The Super Mario Saga
Chapter 1 - "The Prophecies"
By Gregory Achen
Once upon a time, so very long ago...
Before the Human Race...
Before dinosaurs roamed the Earth...
Before the great mountains and seas...
Before the first grain of sand...
Before our very Earth's existence...
Before the infinite expanses of the cosmos...
And before even time itself was a reality...
...there was nothing.
Nothing, that is, except a blank canvas that in and of itself never really existed to begin with.
During this almost never-ending chapter of Oblivion, a timeless war was yet being waged, unfathomable to comprehend by even the smartest of human minds. For you see, it was here, outside the physical and spiritual boundaries of what we call reality, that the epic battle of Good versus Evil first began.
THE STAR SPIRITS
As Evil and Goodness began to take their forms, the struggle between the two entities intensified before a cataclysmic event occurred in the form of a blinding white light. This sweeping explosion of the forces was so drastic and so severe, the remnants of the Long Forgotten War could still be seen today in the form of the starry universe.
The infinite stars created, so concentrated with the purity of love and virtue, was the birthplace of spiritual beings that would be the protectors of the galaxies; thus the sacred Star Spirits were born.
THE STAR ROAD
Many endless years would come to pass in a sense that it would seem infinite while something truly grand was being formed. Seven of some of the strongest Star Spirits were called upon by an "Unseen Force" to unite their souls and create one of the first miracles ever known in both the physical and spiritual worlds. These Star Spirits were to build a "road" of seven immensely powerful stars around what seemed a rather "insignificant" spot in the universe. The construction of this Star Road and why they were building it was a mystery to the Star Spirits, but regardless of its true purpose, to them it would stand as a marker of all that was good and righteous in the universe and be a landmark in the name of all Star Spirits.
EARTH
Upon the completion of the Star Road, something truly majestic happened that would alter the course of the universe forever. The planet known as "Earth" was actually growing within the center of the Star Spirits own Star Road, for this was the reason the "Unseen Force" had called upon his seven children.
The Star Spirits learned that the Earth was to house many beautiful creatures in its future, creatures they could love, nurture, and protect. For this was Destiny, this was Fate, as this was all planned before there was even a before.
No one knows exactly who, or what, or how the Earth was actually created, but does it really matter? For the planet was created in love.
THE KOOPAHARIAN CURSE
Unfortunately, all was not perfect in Earth's conception. Once Evil and Darkness got wind of Love's creation, it became jealous and enraged and used all its power and energy to place a powerful curse upon the new world. For one of Earth's creatures known as the Human Race was destined to do many a glorious things during their time in the universe. Yet what Darkness saw and knew, was that their destiny also held an inherent corruption in the ways of Evil, as hatred was a powerful quality in all those who had the ability to think. Evil planted thousands of Eggs that were to grow as the Humans anger and hatred grew. Once the intolerances amongst the Humans reached beyond the point of no return, it would be then, of their own accord, that the Eggs would hatch and the beings known as the Koopas would enslave the world.
The Star Spirits fought long and hard to reverse the Koopaharian Curse, but it was too late, for the Humans future sins were so powerful that it leaked into the past.
THE MUSHROOM BLESSING
While the Star Spirits had quickly found they couldn't reverse the dark spell, they did think up a truly brilliant way in combating it. Using all their wits, they cleverly split the planet into two dimensions on the one Earth, separating the Eggs from the world that was to house the Human Race. In rivalry of the Eggs planted by Evil that absorbed hate, the Star Spirits planted special Mushrooms throughout the new world that would absorb love, hoping that it might counteract the Koopaharian Eggs from ever even hatching. The Star Spirits truly thought their smart thinking had saved Earth from a hellish fate and ensured Love's victory in this particular battle of Good versus Evil.
UNEXPECTED REPERCUSSIONS
While seemingly the Star Spirit's plan had worked, several serious and unexpected repercussions had occurred. It was true that there was now two separate dimensions on the one Earth, but the split had also created a gray area in between known as Sub-Con; "the land of dreams". But perhaps the most inexplicable of all occurrences, the Star Spirits powerful good intentions had seeped into the Earth's soil, transforming what was once barren and empty lands into a fairy tale universe that's beauty and magic was matched only by some of it's more scary and freakish parts.
The soil, now rich with the essence of Love, absorbed into the Star Spirit's special Mushrooms, causing the twitch of life to awaken in the fungus.
