Chapter 4: The Master Plan - Part 2

Disclaimer: I do not own any Nintendo characters, settings, or logos.


"Hey you goons!" Lanky screamed, waving playfully at a trio of Chargin' Chucks. "Bet ya can't catch me!"

The football players stomped the ground before giving chase to the orangutan, who responded by flipping upside down, somehow moving much faster on his hands than feet. The OrangStand was a helpful technique that granted an increase in speed and the capability to scale steep inclines with the greatest of ease, two abilities he quickly put to use.

"Get back here, ya flea-bitten ape!" one of them shouted.

Lanky led his pursuers up a nearby hill to put some distance between them and retaliated by pushing a large boulder off the ledge. The Koopas exchanged horrified glances and fled in the opposite direction, only to be flattened by the rolling stone.

Tiny watched the spectacle, almost feeling sorry for their attackers. "He might've gotten a little carried away, again."

"Glad he's on our side, huh sis!?" Dixie scampered up a nearby tree and began tossing coconuts at the remaining Shy Guys.

The hooded baddies shielded their faces and began running around in circles, though upon coming to their senses, started running towards the tree. Forming a single file line, they began climbing with surprising speed. Running out of ammo, Dixie vacated her perch, whirling her ponytail in circles to slow her descent. The Shy Guys looked down in alarm as she rolled into the trunk of the coconut tree, the tremor causing them to land in a pile on the beach.

Observing her surroundings, she noticed most of the enemies were lying around unconscious while some had broken into a run and were retreating in the opposite direction. The group shared a small sigh of relief before hearing loud thumping footfalls growing closer, their eyes widening as two large dragon-like creatures emerged from the path leading back into the jungle.

"More of these guys... It was fun at first, but this is starting to get old, fast!" Tiny Kong screamed.

Her older sister frowned in agreement. "It's like there's no end to them!"

The dragons were nearly identical in appearance, having large red scales with purple stripes running horizontally across their bodies. This particular species were known as Draggadons. Standing over twenty feet tall with flat broad teeth and tiny horns, their heads were disproportionately large compared to their bodies; which were bipedal with small arms, large hind legs, and a pair of tiny wings protruding from their shoulders. They closely resembled the Rexes from Dinosaur Land, but were much larger and possessed magenta spikes running the length of their backs.

"Split up!" Lanky fled on his hands, the two sisters running in different directions in an attempt to confuse the monsters.

Bearing down upon the apes, the Draggadons began to spew fire while lumbering forward. The first chose Dixie as its prey while the other pursued Lanky, the two Kongs moving in opposite ways to confuse the carnivorous lizards. Tiny took a second to catch her breath before realizing that the dragon was chasing her sister directly towards her.

The taller girl broke into a dash while shouting over her shoulder. "Why the heck did you lead him back towards me!?"

"Don't blame me for this mess! I'm just hoping not to become his lunch." Dixie retorted, barely able to keep up with her younger sibling.

Tiny's tall build and longer legs gave her the advantage while fleeing on foot. Reaching over, the younger ape heaved Dixie onto her shoulders before taking off at full speed, putting considerable distance between themselves and the rampaging dragon.

"Nice job, little sis. You always were quicker than me, even as a squirt!"

"So how's Lanky doing? We lost sight of him a minute ago."

"He's faster than the both of us put together. Those lumbering idiots wouldn't be able to catch him in a million years."

"I doubt he's having any trouble." The younger ape smiled, remembering how the orangutan once bested a world champion rabbit racer by running on his hands. "It's us I'm worried about. Dang it! Those monsters wouldn't stand a chance if we were fighting in the jungle."

"Tell me about it." Dixie agreed wholeheartedly.

Fighting in the undergrowth would've been much easier for the Kongs who called the jungle their home. They knew the terrain well and often used this to their advantage while defending the island from past invaders. The numerous trees and cliffs were perfect for ambushing enemies. In addition, they could swing from vines, throw projectiles, set traps, and even collapse branches and trees to fight. On the open beach they had fewer options.

Dixie's mouth slid open as the gears in her head began to turn. "Wait a minute!" she screamed, causing her carrier to cringe. "I'd bet a million coins that those rotten reptiles purposely set the jungle on fire."

An identical expression appeared on her younger sister's face. "Oh my gosh, you're right! They must've been trying to force us out into the open!"

"Look out!" Dixie screamed unnecessarily, the shadow of a giant creature enveloping them as it passed overhead. "They can actually fly with those scrawny wings!"

