Invasion!
"Take that you evil blocked drains!" Mario muttered between snores "You're no match for me."
He sat up and punched the air before making a gesture like twisting a wrench. He then flopped back down and gave a mighty snore. In the bunk below, Luigi squirmed, rolled over, and sank into a deeper slumber. It was a few days since fixing the princess' shower and so far that had been the highlight of the week. They had handled a few minor jobs here and there but had mostly passed the time happily at home. Now they were deep in dreamland, blissfully unaware of events taking place at the heart of the kingdom.
Luigi grunted and shifted when odd thumping noises issued from the front of the house. His eyes twitched but then he continued snoring. Meanwhile in the living room, two odd creatures were prowling around the place. They were a little under half the height of an average man with brown bodies best described as pyramids with round, soft edges. They lacked arms and their faces consisted of two large eyes and a wide mouth with pointed teeth. These were Goombas, creatures not often seen in this part of the country, and they certainly had not been invited into the house.
"Hey this isn't bad" one Goomba said as he examined the house.
"Little small but its cozy" his companion agreed "Maybe we should keep it."
"My thoughts exactly, Goomboris" the first one replied as he nodded in agreement
"Hey Goomdon" Goomboris called to his friend "Check out the décor; these freaks must really like pipes."
"What I noticed were these photos" Goomdon replied. "These guys know the princess."
"You mean they did" Goomboris giggled and soon both Goombas were laughing raucously. They suddenly fell silent when they say a dumbfounded Luigi standing in the doorway.
"Hey there" Goomboris said with a smirk "I'm Goomboris and this is my brother, Goomdon. We've decided that we like this place so buzz off!"
"Hey Mario" Luigi shouted "Wake up, we're being invaded by Goombas!"
"Go back to sleep Luigi" Mario replied groggily "You're just having another nightmare."
"No I'm not!" he said while the Goomba brothers laughed at his panic
"Dude looks like he's about to wet his PJs" Goomdon said between laughs
"Just wait until he hears the news" Goomboris chortled
Luigi composed himself and struck a defensive pose "I'm warning you guys right now; get out of our house and I won't have to hurt you."
The simply burst into laughter again. Luigi ran at the Goombas but they simply stepped out of the way and the plumber smashed into a chair. They actually fell over from laughter as they watched Luigi stand up and stagger around from pain and confusion. Suddenly, Goomboris felt a heavy blow to his back that sent him rolling across the floor. He quickly popped up and saw Mario standing there with his foot still aloft from the kick.
"I believe my brother asked you to leave."
"As if " Goomdon spat back "This kingdom is under new management and we can do whatever we want."
"What did you say?" Mario asked with fire in his eyes
"They said something before about the princess" Luigi said "I heard them talking about her."
"You guys had better start talking. What's happened to Peach?"
"Oooh first name basis" Goomboris said "Impressive."
"Maybe these guys are important" Goomdon said
"If they were, they aren't now"
"Tell me what's going on!" Mario demanded as he took a step toward the Goombas
"Gladly" Goomboris said with a grin "Peach is out, King Bowser is in."
"What?"
"He's in charge, in style, and totally in control."
"Who's King Bowser?" Luigi asked but Mario was more interested in other matters.
"What exactly did this Bowser do to Peach?"
"One track mind, this one" Goomdon said
"Maybe his interest in her is more than friendly" Goomboris giggled "I'm so sad to say" he went on in a not so sad voice "that your girlfriend was in the way of Bowser's plans. She isn't in the way anymore."
Mario's face was twisted in pure rage. He rushed Goomboris and punched him square in the face. The Goomba winced in pain and toppled back like an upended turtle. Meanwhile, Goomdon leaped through the air and smashed headfirst into Mario. The plumber crumpled under the hard head and Goomdon helped his brother stand up.
Mario was back on his feet in seconds but was knocked over again by a double head butt. Goomdon was promptly caught off guard as Luigi jumped painfully onto his head. He staggered around in a daze while Luigi jumped at his brother. Goomboris was more prepared for the attack and quickly ran backwards. Luigi landed near him and tried to punch him like Mario had. Goomboris acted quickly and bit Luigi's hand.
"Yeowch; that smarts!"
"So does being jumped on" Goomdon said as he regained his senses "What possessed you to do that?"
"What can I say?" Luigi said, still cradling his injured hand "Jumping is kind of my thing."
"I'm no slouch either" Mario said "and you boys have me hopping mad."
Mario jumped at the Goombas, not particularly caring which he hit, and actually landed with one foot on each. The blow was halved since they shared his body weight between them but they were still stunned. This allowed Luigi time to act and he kicked Goomboris so hard the Goomba smashed into his brother.
"Ow, these guys are tough, Goonboris"
"I know Goomdon, but we can't give up. It'd be humiliating to be beaten by a fatso and a coward."
"I'm not fat" Mario replied "I'm stout."
"Whatever you say tubby" Goomboris shot back "Maybe that blubber will protect you from this!"
He attacked Mario with another head butt and the plumber was again knocked back in pain. Meanwhile, Goomdon and Luigi were circling each other. Luigi would occasionally jab the air while Goomdon would bare his teeth menacingly. Suddenly Luigi looked shocked and pointed across the room. Goomdon turned around to see what he was pointing at and Luigi jumped on his head again.
