It seems that tales of this story being dead have been greatly exaggerated. I'm just incredibly slow and exhausted, ha. Enjoy the latest!
...
[Mario]
It's strange how so much can change when you switch even just one detail.
Toads race from all around, each holding up some kind of weaponry, be it the traditional spears and shields, or castle objects like frying pans and vases. None of them are powered up; no Fire Toads, Tanooki Toads, Propeller Toads, or anything else.
Spears clang against those of Bowser's forces, with Koopas thrusting against the Toads strikes. One such clash forces a Toad to wince as he reels back from the attack between himself and a Shy Guy.
Another Toad doubles back as a Goomba leaps at him. Yelling, he swings a frying pan, and slams the Goomba back. He frantically flails the pan around as more Goombas attempt to jump at him, smashing each away.
One Toad tosses a vase at a Bob-omb, creating an explosion that blasts soldiers from both sides backwards. It's enough to burn through a carpet and create a small crater, but the damage is less than I expected.
Hammers fly across the air as they slam down, breaking through the floor or into the walls. Some Toads cry out as they dash away from the attacks, while others raise their shields to defend themselves.
Bowser's hand drops down on my shoulder, and I whirl around to him.
"Stop focusing on the fighting," he urges, and his eyes are softer than I was anticipating. He's worried for me. "Help me find the dungeons."
"They're below." I point down. "We need to get through these Toads to get there."
"If I make the path, it won't be pretty."
"None of this is."
"…Ok." His grip tightens around me. "I'm sorry."
"Don't." I'm frowning, but it's not because of him. "You aren't the sole cause of this war."
"No, but I instigate this." He loosens his grip and pushes me past him. "Stay behind me."
He inhales, first through his mouth and the rest through his nose. He rears his head back, and his cheeks puff out.
Dropping his jaw open, Bowser unleashes his fire breath, burning away at the space before him. No one's around as his stream of fire sprays forward. He takes a step, and slams his foot down hard. Attention is drawn to him, as Toads twist around and shout out.
"It's Bowser!"
"Everyone get back!"
"Fire! Watch the fire!"
"Hurry, move away!"
Toads, Koopas, and others of Bowser's forces scurry from his path, and he storms forward. His claw reaches behind him, feeling for me as I chase after him, and my hand bats at his tail, reminding him that I'm there. Everyone's clearing out of our way, and it's easier to get through.
Some Toads aren't quite fast enough, nor are a few Goombas, as both get scorched a bit and run around, rumps ablaze. Fellow Toads are quick to dump flower vases and extinguish their burning comrades, but the Goombas aren't quite as lucky, bouncing around from the fire, rolling in hopes to be put out.
Shaking my head, I refocus my attention on Bowser, who coughs and grasps at his throat. He can't hold that fire breath indefinitely, and the flames have weakened considerably already.
"Stop, take a break," I call to him, grabbing his free hand. He listens to me, as he sputters and coughs, some smoke puffs escaping his mouth. "Bowser, take it easy."
"No," he manages without choking. Bowser clears his throat and exhales. "We have to keep going, and quickly."
"Why are you rushing…?" It dawns on me and I don't need to finish. It's for the Koopalings. And, in part, it's for me.
"They were ordered not to kill." Bowser points back at his soldiers. "Peach's weren't."
This gets me to glance back, as a Toad forces a spear forward while a Koopa ducks into his shell. She pulls back and strikes the shell away from her, and it collides into a pair of Hammer Bros., knocking them from their feet.
She lifts her spear and rushes over to attack at them again. Both toss hammers, forcing her away.
Across from them, a Snifit ducks behind a staircase, while a Toad shakily corners her. A Rex hurries in and grabs his weapon, breaking it in half. He growls as the Toad panics and flees, but the Rex doesn't follow, instead helping up the Snifit.
Tugging on him, though, the Snifit plucks herself away, and runs to another Toad backing a Goomba into a corner.
Rearing back, she spits a bullet at the Toad, knocking him into a wall. He falls back onto the floor, where the Goomba angrily bounces to his downed foe. But the Snifit gets between the two, and the Goomba settles before the Rex arrives by the two.
"They're following those orders completely," I observe, tugging on my mustache.
"Yeah, but they're vulnerable," Bowser points out. "Even if the Toads aren't strong enough—"
"There must be something that I can do."
"Mario!"
Despite his protests, I break away from Bowser and back through the hall. A Toad bashes a Magikoopa in the head with a shield, and then tosses it to detonate another Bob-omb. I rush over to him as he picks up a golf club.
"Hang on, stop!"
Jumping at my voice, the Toad spins around, and drops the club. He blinks at me, his mouth curving a bit into a smile, but dropping quickly, remembering.
"Mario…?"
"Please, stop fighting them," I plead.
"What are you—?"
A Shy Guy tackles him and they crash into the floor, tumbling as they struggle against one another. Two more Toads run before me, holding up their spears.
"Don't let him confuse you, everyone," one Toad calls. "He's possessed, remember?"
"No, I'm not—"
"Just keep taking down Bowser's army first," instructs another Toad.
Each of two Toads in front of me shudders, as they step forward with their weapons up. I back slowly from them, holding my hands up.
"Come on, just listen for a moment—"
"We, ah, we'll save you, Mario!"
"Just hold still and keep back from us for now…"
Heavy footsteps rumble the ground behind me, and Bowser's to my side once again. He growls into a roar, scaring the two Toads as they drop their spears and run for their lives. I squeeze my eyes shut and force them back open, turning to Bowser.
"What?"
"Did you have to chase them off?"
"Uh, how about a 'thank you' instead?"
"I was trying to reach them!"
"You won't be able to," he insists. His eyes dart over and his arm swings out, knocking a spear from the air. Raising his foot, he stomps down to break it. "Trust me, Mario. They're of the mind that they can save you, not the other way around."
"But I can't just…"
"Keep at it, lads!"
Twisting towards the grand staircase, I see Toadsworth at the top. He taps his cane down and points out at the battling below by us.
"Defend this castle with all your might, everyone!" He adjusts his spectacles, and nods, surveying the chaos. "We will not lose here. For the Princess, everyone!"
"Toadsworth!"
He gazes down from up high, and quiets as his eyes meet mine. Even from far away, even with his glasses in the way, there's…something about his eyes…
"Worry not, Master Mario." His eyes shift to a glare. "We will save you as well."
"But I don't need saving," I protest. "I—"
"Bowser Koopa, his words will not sway our resolve!" Toadsworth shouts this with more strength than I've ever known him for. "Silence your puppet, and face us!"
"He's not my puppet, old man," snaps Bowser. "Just listen—"
"Not a chance!" He taps his cane down. "You will not manipulate us as you have our hero!"