The duo came to a screeching halt as the Draggadon landed in front of them, causing a loud rumble to shake the beach. Having failed to catch them on foot, the beast had used its comically small wings to overtake them in a matter of seconds. How it managed to support itself with such minuscule appendages was anyone's guess, but at the moment this was the least of their worries.

Tiny instinctively flinched under the monster's gaze. "This is really one of those days, isn't it?"

"You have any other ideas, sis? Preferably something that doesn't end with us getting eaten."

The monster let out a guttural laugh as if it understood everything they had said before opening its mouth to roast them. Before it could spew more fire, a familiar brown shape dropped onto its head, forcing the creature's mouth shut mid-attack, the beast coughing violently as black smoke shot from its nostrils.

Dixie practically jumped for joy, causing her younger sister discomfort. "Hey look, it's DK!" she pointed excitedly.

"Who said you could roast my friends?" Donkey Kong beat his chest before performing a ground pound on the dragon's skull, pressing down with all eight hundred pounds of his girth. The blow sent his opponent face first into the sand. "Hey guys, am I late to the party?"

Tiny dropped her sibling, taking a moment to snap her shoulders back into place. "You could say that again. What took you so long!?"

"I hitched a ride on Funky's Plane, but ran into some trouble along the way. We helped Diddy take down an ugly dragon, ran into Bowser's bratty kid, and ended up being chased around by a giant flying chicken."

The smaller girl exchanged confused looks with her younger sister before shaking their heads exasperatedly. "I don't even wanna know."

"I once fought with an evil Jack-in-the box and you think his story sounds weird."

"That's nothing compared to what happened to us. Did I mention the chicken could spew lava?"

"Never mind that! Where are the others!" Dixie exclaimed, cutting off his story.

DK scratched his head. "Diddy and Funky said they'd hold the line while I went searching for reinforcements. Truth is, I had no idea you guys were having some troubles of your own. Looks like I made the right choice dropping in to help."

Lanky suddenly whizzed by running on his hands at full speed, the second Draggadon thundering after him. "Somebody help me!" the orangutan flipped onto his feet before cowering behind the others.

The Draggadon loomed over the apes, looking somehow elated that so many had gathered together in one convenient spot. Without warning, it began shooting fireballs from its mouth in rapid succession. The others fled in fear, but Donkey Kong stood firm against the assault. The tribe's champion retaliated with a series of thundering claps, the shockwaves from his applause extinguishing the flames in mid-air before they could reach him.

"Whoa, haven't seen that move before!" Tiny looked seriously impressed.

Lanky did an enthusiastic flip. "Yahoo! There's no way some giant lizard could intimidate our man, Donkey Kong!"

DK loosened his tie before charging at the dragon, rolling back and forth along the sand to avoid fireballs, and sliding between the monster's legs with the skill of a master. He seized hold of the creature's tail and pulled with all of his might, spinning the beast in circles to build momentum before letting go, sending it spiraling into the sea. Despite being much smaller than the building-sized reptile, Donkey Kong was well known for his brute strength, which some say rivaled that of Bowser.

Dixie smiled, looking unsurprised by his performance. "Awesome job, DK! Looks like that thing won't be messing with us for a while."

Donkey Kong high-fived his friends, the others showering him with gratitude before a familiar roar silenced them once more. "Oops... Looks like we spoke too soon."

The large Draggadon emerged from the shallow cove, water dripping from its scales, and steam rising from its body. The beast opened its mouth again, but all that escaped was a thin stream of smoke, like its fire had been temporarily disabled from ingesting too much liquid. It coughed violently as if trying to re-ignite a furnace inside its stomach, but to no avail.

"Looks like he's seen better days, huh?" the alpha ape glanced over at his orangutan friend, who nodded with a grin. "You ready for this?"

Lanky shrugged confusedly. "What do you plan on doing?"

"You know how Cranky always complains about us never taking out the trash?" DK picked up a nearby barrel and heaved it over his shoulders, before whispering something into his friend's ear. "Just do that and I'll handle the rest."

Lanky sprung into a salute. "I was born ready..." he replied with mock seriousness

The orangutan flipped into the air like an acrobat, landing on Donkey Kong's shoulders, the larger ape tossing him directly at the giant lizard's bewildered face. Lanky landed squarely on the dragon's noise, sticking out his tongue at the confused monster before thrusting both arms forwards, his exceptionally long reach allowing him to gouge both of its eyes simultaneously. The beast howled in anger, but Lanky slid off the Draggadon's back and into the bay, leaving his victim stumbling blindly around.

"You ready?" DK screamed over his shoulder.

