But despite what Nazz had said, Hobbes noticed changes around Calvin's room. Suddenly Mario was defeating the "evil" Mr. Jones on his way to work. Mario drawings covered up drawings of Hobbes. Toys still flocked around Mario and listened to what he had to say at meetings, while Hobbes always had to get everyone's attention. What was worse, was that Mario still acted as if he was in a video game and spent a lot of time running around looking for "power ups." Calvin was suddenly taking Mario to bed with him, while Hobbes was stuck in a toy chest. Strange things were happening.

One day, Hobbes found Mario in the bathroom, messing around under the sink. He cautiously stepped towards the plumber. "Mario? What are you doing in here? We usually stay out of the bathroom."

"Stupid pipes!" grumbled Mario.

"Huh?"

"How am I supposed to fit in here and return to the Mushroom Kingdom?" complained Mario.

Hobbes stared at him. "Fit in? As in that 'warping' thing you're always talking about?"

"I need a wrench!"

Hobbes smiled. "Wait...you really think you're...HA!" He fell over laughing. "And here I thought it was all an act! Super Mario! The REAL Mario! This is great!"

"Are you okay? It sounds as if a Koopa zapped you."

"This is so funny it hurts!" Hobbes grabbed the toy fire flower and "fired" it at Mario. Mario screamed and ducked.

"What are you doing!" cried the bewildered toy. "You could have killed me! And why didn't my flower work? I didn't know these things could get jammed!"

Hobbes continued laughing. "The pain! It's too funny!"

Mario glared at him. "Are you mocking me?"

"Me? No. No...MARIO, LOOK! A PARATROOPA!"

"Where!"

Hobbes ran out. "I have to tell everyone! This is killing me!"

Mario chased Hobbes into Calvin's bedroom. Suddenly, Calvin walked in and they both collapsed onto the floor.

"Mushroom Pizza Kingdom!" cheered Calvin. "Mushroom Pizza Kingdom!"

The Mushroom Pizza Kingdom was the new Mario-themed restaurant. Calvin was allowed to take one toy there. Hobbes rolled his eyes, knowing that it would be Mario. Still, maybe there was a little bit of hope. Hobbes picked up a magic eight ball and asked it, "Will Calvin take me to Mushroom Pizza Kingdom?"

The reply: "Don't count on it." Hobbes threw the ball down in disgust. Wait...he started to plan. What if Mario got lost "accidently?"

Hobbes noticed a little remote control car version of Victor the goat sitting nearby. Mario was relaxing by a shelf. If Hobbes could get Victor to push Mario down the shelf so he was stuck for a few hours, then...

Hobbes grabbed the remote control and drove the car towards Mario. But then something unexpected happened. Mario dodged the car, which hit a bulletin board instead. It fell over, knocking down a globe of the world. The huge thing rolled at Mario, but then hit a desk lamp. The lamp swung into the super toy, knocking him out the window. "MAMA MIA!"

All the toys came running when they heard Mario fall. "What happened!" cried Edd.

Hobbes didn't know what to say. "He...fell."

Ed started to cry. "Our brave hero is gone! Woe is Ed!"

Eddy heard the goat-car making noises. "Hey, wait a second...I think Victor's trying to tell us something."

"I speak goat..." said Snoopy. "Victor says that Mario didn't just fall! He was pushed by Hobbes!"

Everyone turned to Hobbes, who backed away nervously. "Purely an accident," Hobbes stammered.

Jason started at him. "Doesn't sound like an accident!"

"Sounds like you wanted to!" said Eddy. "Sounds like we're all in trouble!"

Edd tried to maintain the peace. "Er, maybe if we simply worked this out with peer mediation...?

Lucy punched Edd. "Get the blockhead!"

"Wait till I get my hands on him!" yelled Eddy. Eddy took one of his arms out and threw it at Hobbes. It missed and flew out the window. "I lose more pieces that way."

Everyone sprung at Hobbes when Calvin walked in. The toys froze. "Where's Mario?" wondered Calvin. He sighed. "Well, I guess I'll take Hobbes."

All the toys glared at Hobbes as he left with Calvin.

Outside, Mario scrambled out of the bushes to see Calvin's car driving away...with Calvin in it! The plumber ran after it and managed to hitch a ride on the bumper. Hobbes was in for it!

Victor the goat as RC was admittedly a stupid idea. I wasn't sure what else to do, though, as I like having the fixed number of characters with the occasional new addition.