Jerking his head up, Toadsworth spots a Paragoomba and a Paratroopa flying to him. He waits for them to get close, and then hoists his cane up.
Gripping it like a bat, he swings, smacking the Paragoomba into the Paratroopa, and sending both plummeting below.
"Stubborn old…" Bowser snorts. "He's just as bad as Kamek."
"We have to get him to listen," I reiterate. "If we can, then we might be able to stop this fight."
"When you tell me how, then I'll go forward with that." Bowser pounds his fists together. "First, we need to get to the dungeons."
"Right, the Koopalings." I shake my head. "Sorry, I shouldn't have—"
"Played the hero that you always are." Bowser smirks. "I'm learning to get used to it. Slowly, but I'll figure it out."
My hand cups into his and I smile up to him. Footsteps come from behind us, and he releases me as we turn to a quartet of Toads.
"You…you w-won't get away w-with this, Bowser!" One Toad raises his frying pan.
"Give us back our Mario!"
"Ha! Never." I yank on his tail for that. "Ow! Uh—"
They pull back their weapons, but are struck by a Koopa's shell strike, knocking the four of them down. A Bob-omb hurries over and detonates himself, blasting the Toads away from us. A crater of ripped rug shreds remains, as the Toads crash down several feet in the distance.
"Hey, easy!" Bowser raises his fist. "I know they're attacking us, but they're the weakest soldiers out there."
"Sire, do you want our help or not?" The Koopa folds his arms as he walks over. "We are still your people."
"But they become my people too!" He rests his hands on his hips. "Hate them or not, I will find some use for those Toads, eventually. Even if that puts them beneath the Koopas." I tug on his tail again. "Ouch! What?!"
"Apologizes, Lord Bowser." The Bob-omb slowly lifts himself up from the ground, shaking the soot off. "We…we'll try to be more delicate."
"Thank you for that and defending us." I smile to the Bob-omb. "I'm glad you can regulate your explosive strengths."
"Of course!" The Bob-omb bounces with delight. "We'll do all we can!"
He hurries off, while the Koopa lowers his eyes, first at the bomb, and then to us. Shrugging, he tucks into his shell and spirals off. Bowser sighs and I rest my hand against his waist.
"They're working with you," I remind him. "In time, it'll work out." I drop my shoulders. "Hopefully everything will."
"Yeah." He rests his hand on my shoulder and chuckles. "Come on, quit being sweet on me. Someone's going to figure us out faster than we should let them."
"That's a good idea." I nudge him. "Makes up for the mind control bit."
"It was a good cover!" Bowser slumps. "Or I thought it would've been…"
We turn around again, and try to make our way from the main hall again. Another Toad rushes forward, and lunges to me.
"Mario!"
His head rams hard into my body, and I crash down. The carpet softens little, and I wince as I clutch my head.
"Sorry, Mario!" The Toad bounces up as I sit up. "But…wait; that could be it!"
"What are you thinking?" Another Toad hurries alongside him.
"Maybe, if we damage Mario enough," theorizes the Toad, "he'll snap back to normal!"
"…Are you sure you're not just excusing that bad tackle?"
"Positive! …Ok, maybe a little of both." The Toad rubs behind his head. "At least it's better than leaving him under Bowser's mind control!"
"Well, maybe if we knock him out," agrees a third Toad who walks over. "It'll be a start, regardless of what happens."
"Hold on." I lean forward as I grip my head.
"It's the only way." The first Toad approaches. "Sorry again, Mario."
Lifting my head, I gaze up to the Toad, who jumps. He shivers as he stares into my eyes, and I gaze into his dark pair. He's hesitating, remorseful, afraid. But my attention is quickly taken away, and I gaze behind him.
Bowser flings the other two Toads off to each side, and they soar off. He grabs the last Toad and raises him up, as the Toad screams and wails out.
"Don't you dare ever touch him again!"
"Please don't kill me!"
"You're lucky that I won't!"
He tosses the Toad back behind him, and the poor little fellow flies off. He spirals back and his arms are at my sides, as he lifts me from the ground.
"Are you ok?"
"Yes, I will be." I gaze up to his red eyes, and they soothe me. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." He grins. "That's better from before."
"He was hesitant on his next attack," I contest.
"Oh, come off it, and just accept that I saved you." Bowser grumbles. "Just once, can you not bend over backwards for the Toads only?" He taps his foot. "They're clearly not that helpless."
He has a point, and I know it. Fending off his forces always felt like fighting monsters. Battling the Toads, though…it just doesn't.
"No, but…"
Surveying the room, I find that most of the Toads have been incapacitated. Some Hammer Bros. tie up a group of Toads with a rope. Shy Guys shove a few more unconscious Toads over, as a Koopa and a Rex ready a rope for them.
More fights continue, as one Toad slams into a Snifit, and a Goomba gets stomped by another Toad, but it's clear that Bowser's army has the advantage.
"But this still needs to stop."
"They'll be fine, and I'm not taking prisoners." He scoops up my face and smiles softly. "I promise."
Bowser softly rubs around my face, and I raise mine to his, touching him lightly. Still, I glance to the Toads, unable to ignore them. His eyes follow mine, as his tail curls around my side.
"Get your blasted claws off of him!"
We whirl around as Toadsworth approaches, twisting his cane's head. It flickers with a light sparkle. He stops before us, and points his cane forward.
"Toadsworth—"
"Worry not, Master Mario." His eyes waver as he locks onto mine. "Worry not."
Light flashes from cane's cap, and a heavy surge of energy bursts from it. Bowser shoves me back as it connects into us, blasting us through the walls.
[Bowser]
Barely, I manage to twist around and wrap my arms around Mario. Forcing myself back, I get us to spiral around again, and we slam down against the ground, my shell and spikes slowing us as we skid across the stone and dirt paths.
"Mario—"
"I'm ok." He pushes up and rests his hands on my chest. "Are you?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine." I wince as I wrap one arm around him, and force myself up with the other, my tail knocking over a table in the process. "Didn't realize that Peach's minions could do that."
"Neither did I." Mario brushes some of the dirt from my body, and dusts himself down a bit as well. "It makes sense, though. He's one of Peach's top retainers and personal steward."
"Still, that's a lot of power for the old coot."
"And there's a lot more where that came from!"
Emerging from the castle, Toadsworth hops over the rubble and steps toward us. He whips his cane back, repairing the wall that he damaged, and spins it back at us.
"If it takes all of my strength to end this, so be it." Toadsworth glares at me. "Your tyranny has gone on for too many years, Bowser. It ends here."
"You really want to try this, old man?"
"Bowser, don't." Mario grabs at my hand. "Please, he can't—"
"Keep back from him, Mario!"