Stationed on the nearby cliff, Tiny Kong began screaming random insults at the top of her lungs, catching the attention of the dragon. The Draggadon charged blindly in the direction of the noise only to slip on a series of banana peels lining the shoreline before careening into a stone cliff. A comically large bump sprouted from its head and the reptile roared one more time before passing out with a loud crash.

DK smiled at his handwork. "The old man always said someone would get hurt if I kept leaving my garbage around..." he casually emptied out the remainder of the barrel's contents, revealing a disgustingly large pile of banana peels.

Dixie hung her head low. "Looks like being a slob actually has its advantages."

Her sister jumped down from above, landing gracefully on the monster's exposed belly. "You're just lucky this monkey-brained scheme actually worked."


-Meanwhile- Nimbus Land

Far above the surface of the Mushroom World rested a beautiful kingdom nestled within the skies, known as Nimbus Land. Built atop solid white clouds, the paradise was ruled by a benevolent monarchy. The King and Queen had once been deposed by an foul usurper named Valentina, though with help from Mario and the long-lost Prince Mallow, peace and prosperity had returned once more.

The Nimbus people were a group of anthropomorphic clouds closely resembling those ridden by Lakitus, though they possessed arms and legs, and wore clothing. Possessing strong magical powers and the ability to manipulate the weather, they were potentially very powerful, though well-known for being friendly and accommodating to other races.

Prince Mallow was a portly fellow wearing blue and white pants fastened with a belt, pink shoes, and matching hair. Ruling the kingdom alongside his parents was an enjoyable and rewarding job, yet at times he found himself thinking back to the days he had spent adventuring with Mario. Fighting alongside the famous hero had helped him grow as a person, changing him from a naive boy to a strong young man willing to risk his own life for the good of others.

Today, the prince found himself walking along the clouds far from the palace, staring absent-mindedly down at the world below. It had been quite some time since he last visited the surface, and even longer since he had seen his most beloved friends. He once journeyed as a goodwill embassador to the Mushroom Kingdom, and while he was excited to see Princess Peach again, the visit was mostly business, and Mario had been off on another adventure at the time.

He glanced up to see the vine leading down into Bean Valley only yards away, looking surprised at how far he had walked without noticing. "If only for a day, I would like to see them again." he stifled a tear. While no longer the crybaby he once was, his sentimentality remained.

"You look sad, Mister..." a high-pitched voice called over his shoulder.

Mallow turned around, looking surprised by what he saw. Floating in mid-air was a small girl with icy blue skin clad in matching robes. She wore a light blue headdress adorned with a dark blue circlet, the latter of which was set with a large red ruby in the center. Grasped in her left hand was a rattle-like scepter with a golden handle, her overall appearance giving off a magical vibe, which when combined with her youthful appearance, felt strangely innocent.

"Hello! Would you like to play with me?" she questioned innocently, wearing a bright smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"That sounds lovely." Mallow played along as he approached the mysterious child with a gentle expression. Taking a seat beside her, he decided to use the direct approach. "What brings you to Nimbus Land alone? Are you lost, little girl? What's your name?"

She looked thoughtful for a moment, as if trying to process all of his questions at once. "Jojora isn't alone... She came here with her friends to find a prince."

The Nimbus royal glanced around, though he saw no one else, instead assuming these friends she spoke of were imaginary. "A prince, you say?" he stood up, pointing to himself. "Well I guess you're in luck. I happen to be the prince of Nimbus Land."

"You are!" her face lit up suddenly. "Oh goodie... A big turtle said you were friends with the mean red mustache man!"

Mallow sensed malice dripping from her innocent voice for only a second, though he dismissed it as his own imagination playing tricks on him. The vague description she gave made him think of Mario, and he instinctively moved away from the strange child.

"You're funny, mister..." she responded with a childlike giggle.

"Thank you, little girl?"

"You said you would play, right? Why don't you meet some of my friends!"

Jojora waved her wand, causing a chill to descend upon the surrounding clouds. The Nimbus Prince shivered slightly as he felt the drop in temperature, gasping as a thin layer of snow coated the area and sprung to life, combining to form a four large hulking snow monsters with blond pigtails and muscular arms. Despite what the girl had said, these abominable snow women towering over him didn't look like they were in the mood to play.

"It's a pleasure to..." Mallow extended a hand, but was forced to dodge to avoid being smashed by a large fist. "I thought you wanted to play!?"

The fairy-like girl smiled, a menacing shadow settling over her eyes. "I'm having fun!"

He took off in the opposite direction with the four behemoths following shortly behind, the blue-skinned sorceress cheerfully watching the chaos from above. Realizing he was running back towards the town, Mallow stopped and turned to face his attackers. No leader worth his title would do something to willingly endanger his people, a lesson both his parents and friends had taught him.