"I can't believe you fell for that" Luigi laughed while the Goomba sat on the floor in a daze. "That's the oldest trick in the book."
"Oh no, what's that?" Goomboris, who had knocked Mario back again, cried out. Luigi turned to look and received a head butt to the back. "Idiot" Goomboris muttered with an roll of his eyes.
He turned around to find Mario's fist flying at his face again. Goomboris took the punch squarely where his nose should have been and gasped in pain. Mario jabbed repeatedly like the Goomba was a punching bag. Mario let up and stepped aside right before Luigi kicked him square in the back and Goomboris rolled across the room, groaning in pain.
"Ok, ok we give. If we tell you about your precious princess, will you let us go?' Goomboris asked
"Maybe" Mario replied
"That's cold dude" Goomboris replied
Goomdon, who had recovered slightly, said "Bowser is the king of the Koopa Clan. They live far away in what your kind calls the Dark Land."
"Oh man, I hate just talking about that place" Luigi said, his knees knocking slightly
"Well he's been in the market for some much nicer property for a while now" Goomboris said, picking up the story "The Mushroom Kingdom was his top choice and now it's finally his."
"He said that anyone who supported him would get all kinds of rights once he was king" Goomdon said "We were simply trying to take advantage of the new regime to go house hunting."
"Yeah except this one is taken" Luigi said
"And defended" Mario added
"You don't have to tell us that" Goomboris sulked "Anyway, last I heard, Bowser was acquiring a nice pad of his own."
"None other than Castle Toadstool" Goomdon explained
"Far as I know" Goomboris said "The princess is still there. Maybe his Highness will keep her around…maybe he won't."
"I've heard enough" Mario said "Get dressed Luigi, we're heading out."
"What? Are you guys seriously planning a rescue?" Goomboris burst out laughing again but shut up when Mario glared at him "You don't even know the half of it yet. You bozos don't have a prayer."
"We can certainly try to help." Mario said "If your story is true, the Mushroom People won't take it lying down."
"Oh I don't know" Goomdon answered "They may freeze up, if you know what I mean Goomboris"
"I catch your drift. You're saying their fear may make them a little stiff."
"They are blockheads after all."
The Goombas burst out laughing and the Mario Bros decided they'd had enough of them. They ran forward, grabbed the Goombas, and chucked them out the front door. Goomboris stood up and said "You'll regret that! You haven't seen the last of us."
"Yeah losers" Goomdon added "You better watch your backs."
The Goombas said a few more rude things before running off into the trees. Mario turned and strode quickly back inside. By the time Luigi caught up, Mario was already pulling on his overalls.
"Come on Luigi."
"I don't know Mario. Maybe they're right; what can two plumbers do?"
"They can do a lot more than just sit around and tremble in fear. Princess Peach is our friend right?"
"Right"
"Well friends don't let friends down. We may not be able to do much but we won't know until we've tried."
Luigi gulped and said "You…you're right! I'm coming too."
"That's the spirit little brother!"
A few minutes later they were attired and, with tools in hand, they were on their way to Toad Town. The Goomba's story was immediately proven to be true as they emerged from the pipe. The place was in turmoil as citizens ran in fear from all sorts of creatures, none looking very friendly. The majority of the assailants were various forms of Koopas; turtle like creatures that walked on their hind legs like humans. Some simply gave chase or hurled themselves around in their shells, others brandished heavy hammers, and still others breathed fire balls. In the chaos, no one had noticed the arrival of the Mario Bros.
"Hey Mario" Luigi said "What do you think those odd blocks are?"
He was pointing at the large blocks of brown stone that littered the streets. A Koopa spotted them examining one of the blocks and he laughed.
"I guess you boys are late to the party!"
"What do you mean?" Mario asked "What are these?"
"How rude; the correct question is 'who are these?'"
Mario and Luigi both turned pale. "These used to be people?" Luigi asked in horror
"Yep! It seems that King Bowser's spell wasn't totally effective but he got enough of you Mushroom types out of the way. Actually I'm kind of glad some were left behind; more fun for us."
"You call this fun?" Mario said as he gestured toward a group of Goombas chasing an elderly Toad. Her name was Tayce T and she was known all over Toad Town for her skills in the kitchen
"Mario, Luigi, help me!" she cried out as the Koopa laughed
"It's a hoot!" he answered as Tayce T tripped and the Goombas closed in. Mario rushed to get between her and her attackers. The Koopa laughed again and said "This should be good."
"Oh thank you Mario" the chef said
"You're welcome but I may be a bit in over my head here."
"This may help!" She reached into her apron and retrieved a red and white mushroom. She tossed it to Mario and said "Eat it!"
He grew a little excited as he recognized the fungus in his hand. He'd always wanted to do this. He quickly swallowed the mushroom and felt a surge of energy as his body (and thankfully his clothes) doubled in size.
"Now I'm ready to rumble" he said as the Koopa and the Goombas took a few steps backwards.
I hope everyone is still having fun! You may have noticed some obvious references to the Paper Mario series by now. I am very fond of those games and I'm more familiar with them then many other Mario games so I'm making use of them in my world building. Next chapter to come soon!