Jabbing his crooked cane forward, a light flashes from it, forcing Mario away from me. A growl escapes me, and I'm beyond fed up as it is.
"Fine." I snort. "Your funeral, fungus."
He lowers his magic cane as I pluck out my wand. If it's a spell-casting duel he wants, I'll give him one.
"No, Bowser, wait!" My eyes shift to Mario, as he holds up his hand, hoping to stop me. "Please, don't do this."
"If we were given a choice, I wouldn't," I argue. "But he's not giving me one."
"You're one to talk!" The old man waves his cane about. "Invading this castle, forcing Mario to remain by your side, and making demands! As usual, you hold no tact, Bowser."
"What?!" I nearly roar. "You attacked us first!"
"We've been on the receiving end of your assaults for far too long," snaps Toadsworth. "Of course we're finally taking action! Including now!"
His waving movements of the cane pick up, as he rotates it and lifts it higher. I glance down as something crawls on my legs.
Grass binds around me, and slowly works its way up my body.
"Seriously?"
Inhaling, I breathe out a fiery breath, burning the grass back down. Anything that's still stuck to me, I can rip easily by forcing my legs up.
Toadsworth doesn't let up, though, and spins his cane around in his hands. The ground beneath me shakes as light trails from the head of his cane.
As the earth below breaks open, I point my wand and narrow my eyes. The crevices split apart as my wand's gem flashes a brilliant ruby glow.
Though he spins his cane faster and harder, Toadsworth slows as the ground ceases to rip any further. He twirls the cane back and plants it down in front of him.
"Dark magic," he practically hisses.
"Oh please." I roll my eyes. "What, do you Toads and Peach just believe this to be an evil force?"
"Only those wicked use it as such," shouts Toadsworth. "It's sickening!"
"It's just another form of magic that you're less familiar with." I grin and raise the scepter. "Let me show you."
In a blatant refusal to watch my performance, he raises his wand, swinging strokes up from the ground to the sky, and balls of white light lob out at me.
My rod flashes as I lift it and spin it around. Black mist rises from beneath me, and clouds the space around me. Each light blast disintegrates upon entering the smoke.
Whipping it forward, my wand flickers as the darkness drifts on, floating through the air and to Toadsworth.
As it surrounds him, he coughs and waves his free hand, trying to gain a breath of air from the haze. I smirk as he shakes his head, struggling to gain air.
He drives his arm back and slams his cane into the ground. Lacing four of his fingers together and making a cross shape with them, a white light bursts from his wand, dispelling my mist.
"Treacherous Koopa!"
"Ha, I'm just getting warmed up."
"Both of you, that's enough!"
Mario hurries to the area between us, and lifts his arms, causing mine to fall. He glares at me, but then turns his attention to Toadsworth.
"Fighting isn't going to solve anything!" He turns more to the old Toad's direction. "We're not looking for trouble—"
"Why not release him, Koopa?" Toadsworth ignores Mario outright, and my fists tighten. "This charade is pointless by this point."
"It's not a damned spell!" Mario whirls around, taken aback from my yelling. "He's not under my control, ok?!"
"So, one of your Magikoopa is behind it? That figures." Toadsworth pulls his cane back behind him. "No matter. Master Mario, brace yourself."
"Stop, Toadsworth—!"
Swinging the cane, a heavy gust rushes through the area, ripping up grass and sending Mario airborne.
Forcing my wand up, I focus on Mario as I point to him. He freezes in the air, and the wind around him stops entirely. His motionless body is left up there, and I hesitate, scanning a spot for him to land.
A ball of fire blasts into my face, and I growl at the embers dropping away. Another fireball soars at me, and I swipe at it with my rod, shredding it upon impact.
"Well, well," taunts Toadsworth. "You vomit flames, and yet you're not immune to fire."
"Just highly resistant, with the right spells," I grumble.
"Let's keep treating you with a dose of your own medicine!"
His wand flashes as a golden fireball appears in his hand. He pulls back to launch it, but his attention is left skyward.
Twisting around, I turn in time to watch Mario plummet from the sky. I force my wand forward, but I can't manipulate the time around him, as he drops down.
Spiraling his hands, a tunnel of wind bellows from them, and Mario flings himself back up into the air a bit, before he crashes back down. It's not the best landing, but softer than he was getting.
Another fireball blasts against the back of my head, and I pivot back to the elder Toad. He tosses another fireball, and I sweep it away, gritting my teeth.
"Congrats, you old fool!" Tightening my grip on my wand, I drag it back before me. "I won't be holding back anymore!"
Lifting my free hand behind the wand, I open it as the light brightens from the head. A red bubble appears around it, as it begins to suck from the gardens.
Flowers wilt and die with the grass and the trees nearest to me, as my hands vibrate against the rod's absorption. The black staff crackles with a bolt of red lightning, and the energy flows brilliantly through it.
"What have you done?!" Toadsworth runs in closer. "You're killing our plants! This is my princess's garden!"
"It needed redecorating," I spat.
From a fountain in the distance, water rises and flies out, as Toadsworth waves his wand up and down quickly. It rushes at me, but I thrust my staff forward, and lightning rips through the stream, tearing it apart.
The water drops to the ground, but there is a golden glow around it as it falls. I spot this as lines up toward me.
Hoisting the cane, Toadsworth forces water chains to burst from the mud, entwining around my wrists and locking me in place. I yank on them, but the light aura around them keeps them in place, as they tighten around me.
He approaches me, walking over with his cane in hand. Setting it down, he leans against it, narrowing his eyes as he glares at me.
"Don't you listen to the reports from your soldiers?"
"I'm here because I listen to them!"
"If you heeded them, you would never come here yourself again." He flicks his cane, and my bindings squeeze against my wrists. "You've forced Peach to act, and using the dangerously powerful spells she's tapped into." He reaches out and grabs my collar, dragging my face down by his. "Who do you think spent the most time teaching her how to use such spells?"
Fire boils in my throat, and I close my mouth to get it ready. He spots this and whips his cane up from the ground.
Blinking, I cough and gag, as water floods from the inside of my mouth down my throat. Dropping my wand, I gasp as the water rushes down inside of me, and I choke at the flooding. My foot is to it, and I roll it back to me, using the other to twist and turn it.
"There is never any delight that I take from brutality and ruthlessness," I hear him rave on. "It's barbaric behavior that keeps bringing you back to power. But this…" He rests against his cane again, and I struggle to get any air back in me. "This was perhaps a long time coming."
Spiraling around, he twirls his cane behind and forward, pointing it at me. A bright ivory colored light surges from the head, and the beam fires directly into me.
My vision is mixed between the overpowering light and whatever clouds it to darken it. I can't breathe…
Until the water stops rushing down my throat, and the surging energy stops. I cough and heave, and I throw my hands forward as I collapse toward the ground. The mud is disgusting, but that's nothing comparatively.