The prince felt his body shaking and clenched his fists. "To imagine after all this time, I'd still be a coward... Mario would never back down from a fight, so I won't either!"

Mallow stood his ground as the pack of snow monsters closed the gap, closing his eyes to focus. He had not used any powerful offensive magic in quite some time, so it took him a moment to organize his thoughts and prepare. Springing into the air, he sent lightning bolts raining down on one of Jojora's friends, causing the others to stop their pursuit. Slightly burnt by the electricity, the female snowman flinched before fainting.

"Stupid meanie!" Jojora screamed, her complexion turning red with rage.

She waved her wand, summoning a giant wall of ice which immediately shattered into several countless shards, each gravitating towards the Nimbus. Mallow held out both hands, causing a fifteen foot tall snowman to materialize out of nowhere. He used the giant object as a shield to absorb the pointy projectiles before sending it crashing down on top of the enemy snow monsters.

"No fair, you cheated!" the cold fairy began throwing a tantrum, two geysers of tears gushing from both eyes.

Mallow watched her childish display for a moment or two, suddenly feeling guilty for his own actions. "I'm really sorry for hurting your friends... Why don't we just sit down and talk this over for a while?"

"YOU... BIG... ... ... JERK!" she hollered, her face creasing like a toddler throwing a tantrum.

Jojora grasped her scepter with both hands before pointing it towards the pile of snow left behind from their exchange, infusing it with every last bit of magic she could muster. The mass of powder sprung back to life, taking the form of a giant snow woman identical to the friends she had summoned before, only this one towered at least twenty feet tall. Standing up to its full height, the gargantuan creature beat its chest like a gorilla before stomping slowly towards the tiny cloud man, its face twisting into an embarrassed blush as it caught sight of him.

"Guh huh huh! He's so cute!" the monster tousled her blond pigtails flirtatiously before lunging around in an attempt to grab him.

Jojora clapped her hands together with giddy whilst kicking her feet back and forth. "Awww, love at first sight. It's so exciting!"

"Yikes!" Mallow somehow slipped between its fingers, running in circles before sprinting away in horror.

"Come back here!" Her mammoth-sized friend gave chase, repeatedly calling after him.

The Nimbus Prince raised his arms again, causing a gigantic torrent of lightning to crash down upon the monster's head, its body shaking repeatedly as tiny jolts of electricity coursed through it. Shocker was one of Mallow's strongest offensive spells, and caused a large amount of magic to produce. While it was limited to striking precise targets, the output was incredibly strong.

Sweat ran down his face as he turned to see the creature's frizzled hair and slightly melted body, a feeling of accomplishment welling up inside his chest. Even without his friends around, the young prince felt relieved to know he was still able to fight for his people.

"Give up, yet?" he questioned, silently hoping there would be no need for further violence. His attention to the blue-skinned sorceress sitting on the monster's shoulder.

Jojora looked as if she were about to cry before shaking her wand again, instantly repairing all of the damage her friend had taken. The Nimbus Prince watched in shock as the melted puddle beneath the creature's feet turned back into snow and rejoined with its body. Taking advantage of the stationary enemy, Mallow sent another giant blast of lightning at the creature only for the fairy to bounce it away with her magic wand.

"No-no-no! Not until the lady's done getting ready." she pouted angrily before conjuring an item in her friend's hand.

Upon closer inspection, it looked like a giant makeup brush. The snow giant used it to paint her face. "He won't be able to resist me..." she muttered before breaking into a lumbering dash.

Mallow raised an eyebrow in bewilderment before firing off several more electric attacks at the advancing enemy, though this time, the monster didn't even seem to feel it. "Huh!?"

"Feeling... ... Tickles..." the giant giggled ignorantly before grabbing the cloud man in her fist.

"Put me down!" he cried, silently wondering what the blushing beast was about to do to him. Deciding that he didn't want to find out, Mallow began repeatedly firing off lightning bolts.

"Such a handsome little man!" Jojora's friend squeezed him tightly, seemingly unaware of the electricity striking her from several directions.

"Why isn't it working..." he gasped as the enemy pushed the air from his lungs.

The blue-skinned fairy levitated beside him. "Magic makeup, of course! A lady's nothing without her cosmetics."

His gaze settled on the imp-like sorceress and her frozen friend, a feeling of panic rushing through his body. "I... have... to use it..." he wheezed between breaths, cringing as the monster tightened its grip. "No... ... choice!"

"How rude, interrupting a girl while she's talking. We're not done playing yet!" Jojora snapped while wagging her index finger at him.