EVOLUTION
As time past on the one Earth, many creatures came and went since the vast history of its origin. Soon the days came when the evolution of the Human Race began, much to the anxiety of the Star Spirits. Watching both dimensions closely during this mysterious time, the Star Spirits became shocked as they witnessed not only the Human Race spring into life, but the magical Mushrooms they had planted millennium's ago were also growing souls, evolving into a new life form. In fact, evolution looked kindly upon all the creatures in the Mushroom World. Even some species of dinosaur, long extinct in the Human World, evolved into peaceful loving creatures known as the Yoshi.
Thousands of years passed as they watched the two world's inhabitants grow their own separate ways, each world unknowing of the others existence. While Human Beings always had a sadistic streak within, the Star Spirits were amazed at how peaceful the Mushroom People and all the creatures in the Mushroom World coexisted with one another and with nature in complete harmony.
Over the centuries, guilt thrust its ugly head over the Star Spirits as they realized the plan once conceived to protect one people's world might have in fact doomed anothers, as their eyes were opened to just how powerful the Human's hatred was.
THE PROPHECY OF HOPE
Dreading if or when the Curse of the Koopa would come true, the Star Spirits made what is known as "The Great Sacrifice" by selling their immortality to Fate in exchange for giving life some form of protection against the terrible creatures of Darkness should they ever awaken.
The Star Spirits selfless deed succeeded in catching the eye of Fate, the great force bestowing upon the two worlds the great Prophecy of Hope:
Two earthly brothers, born of one world and raised in another, would one day return to their homeland as the chosen warriors against the Koopas. These twin brothers alone had the power to stop the Koopaharian Curse, but if they ever so much as dared succumb to the seductive powers of Hate; Love would forever be lost and Evil would have finally won.
Not understanding the Prophecy in any way, the Star Spirits arrived at the conclusion that when the time was right, all would make sense.
WARP ZONES
While the true nature of the Prophecy of Hope would remain a mystery until it actually happened, there were subtle clues unfurling. Through the course of Human existence, Human Beings, on occasion, had accidentally warped over into the Mushroom World through concentrated "magic" left behind during the great split of the worlds, deep in the tunnels of the Earth. While the Star Spirits may have initially been worried that these Warp Zones would become common knowledge to the Humans, as well as to the future Koopas, the Star Spirits unearthed that there were only seven Warp Zones, one for each continent, that actually led to either dimension and the chances of purposefully finding any of the seven was remote, if not impossible. But these gateways between the Mushroom and the Human Worlds was exactly what could enable the Prophecy of the two brothers "born of one world and raised in another."
THE TOADSTOOL CHILD
The Star Spirits watched the Mushroom World closely for any signs of the Eggs hatching. With all that was going on in the Human World, it wouldn't take long for Hate to give the Eggs the nutrients they needed to hatch. And as the population in both worlds grew and societies in both worlds became more and more complex, it was becoming that much more drastic for the Star Spirits to make contact with the Mushroom People and warn them of the secret threat they were oblivious to.
Being that there was no way, at the time, for any spirit being seen in the physical world, the seven Star Spirits collaborated on yet another miracle to help the creatures they loved so very much.
Born from the Earth, the Star Spirits conceived a Human Being from that of a giant toadstool in the most beautiful of all the country sides. This child was to be the Prophet to whom was given the special gift of clairvoyance.
Blessed by the world as the Saint Angelina Toadstool, the child was embraced by the Mushroom People upon her discovery, hailing the birth of a Human Being from that of a Mushroom a sign from the stars.
THE NIGHTMARISH FUTURE
Years past as the Prophet and her abilities grew, but the Star Spirits compassionately waited until she showed signs of a maturity ready to handle the terrible and gruesome burden of being an outlet for warnings of unspeakable Evil.
On her twentieth birthday the first vision of the far future struck her, causing her mind to fall into great Darkness. She saw the Mushroom People, cowering before that of a spiky shelled dragon whose eyes were that of blood red, whose hair was like that of fire, bearing the two horns of the Devil and sitting atop a throne fastened of bones and mutilated flesh. Angelina saw Evil; a then unknown concept in the Mushroom World.
Traumatized by these insights and not fully understanding what was happening to her, Angelina took off, leaving her followers and disappeared into the cool night air to travel the world. Her journeys whisked her through almost every land in the Mushroom World where she painted in nearby caves every single vision that plagued her heart.
THE AWAKENING
Angelina was falling into madness because of her visions. Ten years had passed with every single night bringing forth the same images of a hauntingly dark future. She felt isolated from the normal world as she saw things that no one else could ever imagine, much less understand.
She felt isolated, that is, until one fateful night that gave her a single ray of hope amongst all the Darkness.