Glancing up, I spot Toadsworth stumbling back, as Mario steps in, rotating his hands and creating wind tunnels to push him away.
He's protecting me.
Going for my wand, I flinch at Mario yelping, and my head darts up as he flies back, his wind blowing against him.
Muddy chains erupt from the earth and bind me again, and they drag me back. Toadsworth storms over, tightly gripping his cane.
"Using our hero against me." There's iciness to his tone, sharper than before. Mario going against him struck a nerve. "You truly are the lowest of the low, Bowser Koopa."
"Sounds dull," I manage. "How about I make myself the highest?"
He raises an eyebrow, while I slide my foot against the rod. My other rubs at the head, and I snap my fingers from behind me.
A red bolt courses through the wand and crackles as it slithers from it to my body. I grin as Toadsworth falters; the old fool rebounds for a moment to try attacking, but it's useless as the electricity breaks his spells and forces him back.
My body stretches and expands as the red glow envelopes me, and I laugh as I rise from the ground, ripping those dirt shackles as I grow. Higher I rise, and my laugh deepens as I level up to the size of Peach's castle.
"Now this is what I'm talking about!"
"Insane oaf!" His voice is so small from up here. "I won't let you destroy this castle!"
"Oh, this isn't for that," I roar. "This is all for you!"
Lifting my foot, I stomp down, and the ground below rumbles, knocking Toadsworth from his feet. There's a crater from my foot, and I beam at it; part of me just delights in how much I can rip this pretentious domain apart.
Inhaling, I spit out a massive fireball. Toadsworth bounces back up and dashes away, as I spit another out, and then one more. He forces up a barrier to block the last one, but each explodes against the ground, and scorches the land beneath us.
Pulling back my fist, I punch down, and slam at the ground again. The shockwave sends Toadsworth flying off while trees fall, and I watch the castle quaking.
"Bowser!" I wince at Mario's shout. "Bowser, are you crazy?!"
"He brought this upon himself," I call.
"You're destroying this place!"
"Good!"
"Not good!"
"Oh, don't lecture—"
"The Koopalings are still somewhere here!" I blink at Mario's small form flailing below me. "You could be endangering them further!"
"…But—"
"No buts!"
"Ugh…" I drag my claw across my face. "Fine, grab the wand and poke me with it."
Mario nudges me with a light poke at my toe, and the energy swirls around me. I roll my eyes as I shrink back down, and fold my arms as Mario places his fists on his hips.
"Look, he hurt you—"
"I don't care!" Mario whacks me with the wand's rod. "You have to control your impulses better than that!"
"Yeah, that's fair, but—"
"Did you or did you not mean what you told your troops earlier?" I raise an eyebrow at him. "About the Toads becoming your people! That makes this your land, and you're tearing it apart!"
"Ok, ok, sorry, I wasn't…wait." I blink and grin at him. "Are you actually considering helping me to the point of conquest?"
"No!" He grabs at his head. "Not conquest, just…just—"
"Admit it, you're starting to warm to the idea of my rule," I tease, and slip my wand away from his hand.
"Bowser, please!" He grabs at my chest, and our eyes meet. His blue is so calming, even when he's not…how does that work? "I don't want you hurting too many Toads, it's too much…"
"Mario…" I rub at his face. "I'm sorry, I got carried away…I'm sorry…" It hadn't even dawned on me that I could have been hurting him with Toadsworth, and I scoop his face up. "You're ok though, right?"
"Toadsworth isn't going to kill me, Bowser." He pulls back and smiles to me. "He's my friend."
"Sure, but…wait, where is he?"
A light beam blasts Mario from me, and I gawk as he crashes down some feet away. Growling, I pivot to Toadsworth, who lowers his wand. He adjusts his glasses, and I'm burning to haul off and punch him square in the face.
"What now, Koopa?" He dusts off his vest, but holds his glare against mine. "Your dark magic can twist your body, distort time, steal energy, curse Mario—"
"You don't even know about how cursed he's been," I snap. "None of you Toads have ever seen the toll this has all taken on him—"
"And you're the cause of that!" He jabs his cane forward. "You're the one that's put him through all kinds of hell!"
"If you shut up and listen, you'll learn that I'm not talking about the damn fighting." I stomp down and raise my wand against his. "Your selfish people call him 'hero,' but they have no idea how much they strain him, how much they cut into him mentally, emotionally, and all of the stress that he picks up trying to meet even a fraction of your expectations!"
"He exceeds them!" Toadsworth slams his cane down, and I fumble back from a golden tremor. "Mario is the greatest hero to ever grace the Mushroom Kingdom, and he proves to us time and again just how invaluable he is!" He lifts the cane again, pointing it forward. "And you have the nerve to force him against us, and throw slander against my people, for what?"
"To defend him, you nitwit!" I'm roaring, and I can't control this bubbling fury. "I'm the one that's been with him all this time, now! I'm the one that's seeing all the cracks, the ones that your people carved into him!"
"Enough of this." Toadsworth's wand glows. "Your mind games cease to impress me, and I'm breaking Mario from your hold, once and for all."
"You're going to get hurt," I growl, "that much I'm promising you."
Absorbing life from the living plants near us, I pull my wand back, as Toadsworth casts his forward.
Balls and beams of light launch at me, as I twist around to evade his attacks. One knocks my arm back, and I cringe against its burn.
Lifting my arm, I blast a dark beam from my wand at him, and Toadsworth dodges it. Curving the energy, I carry it along and whip it out, zapping the old fool and forcing him to the ground.
"Yield," I order.
"Never!"
Pulling my wand back, I swing it out, waving it back and forth, sending hex after hex at Toadsworth. He raises his cane and a golden shield rises around him.
Each blast bounces off and dissipates from his shield, as I slow my casts out against him. Pausing, I narrow my eyes and thrust my scepter forward. Flicking it up, I rotate it around as it glows, and then jerk it back, before I shaking it forward once more.
Toadsworth blinks and gasps, as the shield around him cracks. Shattering open, shards of it fall and disintegrate before him. He steps back as I approach.
"Light creates as dark destroys," he muses. "But you won't get away with this!"
"Darkness isn't always about destruction, you fool." I lift my wand. "Sometimes, it's used to expose you back to the realities that your precious light magic tries to blight away." It surges with a bolt and I tighten my grip. "Truth to the lies that you create."
"It never does that!" The elderly Toad throws his hand out. "Light isn't…" He coughs. "We…we aren't…" Another cough. "You—!"
Planting the cane down, grasping on it, Toadsworth erupts into a fit of coughing. He gasps and falters back, covering his mouth as he wheezes. His other hand clutches at his chest, and he falls back, gasping for air.
