A/N: Here's the next thrilling chapter! YAYNESS!!!!!

The Other Prisoner: Chapter 3: Go Save Him, Mario!

Bowser's POV:

ARRGHH!! HE BEAT ME!! THE STUPID PLUMBER BEAT ME!!!!

Even though I made nearly half the arena collapse. . . I had new attacks. . . I boosted my defense so it would take three hits instead of one. . . and he still defeats me!

I lie here defeated, beat and bruised from the bombs. . . But it ain't over yet. . .

"Any last words, Bowser?" The plumber says in his obnoxious accent.

"Yes, I do. . . You may have the Princess. . . But I have another prisoner as well. . . I'm not leaving the castle until you beat me one last time! I'll be waiting. . ."

The shocked look on his face is priceless. I laugh manically before disappearing. . .

Link's POV:

Was that just Bowser's growl of defeat? Did Mario win??

I look at Peach, expecting an answer. She smiles at me.

"He did it! He's coming!" she cheers.

We both cheer again until the guards shush us again. Oh, man, I can't wait to get out of here! I can hear someone coming. . . Is it Mario?

Peach's happy face falls. She must recognize the heavy stomping. Oh, no, it's not Bowser again, is it?

Dang it, it is! He opens the door of the prison. Neither me nor Peach move.

"Come on, you're free to go." He says.

I don't want to move. What if this is a trap? Peach moves ever so slowly towards the opening, and Bowser lets her out. She's now free. I finally decide to move as well, but Bowser slams the door in my face.

"Not you, freak. You're not going anywhere."

WHAT!? But he. . . But she. . . I thought Mario defeated him! What's going on!?

"Bowser, you creep!" Peach cries out. "Let him go!"

"No! Mario may have defeated me, but I won't let it happen again!"

He tries to push Peach out of the room. As she resists, she calls out to me.

"I'll tell Mario about you! He'll come and save you, I promise!"

"SHUT UP AND GO!" shouts Bowser, pushing her out. He approaches my prison again and smirks down at me.

"What do you want with me!?" I yell at him.

"Oh, you'll see, freak, you'll see. . ." he hisses diabolically.

One of his Goomba guards rush in. "Sir! Mario has all the Power Stars! Permission to request something?"

"Granted."

"I request we start the process now, sir!"

"Very well." He turns to me. "In fact, you'll see right now!"

He opens the door again and grabs me by the arm, dragging me out into a large arena. A large. . . contraption sits in this room. A hollow star with pipes leading down to a single platform.

What the heck is that!?

Mario's POV:

I beat Bowser again. No surprise.

But what he said was really weird. Another prisoner? Who else did he capture? Maybe Peach would know. . .

. . . And there she is! She appears in front of the stain glass window and slowly floats down. I run up as fast as I can and remove my hat. I have to be as polite as possible in front of her. She slowly opens her eyes and stares down at me. She looks slightly happy but worried as well.

"Mario! Oh, Mario, thank you!" She leans down and gives me a big hug. This surprises me, but I return the hug nonetheless. But soon, she quickly pulls away and looks at me, extremely worried.

"Mario. . . There's someone else left in Bowser's grasp. . ."

Right, the other prisoner. "Who is it?"

"His name is Link, and he comes from the land of Hyrule. Bowser kidnapped him, why I don't know. . . But I know he's in danger if you don't save him!"

Looks like my adventure isn't over yet. Oh well, one more fight with Bowser wouldn't hurt. "Alright, Peach, I'll go save him!"

She smiles. "Oh, thank you, Mario! Good luck!"

I nod and approach the now-open cannon by the lake. I have all 120 Power Stars, so wherever Bowser is, I can get there.

I just gotta FIND the place. Easier said than done.

I figured the place may be somewhere on the roof, so I jump in the cannon and aim. But this thing doesn't even shoot straight! I didn't realize this until I fired. Instead of flying towards the roof, I'm about to hit the large stain-glass window. I brace myself for the shattering glass, but it never came. I look around, and I'm in a small room, on the other side of the window.

Ah, another portal! I should've known. . .

The only other thing in this room is a green pipe. Bowser must be there! Without hesitation, I jump down.

Time to go beat Bowser once and for all!

A/N: Why must Bowser pick on Link!? WHY!?!? (baps Bowser) LEAVE HIM ALONE!!!!

Bowser: Hey, you're the one who wrote it!

. . . Oh yeah. . . (sweatdrops). . . Well, anyhoo, the stain-glass window is NOT a portal in the actual game. At least. . I don't THINK it is. . . Let me go check! While I do that, you guys review! (runs off)