Her travels had wandered into the Yoshi's Island. Alone, shivering and out in the cold rainy night, she wandered into a nearby cave and began frantically painting on the stone wall one of her terrible insights. Sobbing because of the pitiful creature she felt she had become, she collapsed to the floor, ready to give up on life and accept the "unstoppable" Evil that would one day strike fear into their hearts. Yet just as she was about to lose all hope, a comforting hand fell upon her shoulder.
Looking up, Angelina beheld the sight of a single green Yoshi looking down fondly at her. Taking her hand, the green Yoshi led her outside and through the jungles until they arrived at a clearing where many different colored Yoshies were huddled together, playing and laughing with one another. Standing her next to the fire, the green Yoshi rounded up its tribe, forming a large circle around the crackling flames. Every one of them then joined hands as they included Angelina in whatever ceremony they were about to perform. Glorious music then filled her ears as the Yoshies used their heavenly voices to sing the most beautiful song she had ever heard. The happy melody caused a whimper inside of Angelina, expressing itself physically in the form of a smile.
The Yoshies and Angelina sang around the fire for hours, right until the last ember of the flames went out. As she slept with the primitive tribe under the starry night sky, for the first time in ten years dreamt not that of Evil, but of something quite beautiful and good.
In her dreams she saw the vision of two twins, one tall and one short, each sibling possessing a unique cap; one red with the letter "M" stitched on and the other green with the letter "L". In the dream she saw that these two noble souls had the power to save their world from Evil, as they alone would posses the courage and the strength necessary to fight against the spawn of all Darkness. She saw how strong and how admirable the twin's hearts were, as it was true they would face much pain and hardship in their life time, yet not once would or could Evil ever truly tear them down.
Waking up to the sound of birds, the Prophet found herself alone, the tribe of Yoshies long gone. All the pain and misery she had felt those long years were gone for she now understood that those visions were not that of a curse but of a blessing. Angelina was to warn the world that one day Evil would strike fear into their hearts. But more importantly, she was to give the world a message of hope and that hope is what she would spend practically her entire life trying to convey.
As Angelina stared at the spot where the fire blazed all night long, a tear trickled down her face. This was not a tear of despair mind you, but rather a tear of pure joy for an experience that deeply changed her life. As the tear fell to the ground, it planted the seed of all happiness that would later grow to bear the fruit of the warm emotion and be the heart of the Yoshi's Island. This plant, known in the common language as the "Tree of Happiness" would stand as the marker of perfect joy that was felt by one of the most tortured souls at that time
THE QUEEN OF ALL THE LANDS
After years of wanderings, Angelina returned to her homeland where she was immediately hailed upon by her many followers. So happy were they at the return of the Human born from the Mushroom, that Angelina was instantly crowned the metaphoric "Queen of all the Lands" as even the largest kingdoms of the Mushroom World bowed down to the Prophet. Angelina immediately preached to the people of all that her dreams entailed and while scared initially, she made a promise that the deeds of two earthly brothers, born of their world and raised in another, would one day return to their homeland as the chosen warriors against Evil as they would come to know it.
Her return and the messages she gave brought forth much faith that her birth truly was a sign of something grand.
EMBRACING THE STARS
Watching their precious Toadstool Child suffer those long years was the hardest thing the Star Spirits ever had to do, but it was the only way they could make their presence known to the girl. Her figuring out the messages by herself was key in letting her mind open up so that the Star Spirits could speak to her directly.
One night, in her bedroom within a modest cottage, Angelina looked outside her window, gazing up at the stars, giving thanks to whatever power had given her such gifts. To her astonishment, the seven Star Spirits then shined down from the sky, embracing her as their daughter. They told Angelina everything; about the Star Road, about the creation of the world, about the cursed Eggs, about the prophecies, and why she herself was chosen to spread the messages. They talked for years yet was only a single night in reality.
The following morning, her focus clear, her understandings confirmed, she set out on a life's mission to make the power of the Stars known. Her followers quickly agreed to whatever deeds she may want accomplished as she promised that life would be that much better in the future if they made the past as magnificent as they could.
THE STAR HAVEN
Twenty long years went by as she oversaw the construction of a giant temple reaching to the Star Road, erected on the very spot where Angelina herself had sprouted as the fruit of a Mushroom. This temple to the stars was crowned the blessed Star Haven by Angelina where upon her 50th birthday the sacred beings of which she had preached would make contact with the world in the most beautiful of ways.
THE STAR ROD
All was right with Angelina during the many years it took to construct the Star Haven. She spent her free time painting, writing poetry and helping all those in need. She even married a brilliant philosopher and started a family. But what really took up her time was her own construction of a "magic wand" that would act as a key in letting the Star Spirits enter their world at last. This wand was to be set atop the tower of the Star Haven and so long as it crowned the Mushroom World, forever could the Star Spirits shine down to Earth.