"No…" I charge over to him as he reaches out for his cane. "No, don't you dare, you stubborn old fool!" He cringes and winces at the sight of me, but I lean forward anyway. "Don't die, damn you!" I lift him back up, as he coughs and gags. His eyes start closing, and I shake him. "You'll ruin everything if you die here, do you hear me?!"
He grabs at me, and I try to keep him steady. If Peach comes back to her ruined castle courtyards and a dead retainer, this will never end.
"Ah…" He gasps. "I…"
"Don't, damn it, don't!" My grip tightens against him. "Peach needs you. And more importantly, Mario needs you!" I shudder. "That means I need you, so don't you dare die, you withered son of a—"
His cane whacks into the back of my head, and I release him. It returns to his hand, and he pushes it down, forcing himself steady. Coughing more, Toadsworth pulls himself back on his feet, and I grip my wand, glaring at him as he heaves.
Holding his chest as it rises and falls, he looks up at me, and takes a step. He coughs and fumbles back.
"Toadsworth, please stop."
Mario pushes my arm down as he passes me, and I hesitate as he strolls forward. He's to Toadsworth's side, and lifts his hands against the Toad's.
"Ma…Mar…"
"Easy, please." Mario rests his hand on Toadsworth's chest. "Don't think about fighting, just think about healing."
From the ground he picks up a leaf. He turns back to me and raises it.
"Can you make this bigger?"
He waits as I blink, and then nod. Lifting my wand, it flashes under the ruby light, and the leaf expands in size.
As it does, Mario scoops up with his free hand, closing it slowly with each finger. Water fills the leaf and he guides it over to Toadsworth. Slowly, he parts the Toad's lips, and helps the water down his throat.
Coughing again, Toadsworth shakes his head, and his breathing finally returns to normal. He grabs his cane and jumps away from Mario, forcing it back up.
"This…what kind of trick is this?"
"It's not a trick," Mario gently insists. "Please, Toadsworth, just stop and calm down. Listen to me."
"No, Mario—"
"Bowser tried to save you." He stands back upright and Toadsworth quiets. "He has had multiple opportunities to kill you, but right here, he tried helping you." Mario shakes his head. "Actually, strike that: he did help you. Or, rather, helped me help you." He smiles back at me. "In spite of how angry he's been this whole time."
"But…but…"
"Toadsworth, look at me." Mario turns back to him and takes a step forward. "I'm not under anyone's control. Not Bowser's, not a Magikoopa's, or a Toad's, no one." He holds his hand out to the old Toad. "This is me, right here, and I'm asking you to stop and listen to us. Please."
The wind blows softly past us, and I glance behind me. My foot left a really big print against the grass. A lot of dead plants were in our wake. Earth is ripped up, the fountain's broken, and I turn to look at the cracked walls of Peach's Castle.
Turning back to them, I wait as Toadsworth still clings to his cane, hesitating, but trembling, just slightly. He relaxes his form, and his hand slides down, as he props himself up with the cane.
"Master…Master Mario…" He gazes longingly at my boyfriend. "…Is…you're really not possessed…are you?" Mario shakes his head. "Then…all of this…all that you alone have done…" He turns his attention to me. "What you told me before, about Mario, those awful things…"
"Look, you old coot, don't focus on any of that." I approach them. "I got carried away, and I was up in arms over you hurting Mario, ok? That's why I kept lashing out with you. I…I shouldn't have."
"…All of the Stars above, are you both under a spell?"
"No!" Mario and I look at each other, and then back at Toadsworth.
"And yet…you are." He…he chuckles, slightly. "It's just a…it's a different kind." He tugs on his white mustache. "…Does…does Princess Peach have any idea…?"
"From what we've been told, yes." Mario shifts his weight around. "I thought she would have let the whole kingdom know by now."
"Never. She wouldn't act so…she wouldn't hurt you like that, Mario." Toadsworth sighs. "But, I wish she had at least informed me of…this happening."
"Maybe she doesn't like admitting it," I suggest. "Or maybe she's clueless, and we're wrong about her knowing." Mario glances back and raises an eyebrow. "Look, I can be hopeful too, ok?"
"Princess Peach knowing of you two isn't the matter at hand," determines Toadsworth. "What does is…why are you both here?"
"My Koopalings." I fold my arms. "One of your Toads kidnapped them."
"Toads don't kidnap or take hostages," fires off Toadsworth. "We're not you, Koopa. We wouldn't resort to such—"
"Spare me." I bare my teeth at him. "My troops know better than to lie to me about serious matters, and they wouldn't just make up the Koopalings disappearing. The report was that someone used magic to steal them from my Airship after losing to Peach." I release my arms and survey the castle. "They're here, I'm sure of that."
"There's no other reason for us to be here, Toadsworth." Mario rests his hand on the Toad's shoulder. "We just want to take the Koopalings back to Bowser's Castle. None of this fighting was supposed to escalate like this. Bowser even ordered that none of the Toads be harmed or killed while fighting them."
"None of them have…?" Toadsworth blinks and gazes up at me. I shrug and nod. "He really got you to order that?"
"Of course he did!" I pull my head back. "And hey! Mario isn't the one that influences all of my decision making!" I snort. Mumbling, I add, "Just most of it…lately…"
"Gracious." Toadsworth pulls on his mustache, harder now. "This is…so much to take in at once."
"It would be nicer to have gone over it under better terms, but yeah, it's a lot," agrees Mario. "I'm sorry that I wasn't able to explain it earlier or—"
"No one would have accepted him," I interrupt. "They would've thought their all-loving hero went insane for going near me." I glare at Toadsworth. "Tell me I'm wrong! It was easier to believe that I was controlling him, wasn't it?"
"Honestly, yes." Toadsworth adjusts his spectacles. "But…somehow, this is starting to make more sense." He shakes his head. "Well, besides it presumably being the truth, and not that I'm just being deluded." Mario and I exchange nervous looks. "But I suppose…there's only one way to find out."
Toadsworth lifts his cane and steps toward the castle. He hesitates and sighs, his form slumping as he stares ahead. He turns back to us while I wrap my arm around Mario.
"To get to the bottom of this, I'll take you two to the dungeons."
He ambles back to the castle, relying on his cane to help him along. Mario and I look at one another again. He smiles to me, and nudges at me, before he follows Toadsworth back to Peach's. I sigh and smile at him, trailing after both of them.
Mario is really something else.
[Mario]
We return to the castle halls, which are severely more damaged than I recall leaving them. Besides the ruined walls that we walked through, shattered pots, vases, statues, sculptures, and frames are littered around the room. Rugs and curtains are in shreds, torn across in too many places to count. Tiles are cracked, if not outright smashed to bits, stairs and walls have holes and dents in them, and there's even a broken chandelier on the ground.
