Terrifying is the only way to describe Bowser's castle. Darkness makes it's home in every inch of the grand palace. Cobwebs and the dry bones of many fallen, would be, heroes being its neighbor. The floors of solid concrete stained a putrid shade of red. The kind of red that only one substance can make. The expression if walls could talk would be of little concern here because if these walls could talk they would surly remain silent for fear of ever speaking of the horrors that had taken place within them.

"King Bowser, King Bowser!" The energized squeals, conveying obvious excitement, rang out through the, granite stone, walls of Koopa Castle.

The, robust, reptile gazed down the long entry hall that led to his throne. Squinting his burgundy colored eyes in a, unsuccessful, attempt to see who was disturbing his, mid-afternoon, nap.

A pair of ecstatic Magikoopas came into view, Kemak and his twin sister Kammy, tripping over their own robes and each other, as they raced to be the first one to tell their king the news.

It must have been grand news indeed for no one ever fought for the right to be first to notify him of bad news.

Their bumbling antics brought a smirk to the kings disfigured face. However it had to stop. This was no way for two of his most respected Magikoopas' to act.

The king slammed a fist down upon the armrest of his, solid gold, throne. "Enough!" The pair fell silent as they, calmly approached, the throne.

"What is it?"

"I have wonderful news!" Kemak took a small step forward.

"WE have wonderful news" Kammy corrected as she pushed her brother aside.

"What news is so important that you would risk your, rancid little lives by waking me up?" He stated.

Kemak unfazed be the, obviously idol, threat proceeded to speak his news.

"There has been a murder in the Mushroom Kingdom, sire..." Bowser attention had been caught by this particular piece of information. He leaned forward from his throne

"Murder? As in someone killing someone else?" Bowser asked, this came as quite a shock to the king of the Koopas', this sort of thing just didn't happen in the Mushroom Kingdom. In Dark Land this would have been the norm but the Mushroom Kingdom?

"Yes, sire" The, irrepressible, grin on Kemak's face grew, large, as his sitter started to continued with the news.

"Why should I care?" Bowser said in a nonchalant manor, the initial daze having since worn off. He leaned back in his throne once more.

"Well it concerns Mario..."

"Mario killed someone?!" Bowser's grin now matching that of his two minions.

"Who'd he off? I knew that goodie-goodie plumber would turn sooner or later, no one's that nice for free!"

"What? No!" Kammy started

"Mario didn't murder anyone...He's the one that was murdered." Kammy said.

"What?!"

"It's true..." Kemak added

"He was found dead at Peach's castle late last night. The funeral was held this afternoon." He continued. All that Bowser could do was sit there with mouth gaping open. A sound escaped him that couldn't be distinguished between a squeal of excitement, or a cry of disappointment.

"Who did it?" Bowser looked Kemak squarely in the eyes

"Princess Peach Toadstool." His voice dripped with pure excitement at every word.

Bowser's face could not be read. What he felt by this news was a mystery to his Magikoopas'. They could only assume that he was pleased by this unexpected turn of events.

"It gets better my king, she has fled the Mushroom kingdom, and Luigi of all people is going to bring her back there to stand trial. Though popular opinion of the MK says that he doesn't bring her back alive." The pair of Magikoopas snickered.

"This is the perfect time to strike, no Mario or Luigi to protect the kingdom. And no princess to rule it! The Mushroom Kingdom is yours sire, all you have to do is take it. And it's all so easy!" Kemak squealed

"Where is she now?"

"Unknown."

"Well make it known, and bring her to me before Luigi finds her."

The two Magikoopa twins looked at each other totally flabbergasted

"B...But why? Sire forget the princess, your time is now, what you've always wanted is finally within in your grasp!"

"Yours is not to question yours is to do and, and you'd better do it pretty damn quick before I get mad!!" Bowser stood up from his throne, his towering mass shadowed the, now trembling, brother and sister Magikoopas.

"I want her found and brought to me!" The reverberation of the howls caused small particles to shake loose from the stone walls and ceiling. "And if I don't get the princess I am going to have two less Magikoopas'" The low menacing growl in which he spoke was more than enough to cause the pair to quiver in there boots. This was no idol threat

"Yes sir, we will find the princess; what if Luigi finds her first? It will be difficult if not imposable to capture her then." Kemak asked

"For your sake that had better not happen."

The pair took off down the hall now wishing they hadn't informed Bowser of this news.

Bowser was left to process all that he had just been told. He retook his place on the throne and thought.

I know Peach, and this is NOT something that she would do. There is something very wrong with this picture and I'm going to find out what it is!

Oooh, feel the tension mounting. Well ok there really isn't any tension to speak of yet but I'm working on it.

Update? My Crystal Ball (Actually one of those Magic Eight Balls) says: The answer is unclear ask again later! Wow! Amazing!

God... what WAS I on when I wrote this?