THE BIRTHDAY TRAGEDY
On the eve of Angelina's 50th Birthday, she sat alone in the tower of the Star Haven, praying to Star Spirits, giving them gratitude for the gift she once dreaded but now loved with all her heart. As she set the finished Star Rod down, Angelina thought that at last her life's work was complete...
...and it was in that very moment Darkness entered her heart.
No one knows exactly who killed Angelina the day of her 50th Birthday, but rumors ensued that seven demonic beings bearing the laughing mask of the Phanto set out to destroy the hope she had given to the world. Her bloody and tortured body was not found until later that same day, as she told everyone throughout the lands that at dawn the time would come to behold the Star Spirits in all their glory.
THE FIRST CROSS OVER
Everyone collapsed to their knees in seeing their Queen murdered and it would seem that Evil's discouragement had worked. When word of mouth of her murder echoed throughout the lands, everyone gathered at the Star Haven and it was then that the the Star Spirits made their first cross over into the physical world. Sad were they at losing the child all seven of them created, but all was not lost. By merely showing their presence everyone could see that Angelina had succeeded in connecting the Mushroom World to the loving hands of the Star Spirits.
They told the people that they were originally going to cross over into the physical world that day to give thanks to Angelina for all the good she had done. They were to tell her that she had done everything she humanly could do and as gratitude, give her a heavenly present of a magic "Power Star" that would forever protect the beautiful Toadstool Child. Being that she died before having the chance to receive her present, the Star Spirits instead bequeathed it to Angelina's widowed husband and now motherless daughter. To this day has a Power Star been given as a present to a new child born of the Toadstool family bloodline.
The Star Spirits tried comforting the distraught people with a promise that Angelina could never truly die, as her soul had used the illustrious Star Road as the path to ultimate salvation. The entities then begged the Mushroom World for forgiveness for trapping them in a world that was to be cursed in the future. As a way to atone for their gruesome mistake, they promised to grant wishes to any creature so long as it was unselfish and kind.
Thousands of years would pass since the day the great Prophet and first Queen of the Mushroom World passed on, yet her teachings and the messages she gave would live on forever.
THE KOOPAS UNLEASHED
It was toward the turn of the 19th Century that the event dreaded since Earth's creation would occur and, like prophesied, it forever changed the heart of the Mushroom World. The millions of Koopaharian Eggs hatched under the blood red sky of fall, their birth alone causing earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes and every known natural disaster in the planet.
When it was over, the new Koopaharian Race consisted of many different species whose allegiance lied with Evil and as the new race grew, so too did their appetites for destruction.
Over the next hundred years, Mushroom People, Humans, Yoshies and many more would go missing during the deep dark hours of the night; sacrifices to the all mighty Egg of Bowseroun. For you see, not all the Koopaharian Eggs hatched that infamous day from Hell, as what could be found in the hellish catacombs of the Dark Land was one large, glowing, lava filled Egg that remained unhatched, surrounded by the seven smaller Eggs of the Koopaling. As did the Mushroom People pray to the Star Spirits, so too did the Koopas pray to this Monster Egg. Hate was constantly feeding this sac of maniacal monstrosity as the days, months and years rolled by.
THE FIRST KOOPAHARIAN WAR
At the start of the 20th Century, under the leadership of a powerful frog-like Koopa named Wart, the Koopas orchestrated their first full-scale attack against the Mushroom World. Being peaceful and not having the skills of either defense or offense, the civilized creatures of the world were getting massacred by the all too well masters of death.
As there was not an official King of the Mushroom World, the Toadstool family, still known for their wisdom, gave leadership during these dark times. The great Patheon Toadstool worked extensively with his best friend and confidant, the aspiring Mushroom Man philosopher Toadsworth, to save the Mushroom World before all was lost. Together with the help of the Toadstool Power Stars, the many lands of the Mushroom World united and with their combined strength, defeated the Koopas in what was an Earth shattering final battle in the fiery flames of the Dark Land.
With the Koopas temporarily defeated, the Mushroom World celebrated, but they knew that a dark shadow was still looming over their heads, ready to hatch at any moment.
THE MUSHROOM KINGDOM
To protect themselves from any future attacks, hundreds of countries with their monarchs decided to permanently unite as one. This union of the lands was always there to begin with, but with the first of many wars against the Koopas underway, everyone agreed it was time to make this union stronger. And so the great Mushroom Kingdom was born one hundred years ago.