If that wasn't enough to make my heart sink, the Toads are in collections against the wall, most tied up and unconscious. Though I'm relieved they're not dead, I'm still heartbroken that we couldn't find a more peaceful solution to all of this.
I know that I failed spectacularly, but I can't think of how to begin making amends.
Toadsworth slows as he reaches a group of bound Toads, resting his hand against one of the Toad's heads.
"Sorry." It had to come out, and I want to add more to it.
"It's already done," decides Toadsworth, stepping away from the other Toads. "We were never going to get along." He sighs and faces Bowser. "You knew that, I'm certain."
"Kept trying to tell that to Mario, yeah." Bowser sighs. "Didn't make me feel any better about this, though."
"Lord Bowser, sire!"
A green Rex, a Bob-omb, and a red-shelled Koopa Troopa dash over to us. They shift their stances, locking their attention on Toadsworth.
"We'll take care of him for you, sir," pledges the Bob-omb.
"That's r-right, we have to!" The Koopa raises a fist. "He w-won't hurt you!"
"Don't!"
"At ease," orders Bowser. "This old Toad won't be fighting us anymore."
"What?" The Rex tilts his head, flapping his small wings. "Isn't he one of Peach's most faithful?"
"That's exactly why he's helping us sort this out," I explain. "We need to find the Koopalings, and he's taking us to them."
"Does he understand everything, then?" The Bob-omb blinks as he hesitantly relaxes.
"Still working on understanding," admits Toadsworth. "But, yes, I am willing to get this handled and return this castle to tip-top shape."
"Allow us to accompany you, then, sir," offers the Rex. "Other soldiers can keep these halls secured, and while you're plenty capable with Mario, you both should be protected."
"Uh, sure." Bowser shrugs, and then nods. "Thanks."
"There's a stairwell in the western corridor that leads below the castle and to our dungeons," directs Toadsworth. "They're typically empty, as you're aware, Mario. But there's nowhere else we would keep prisoners." He travels on through the hall. "This way, please."
"Mister…Toadsworth!" A Toad struggles against his rope bindings as we cross. "Sir, we can still…we can fight…!"
"Lad, please don't." He walks to the Toad and rests against his cane. "The battling is over, and we did our princess proud." He forces a smile. "Believe me, I'll have them out of this castle in a little bit."
"But…sir…"
"Rest, please." Toadsworth shakes his head. "We're going to have a lot to tidy up later."
He turns away from the Toad, who stops jerking against the ropes, and we travel through the castle. Apparently, there was more fighting throughout the first floor, as more Toads are wrapped up in the next hall, with Goombas and Koopas watching over different groups. A Shy Guy turns from his set, and waves as we pass, but jumps and spins back around, returning his attention to his detainees, his prisoners.
Reaching out, Toadsworth runs his hand over a broken cabinet, tracing its crack down the middle and the wood ripped along the end. He glances as a sculpture of Peach, with her head notably missing. Dragging his hand across torn curtains, he moves away from the ruined walls, steps around a broken tile, and presses on. I force myself to keep my attention on him, not daring to look for more damages.
Further in, we reach the western corridor, with a large pair of staircases taking up the back wall of the room. One set leads up to the next floor, and then other goes below the floor and to the lower levels.
Bowser snorts and surveys the room, noting the spaciousness of it.
"This is a corridor?" He folds his arms. "You could make this into a room all its own, and then still have enough space to enclose the stairs separately."
"Princess Peach does redecorate the castle several times over, as I'm sure you do with yours," elucidates Toadsworth. "She's been a bit preoccupied lately, however, as I'm sure you're also aware of." Bowser snorts and glances away. "Right then. Down we go."
He leads us onward, but seems to make sure that he's walking closer to me. Checking back on Bowser, who seems to be listening to reports from his troops, I step onward with Toadsworth, putting a slight distance between us.
"So…you and Bowser…" Toadsworth twirls his mustache.
"Yeah." I roll my shoulders. "It's strange, I'm sure."
"Incredibly so, Master Mario." Toadsworth pinches his whiskers and rubs them between his fingers. "It's…I'm trying to keep myself collected, but, truthfully, I'm holding back on, well…everything."
"You can express your shock, Toadsworth." I shrug. "I've been expecting a lot worse to deal with."
"Mario, my lack of reaction is my shock at this time," reveals Toadsworth. "I'm most certainly still processing this."
"Ah." I rub my arm. "Well…do you want me to, um…go over anything in particular?"
"Those stories are for another day, perhaps over tea, and with the others around," decides Toadsworth. "I'm sure our princess and your brother would like to know more."
"Oh, Luigi definitely knows more already."
"Does he?"
"Yes." I scratch behind my head. "I told him when I first came back here."
"Hm." He nods, as we reach the bottom of the stairwell. "And yet he's still working with Princess Peach. Why?"
"Peach is our friend, Toadsworth." He turns to me, and gazes into my eyes. "I know it's probably hard to believe, but I'm trying to find a way to resolve this more peacefully." My shoulders slump and I drop my head. "Obviously, that hasn't worked yet, but…I'm hoping…"
"They're…actually mindful of you," notes Toadsworth, and I pick my head up. "Bowser seems to keep you in mind with his actions now. His forces obey him enough to follow through with that." Toadsworth softly chuckles. "You've done surprisingly well so far to keep them wrapped around your fingers."
"It's not exactly like that," I confess. "But…I'm trying."
"That's all I can ask for." Toadsworth opens a door, and he chuckles again as we walk through the lower halls. "It's funny, actually."
"What is?"
"Some rumors always plagued the kingdom, and even our castle, about how there might be something…well, 'involved,' I suppose, between Princess Peach and Bowser."
"Huh?"
"Implications of them as a couple," Toadsworth bluntly drops. "That she likes being kidnapped, or how madly Bowser's driven for her."
"Ah, that, yeah." Sucking my cheek in, I wedge it between my teeth, gazing at the blue stone structures of Peach's lower levels. It's dim down here, even with white tiles between the black ones for the floor. "Rumors like that even reached here, huh?"
"Sadly, yes." Toadsworth picks at his mustache again. "Though I tried my best to quash that slander, it persists, even today." He smirks. "Funny enough, had they directed their attention to you instead, they would be spot on."
"Oh, I didn't like being kidnapped either," I admit. "Bowser softened up after I revealed my attraction to him."
"Wait, after you…?" Toadsworth shudders as he shakes his head. "Exactly how long have you harbored these feelings?"
"A long time." I smile and rub behind my neck. "Apparently, Bowser felt the same for a while too, but neither of us knew, since everyone helped us assume that we were interested in Peach and hated one another."
