO BE CONTINUED...