Patheon Toadstool, the once metaphoric King of the Mushroom World, was now the official ruler; the Chancellor now his best friend Toadsworth. While some lands denounced the annex with the Mushroom Kingdom, such as the "human founded" flower kingdoms of Sarasaland, everyone still co-existed with one another peacefully. During the next fifty years, the King and the Chancellor succeeded in their mission in bringing peace and prosperity to the Mushroom Kingdom, but it was only a matter of time before the Koopas became all too powerful and the Mushroom World as they knew it would be doomed.
BIRTH OF THE DARK KING
In the Human World there was CHAOS! After one brutal War of the World, there was yet another even more horrid than the last. These World Wars brought much Darkness into the Human destiny as unspeakable evils, motivated by hate, corrupted the humans past the point of no return and that is when "It" happened.
In the darkest hours of the darkest month, amongst the shadow of a solar eclipse, explosions rocked the Mushroom World. Volcanoes erupted all throughout the dimension, tearing up the land and leaving many innocents dead and it was through this death in both dimensions that the chosen one of Evil finally hatched from its Egg, ready to carry out the destruction of all life.
This evil dragon created in Satan's form, bore the horns of the Devil, its eyes were that of blood red, its body was encased in that of a spiky turtle-like shell, and it's hair was like that of fire; the very figure that at one time tortured Angelina Toadstools dreams. The Koopas may have lost the one war against the Mushroom Kingdom years ago, but with the birth of their prince Bowser, Armageddon was sure to ensue.
Selecting the most powerful sorcerer at that time, Wart ordered a single MagiKoopa named Kamek to protect and nurture the child's evil at any cost. Kamek was to take the baby Bowser and hide him in an isolated castle on the Yoshi's Island, where no one could ever harm the Prince of Darkness at his one and only vulnerable time.
THE MAGNIFICENT PRAYER
With the future "King of all Evil" born, one would think the Mushroom People would've been living in constant fear, but they weren't. They never lost sight of the hope Angelina Toadstool foretold, for no matter what Shadow may loom overhead, a Shadow cannot exist without even tiniest bit of Light .
While the Mushroom People still carried this notion close to their hearts, the descendants of the original seven Star Spirits couldn't have been more worried. A great battle of Good versus Evil would be nearing an end soon with the Koopaharian Eggs hatched and their leader newly born. And so the Star Spirits asked the people of the Mushroom World to pray for the birth of the destined twins. More than ever was the union of Love's souls essential to their survival.
What answered the cry of the Star Spirits was perhaps one of the most magnificent occurrences ever to happen on this Earth. Every single creature whose heart was pure and true, heeded the Star Spirits plea, praying together in what is now known as the "Magnificent Prayer".
TWIN SHOOTING STARS
What started out to be a rather ordinary day in the Mushroom World ended as one of the most historic. That night, all the planets in the galaxy lined up and throughout the heavens did a shower of shooting stars rain upon the Mushroom World. All the good creatures in the world could hear what sounded like soft music during the star showers, signifying that, at last, the age old Prophecy of Hope was coming true.
The heroic twins were to be born that night and with a red and green shooting star striking the tower of the Star Haven, two babies were laid before the Star Rod.
THREAT OF A NEW OBLIVION
Just as quickly as their was victory, so now too was there a new sense of dread. For what accompanied the birth of the twins was a new Prophecy, issued by Fate, that had the potential to destroy the universe forever:
Any individual soul who managed to combine both the power of the Star Road with the power of the Toadstool Stars would unite back together the two worlds of the one Earth. An unstoppable invincibility would then befall the "Star Master", giving their soul the ability to control both Heaven and Earth, before bringing about the total destruction of the universe. So would there be a new Oblivion, so now too would the past, present and future be erased from existence.
CAST OFF TO DESTINY
As the seven Star Spirits appeared to bless the children that were anticipated for countless lifetimes, they searched the twins' destiny for appropriate names that would perfectly complement their future selves. Concentrating, the names struck them like lightening as one baby would be named Mario and the other would be named Luigi. Why these names called to the Star Spirits they did not know, but with their new found identities, Mario and Luigi were each crowned their respective red and green caps, a gift left behind by the Saint Toadstool before her death.
As the Stork of Deliverance arrived atop the tower of the Star Haven ready to begin its long journey in delivering the twins to their fate, it was a moment of complete relief mixed with unfathomable anxiety.
In these two children's lifetime, an epic battle between...
Lightness and Darkness...
Good and Evil...
Love and Hate...
...would all boil down to a cataclysmic conclusion.