"Here I thought you seduced him," assesses Toadsworth.
"Yeah, he kind of did that too," cuts in Bowser. I glance back as he beams to me. "But I seduced him right back!"
"Huh." Toadsworth pauses, and gazes up at Bowser. "You're…oddly chipper."
"What of it?" Bowser huffs. "I can be happy too."
"Specifically around Mario," realizes Toadsworth. "I…never thought I'd see that."
"A gay king?" Bowser rolls his eyes. "Sorry, monster, right?"
"No, just…you being happy without causing chaos." Toadsworth shakes his head and returns on guiding us forward. "I forget you have a life beyond terrorizing this kingdom."
"And I forget that you could use some manners," snaps Bowser. I raise an eyebrow at him as I lower my eyes. "Oh, come on. He could've put that a lot better."
"Play nice."
"Trying." Bowser grumbles. "He knows I have a kid, right?"
"He's not just a magically created clone?" Toadsworth glances back, with a slight mischievousness twinkling in his eyes.
"No, he's mine by blood and a really poor life choice," thunders Bowser. "Are you done?!"
"Tell me, what about the other seven, ah, bad choices, then?"
"They're not my kids," reveals Bowser. "At least, not like Junior is."
"None of them?"
"No."
"Hm." Toadsworth turns back and continues on. "You act like a very determined father for them, barging your way in here to find them."
"They're important to me," admits Bowser. "That's all you need to know."
"Fair enough."
As we turn a corner, though, four neatly dressed Toads approach. They come to a harsh, sharp halt, and shiver as they back away from us.
"Toad…Toadsworth, you fool!" A Toad in green robes with a dark mustache grips his hand tightly as he continues back. "You led that beast down here?!"
"At least Mario is already with them," notes one of the elder Toads, and this one is dressed with a burgundy sweater and a lavender apron over her. "That's…good."
"Except they're not fighting," points out a red clad Toad, also with a mustache.
"What are you waiting for, Mario?!" The other elder Toad is dressed in green and red, plucking on his white mustache as he hisses at me. "Kill that monster and be done with it!"
"Absolutely not happening." Their eyes widen as I fold my arms behind my head. "Come on, what did you honestly expect?"
"We're off to the dungeons, council members," clarifies Toadsworth. "They'll leave after we help them—"
"Help? Help?!" The green robed Toad storms ahead. "We're not helping that…that freak of a fiend!"
"Toadoric, that's enough." The elder female Toad's voice seems soft and firm at the same time as she chastises the one in green. "Are you trying to cause trouble?"
"Don't be naïve, Toadsandra," snaps the other elder Toad. "My son has every right to demand that Mario gets rid of that brute!"
"We absolutely do not have time for this," thunders Toadsworth. "Bowser's army has forced us into submission. We're going to see if the Koopalings are in the dungeons, and then that's the end of this."
"Is that really all that's going on, Toadsworth?" The younger Toad in red brushes his brown mustache.
"Yes, I'm certain of this, Toaditus."
"You're out of your mind, Toadsworth!" Toadoric steps forward. "You are unfit to help keep this castle under control, and furthermore—"
"If you don't shut your trap, I'm going to make all of your heads roll," grumbles Bowser. "Move out of the way, or I'll make you move."
"Is that a threat?!"
"It's a guarantee."
"This wretched beast!" The other elder Toad shakes his head, flipping his red robes over his green clothes. "You think you can come in here and make such demands of us? You're foul—"
"Toadislav, be quiet," asserts Toadsandra.
"Father, allow me to settle this," insists Toadoric. "These louts will not simply hurry through our castle." He steps forward again. "On behalf of the Mushroom Kingdom, it will be my genuine delight to purge our castle of our greatest enemy and his pests."
"It's…it's you."
Everyone shifts their attention to the red-shelled Koopa, who shrinks in to himself as we stare at him.
"Uh…the-that Toad." He points at Toadoric. "He…he was the one…on the A-Airship."
"…What?"
"He to-took the Koopalings." The Koopa points at him. "He used a thin magic wand to take them in a veil of smoke and away from the ship."
"What?!" Toadoric throws his cloak back. "Preposterous! Just who do you think you are, making such an accusation of me?!"
"It's tr-true!" The Koopa trembles but shakes his head. "I was there, I saw you!"
"Insanity, all of this," snaps Toadislav. "My son wouldn't gallivant around and pluck Koopas from their ships or whatnot."
"If that's so, then we'll just be on our way to confirm the empty cells," Toadsworth brings up again.
"Absolutely not!" Toadoric steps back this time. "They have no right!"
"This treachery is all Bowser's doing," hisses Toadislav. "Those Koopas are simply not to be trusted, and this proves it!"
"If they don't move in two seconds," growls Bowser, "I'll burn them to ashes here and now."
"Please just allow us to pass," I appeal to them. "We've never met, but I'm sure you know that I help the Mushroom Kingdom all the time—"
"Of course we know you, Mario," interrupts Toadsandra. "Furthermore, though I agree this is a complete farce to be entertaining, we have more important matters to attend to." She turns around and walks back down the hall. "This way, we'll see those empty cells and be done with this."
"Toadsandra—!"
"She's right," chimes in Toaditus. "Let's just go and be done with this."
Both red clad Toads move along. Exchanging their angry expressions, the father and son Toads follow them. Toadsworth nods, and we all travel through the hall, onward to the next room.
It's a wide area, and though there is space for more, only two cells wait for us in the rear of the room.
Perhaps that's what makes it jarring to see the Koopalings waiting inside the normally vacant jail cell.
"Impossible," mutters Toadsandra.
"Finally." Bowser storms over to the end of the dungeon, and I hurry after him.
"Would anyone care to explain this?!" Toadsworth fumes at the Toads behind us. "When did they get here? On what orders were they deposited and just left there? Certainly not Princess Peach's, or I would've known! For how long?"
"We don't know, Toadsworth."
"Stuff and nonsense!"
Bowser leans against the bars of the cell containing the Koopalings. They're bound and out cold, resting against the chains that lock them in place.
Gripping the bars tightly, Bowser rips the gate clean off, and tosses it aside. The ringing clatter causes the Koopalings to stir and jolt awake.
"King…Bowser?" Lemmy shakes his head. "Where…what happened?"
"You were kidnapped." Bowser breaks his chains, releasing the smallest Koopaling.
"Us?" Morton blinks and shakes his head. "We were…really?"
"Yes, really."
Hurriedly, Bowser pulls apart each set of shackles, ripping each from the Koopalings until all seven are released. He gathers them close to him, and ushers them from the cell. I smile as they wander out, and I slowly exhale.
