Disclaimer: I don't own Mario.
"Heeeeelllllp! Saaaaavvvvveeeee meeeee!"
The terrified cries of Princess Peach reached Mario where he was. It was enough to tell him that the beautiful young maiden was in trouble - once again. He had to get to the tower where she was in trouble - and fast.
"Hurry, Yoshi!" Mario ordered his animal companion. "I must save the princess! Let's-a goooo!"
Yoshi grunted as he picked up speed while carrying the moustached hero on his back. As eager as he was to help rescue the princess, the two-legged reptile wasn't pleased to serving as Mario's mode of transport. It's not like the Italian plumber was a handsome brave night. Why did have he have to act as his horse for him to ride on the back of?
It wasn't long before they arrived at the foot of the tower. Mario jumped off Yoshi's back to race inside - only to find that there wasn't an easy way in. The tower had no door built into its circular walls. There was only the window of the room at the top where Peach was being held captive.
Mario knew what he had to do. His stood in front of his pet. "Give me a boost up, Yoshi!"
Yoshi grinned. He could tell straight away what his owner wanted him to do. He was more than happy to comply, for not only would it help with the rescue of Peach - but it was a nice way to get back at Mario for using him as his transport.
With all his strength gathered, Yoshi lifted a leg up - before kicking Mario in the back as hard as he could.
"YOWCH!" Mario howled in pain as he was flung upwards towards the top of the tower. He flew through the window and swooped into the room - to crash face-down onto the floor. "OOF!"
"Mario!"
Peach's voice filled the room as the stunned princess looked her widening eyes onto the plumber who had come to rescue her.
She was not the only one there; the one who had kidnapped her was also inside the tower. He turned his vicious gaze towards where Mario lay, a vicious smirk creeping upon his face.
"Well, well, well!" he cackled. "If it isn't the gallant hero come to rescue the princess! Not exactly a knight in shining armour, are ya?"
Lifting his face up from the floor, Mario found himself staring towards Peach's captor. He quickly jumped to his feet at the one he was about to face off. He could see straight away that this creature was far worse than any dragon.
"Bowser!"
"I thought someone more challenging would come to fight me!" The King Koopa shook his head. "Never mind! I'll make easy work of toasting you!"
Bowser began to charge towards Mario, preparing to eliminate him. He was confident that such a mighty powerful beast such as himself would have no trouble destroying such a puny person.
"Mario!" Peach cried. "Draw your sword!"
"Sword?!"
Mario's face filled with alarm. He had realised he had come to rescue the princess - without a sword. He had no weapon to defend himself against Bowser. The King Koopa was charging straight in his direction - and he had nothing to fight against him with.
There was only one thing Mario could think to do.
"AIIIIEEEEE!"
Screaming in terror, the Italian Plumber began to race around the room, running for his life from the dangerous monster who was after him.
"COME BACK HERE!" Bowser roared. "I'M GONNA TOAST YOU LIKE A MARSHMALLOW!"
The King Koopa began to blast his fiery breath at the young hero. Mario yelped as he dodged the flames being shot towards him. He was determined to keep out of the way. The King Koopa had much hotter fire than a dragon - not to mention far stinkier breath.
"Use me, Mario! Use me!"
A sudden voice which reached Mario's ears caused them to perk up. It took him a moment to realise where it had come from - before the fear on his face disappeared as he realised what he had taken with him on his journey.
Silly me! he thought. I don't need the weapon of a knight to defeat Bowser; I just need the tools of a plumber!
Slowing to a stop, Mario swung around to face Bowser. He was able to bring a horrified look his enemy's ugly face. Only now did the evil Koopa realise what the plumber had strapped onto his back, ready to fire at him.
"No!" Bowser cried. "You wouldn't dare! You wouldn't!"
"Battle mode engaged!"
Strapped to Mario's back, filled with plenty of water that was about to be fired down the furnace-like throat of Bowser, was F.L.U.D.D.
Mario smiled bravely. "Here'a we go!"
The plumber pressed a button on F.L.U.D.D. At once, huge showers of pure clean water shot quickly out of the machine's nozzles. Bowser's eyes widened, but before he could make a move, he was struck in the face by fountain of water. A scream escaped from the King Koopa - causing the liquid to fill his mouth and extinguish his fiery breath.
"Bllllluuuuuggggghhhhh!" Bowser spluttered. "Blub blub blub!"
"What's-a that, Bowser?" Mario asked mockingly. "It's-a rude to talk with your mouth full!"
The last of the water inside F.L.U.D.D. sprayed out of his nozzles - and that was enough to take Bowser out. The mighty Koopa slipped off his feet to land in a big puddle that had formed around him. He groaned as he lay there with water lapping around him, to weak to pick himself back up.
"Well-a now!" Mario grinned in triumph at his fallen adversairy. "Seems like you're all-a washed up!"
"My herooooo!"
Hearing Peach squeal in delight caused Mario to swing around to face her - just as the rescued Princess threw her arms around the plumber to embrace him tightly, planting a soft kiss onto his round nose.
"You saved me!" Peach beamed gratefully at her rescuer. "Thank you, Mario!"
Peach stepped away, leaving Mario in a stunned state over what he had just received from her. His smile widened as his face turned as red as his hat. It felt so good to be kissed by the beautiful princess.
"Okay! Back to Mushroom Kingdom!"
Mario remained under the awed spell as Peach announced her intentions - but snapped out of it upon seeing her jump out of the tower. He let out a startled cry as he raced over towards the window. He peered out with shocked eyes to see the princess floating safely down towards the ground with the help of her umbrella - which she could have easily done from the moment Bowser had brought her to the tower.
"Princess!" Mario cried, realising she had left him inside the tower with no way to get down himself. "Wait!"
Peach didn't answer. She just waited for her feet to touch the ground before closing up her umbrella. Then she ran over to where Yoshi was waiting and hoped cheerfully onto his back. The green animal began to head off into the woods, carrying the princess on his back - and leaving Mario up in the tower.
As the princess and his sidekick disappeared from view, Mario sunk to his knees. He was well and truly trapped up here. How was he going to get out of here? He didn't have an umbrella to float to the ground like Peach was, and with all the water in F.L.U.D.D. used up, he could not engage the pump's flight mode to jettison himself down.
After all he'd gone through to rescue Princess Peach from the tower, she had left him stuck up here himself.
How could it get any worse.
"Hey! You!"
Mario froze upon hearing bellowing coming from right behind him. His blood ran cold. He had forgotten he was not alone up here in the tower. It sounded like the one who was up here with him had regained their strength from the battle they had just engaged in.
Hesitantly, his face going white with fear, Mario turned around.
There was Bowser, having picked himself up from being drenched by his enemy. He was dripping wet as he edged menacingly towards the plumber. His fiery breath which he had tried to roast Mario with had long been extinguished, but the water hadn't been enough to wash away all the anger he had been filled with.
"It's time for round two!" Bowser barked at Mario. "I'm gonna make you pay for making me all wet! When I'm done with you, I'm gonna be hanging you out to dry!"
Mario stared nervously at the enormous Koopa before him. It was clear Bowser wanted them to have another battle after how their last one had ended. With no water inside F.L.U.D.D. to shoot at Bowser, the Italian plumber had no idea how he was going to fight against him this time.
A sigh came out of Mario. He should have right now been tucking into a homemade cake baked for him by Peach as a reward for rescuing her, not trying to prevent Bowser from flattening him into a pancake.
"Mamma Mia..." Mario muttered.
The end.