"This must be a complete misunderstanding," insists Toadoric. We turn as the Toads and Bowser's soldiers walk over. "They couldn't possibly have—"
"You." Ludwig narrows his eyes. "You're the one that put us here, aren't you?"
"No, that's completely a sham that you Koopas whipped up," snaps Toadoric.
"Are you joking?" Wendy stomps down. "You're the one that used some foul spell to take us from our Airship, and…and…left us to rot in this dingy dungeon!"
"Not like ours are much better," points out Larry.
"Hush, that's not the point."
"I did no such thing!" Toadoric fumbles back, and trips over a loose tile. A thin wand rolls from his robes.
"That's the stick he used to do it," spots Roy. "So he does use his own magic."
"Y-yes! That's it!"
"This is my wand, but I did not leave this castle to kidnap children!"
"Right, so, we just wandered in here and chained ourselves up, then," spits Iggy. "Because that makes sense."
"But…but…"
"Utter nonsense," snaps Toadislav. "I know when my son is lying, better than anyone else! And he's absolutely not lying now!"
"You would defend him," murmurs Toaditus.
"Excuse me?!"
"Certainly, you should be excused for this," declares Toadsandra. "And your son should be branded a traitor to our kingdom for this."
"Me?! I would never!" Toadoric pounds his chest. "I am loyal to the Mushroom Kingdom, and will be to my dying breath!"
"That should be arranged," darkly mutters Ludwig.
"What needs to be arranged is a proper royal council," determines Toadsworth. "Ours seems to have failed us."
"It most certainly has not!"
"This proves that it has, Toadislav," contests Toadsandra. "We are unfit to operate further like this."
"This council has lasted for years, decades!" Toadislav stomps down. "We are here to protect the throne at all costs!"
"Perhaps that needs to be reassessed," muses Toaditus.
"It absolutely does," agrees Toadsworth. He approaches Bowser and I. "You were right to come here. On behalf of Princess Peach, I offer you my sincere apologies, as this…cluttered excuse of a council acted on their own agenda, not within the interests of my princess."
"Mario called that much," touts Bowser. "She still has trash to clear out."
"Rest assured, they will be," promises Toadsworth.
"Good."
"This doesn't change anything else," establishes Toadsworth. "I understand more now, but we are still at war."
"For now," I add in.
"Yes…" Toadsworth smiles to me. "Well, that concludes your invasion, correct?"
"For now," echoes Bowser. I elbow him as he chuckles. "So, what now?"
"Leave us." Toadsworth turns away from our group. "Go home, and let us return to our devices. We will need time to recover here, and your Koopalings should be brought back safely."
"Fair enough."
Bowser gathers the Koopalings and guides them out from the dungeon, and his troops follow after him. I wait for a moment, and turn back to the four arguing Toads. Toadsworth turns to me, and slowly smiles.
"We'll manage, Mario." He nods to me. "Go."
My hands tighten as I force a smile back to him, and nod as I exit. Bowser waits for me, and smirks as I catch up.
We're still a long way from resolving everything, and have a lot of damage to make up for, but…at least for now, we made a small change.
[Afterwards]
Toadsworth sighs, watching as Toads shuffle through the halls, mending the castle to the best of their abilities. They clear the clutter and help check on one another, treating minor injuries, but mostly chattering about the events that unfolded beyond their imagining.
"What am I going to do," murmurs Toadsworth. "Even if Princess Peach knows…the Mushroom Kingdom most certainly does not…"
"Wowser!" A Toad dressed in an explorer outfit walks through the main entrance. He gawks at the shambles that the castle is in. "What happened here?"
"Bowser." Toadsworth leans on his cane as he makes his way to the Toad. "Have you found anything new, Captain?"
"Different minor treasures, sure!" He beams, but Toadsworth's lowered eyes erase his smile. "Um…nothing on the…uh, 1-Up shortage, though."
"Blast." Toadsworth shakes his head. "We need to amend that soon. Things worked out for the better today, but there's no promises for the future."
"No need to be so bleak, Toadsworth," soothes Captain Toad. "We'll keep searching for the 1-Up Mushrooms, and we'll try our best to come through!"
"Thank you, but…" Toadsworth shakes his head. "I'll need your assistant back here. He's most certainly going to be needed in the future."
"Him?" Captain Toad frowns. "You might as well. He's a little too…well, too rough for treasure hunting."
"He's one of our best athletes," counters Toadsworth. "How was he not suited for this quest?"
"Apparently because I'm too fast and hit too hard against enemies."
Another Toad walks in, dressed in a light blue explorer outfit. He tugs off his red scarf, and pulls the headlamp from his red mushroom head.
"Well, yeah, that sums it up!" Captain Toad giggles as the other Toad sighs.
"Toad." Toadsworth smiles. "Welcome back."
"Sorry that we haven't made enough progress, Toadsworth." Toad frowns and lowers his head. "I've tried helping Captain Toad and his team, but I don't think I'm the best explorer."
"Toadette did do it better," chimes in Captain Toad.
"Not helping my confidence at all, Captain."
"Haha! Sorry."
"That's no longer your concern, Toad." Toadsworth steps closer to him, and rests his free hand on his shoulder. "Your duty as a retainer requires your immediate return to the serving the throne."
"Really?" Toad blinks. "But…I thought…" He tilts his head, and studies the room around him. "…What exactly have I missed, Toadsworth?"
"Come with me, and I'll get you caught up." He pats Toad and then walks away. "When the time and events demand it, Peach will need all of her retainers at her side. Captain, please continue your search, and do try not to be distracted hunting for all that glitters and glows."
"Aye-aye, Toadsworth, sir!"
Hurrying out from the castle, Captain Toad rushes off to continue his search. Toad sees the Captain off, and returns his attention to Toadsworth, following him towards the throne room.
...
Toyed around with the idea for a while, and honestly, I think that Toad deserves to join the fold. He won't for a while, but now's as good a time as any for him to debut, I suppose.
Bowser has his Koopalings back, and Mario managed to help him out throughout, how nice! They managed to get through it better than expected. And somehow only revealed their relationship to just Toadsworth, in spite of some shameless flirting and shouting. And overprotecting. And...yeah.
Toadsworth finally got to do what I've been waiting to have him do for ages: fight! With magic! It was fun getting him there at last. Plus, it was nice to have light magic and dark magic showcased against one another. What are your views on that? Does light only create and dark only destroy? Or is there more to it? And I wonder what will happen to that Royal Council now, since they're split in half. Speaking of, do you think that they're guilty?
Feedback is helpful, and I do appreciate it deeply, as it helps keep interest for the story alive.
Next time, Peach and her friends will be continuing their side of the adventure, at Star Hill! I wonder what's waiting for them out there...
Thank you for reading and supporting, as well as your patience too! It may take some time, but please be assured, there is still more to come.