The last time Mallow used his ultimate spell was during the final battle with the evil Smithy, the mechanical monster who shattered the Star Road and once sought to rule the world by mass producing powerful weapons. It had been a battle so difficult that even the Koopa King Bowser had helped, yet in the end, Mario and friends were victorious. Recalling the events of that fight helped him focus his powers, allowing him to release it all in one fell swoop.

"STAR RAIN!" he screamed using what little breath he still had.

Jojora's carefree behavior evaporated as she glanced upwards, catching sight of a gargantuan Power Star rapidly descending from the sky. The celestial object collided violently with her snowy friend, causing the beast to drop its prey as it was promptly flattened by the glowing space projectile. The star spun a few times before exploding into a shower of light, evaporating the remains of its target in a truly fantastic display.

Mallow rubbed his head as he struggled to stand, having landed endured a rather painful landing only moments ago. Surveying the battlefield, there was no sight of the giant snow monster from before, the only sign of it being the giant crater where his attack struck down the behemoth. Laying at the bottom of the indent was Jojora, looking a little worse for wear after being caught in the recent explosion.

"No fair... ... ..." she coughed wearily before falling onto her back, defeated.

"Phew, that was close one." the Nimbus Prince stumbled as he tried to walk, now feeling the full drawback of his strongest spell.

The "Star Rain" technique was easily his most powerful ace, but the move left him feeling incredibly tired after each use. It was even worse considering how long it had been since he last cast the magic, and his body wasn't used to the strain. With considerable effort, Mallow continued on his way back to the palace, intending to warn his people of the strange visitors as soon as he arrived. He knew that somehow, they would have to devise a course of action.

As he reached the path leading back to town, the prince heard a loud rustling coming from the nearby trees. "Who's there!" he shouted, trying to sound brave.

A group of strange creatures wearing red robes emerged from the brush, each with a large yellow propeller protruding from their heads. Descending upon him like a plague of locusts, four of the mysterious invaders ensnared Mallow in a net while two others seized Jojora. Known as Toadies, they were an odd species of Koopa that typically served Kamek. While each of the robed figures possessed the familiar hooked nose and yellow complexion of their species, they were all wearing odd swirly glasses similar to those worn by Iggy Koopa.

Too exhausted to break free, he could only struggle weakly and call for help, neither of which seemed to bother his captors as they took to the skies and away from Nimbus Land.


-Meanwhile- Mushroom Kingdom: Toad Town

With Toad Town under attack, Mario and Luigi were forced into action, barely having time to rest and catch their breaths. Standing close to the main gate, the heroic duo had armed themselves with hammers and were smashing their way through the advancing crowds of enemies, allowing the innocent townspeople time to escape.

The enemy forces consisted largely of Kremlings, anthropomorphic crocodiles known for menacing the DK Isles and rarely seen in the Mushroom Kingdom. As a result the brothers were largely unfamiliar with the species, which made it more difficult to combat them. The reptilian invaders were noticeably robust and much larger than most of the Koopa Troop's soldiers, their razor sharp teeth and physical strength only complicating matters. Luigi stomped a Koopa Troopa and kicked it towards a Kritter, but the latter simply caught the shell in its mouth and spit it back out, the attack only angering him.

Luigi backed away from the advancing crocodilians only to bump into his brother. "Hey Mario, you having trouble, too?"

"Not much to speak of!" the red-clad plumber bounced into the air, knocking the teeth out of the nearest Kremling. He sighted several more running towards them and began spinning like a top, sending them all flying away with his hammer.

"It's no surprise you'd figure out how to fight these guys quicker than I would." He exhaled before imitating his older twin's fighting style, though due to his own clumsiness, ended up colliding painfully into a house. "Ouch... Why does it always have to be me?"

"Look alive, Luigi!" Mario grabbed the tail of a Kremling that had been inches from chomping his brother, throwing him headfirst into a lamppost.

"Mama mia... Now I see why Donkey Kong and his pals are in such great shape."

"You fellas are pretty tough for humans." A nearby Kremling snapped his jaws gleefully before pulling a random Toad out from behind his back. "Too bad these fungi twerps aren't nearly as durable."

The red-clad plumber furrowed his brows angrily. "Put him down, you swamp scum!"

"HEEELLLLLPPPP MEEEEEE!" the green-spotted man screamed, wriggling around desperately in his captor's grip.

"Shut up, you!" the crocodile growled, slapping a hand over his mouth in annoyance.

"Oh no, ya don't!" a high-pitched voice screamed from above. Toad landed on the Kritter's head with a ground pound, allowing his fellow mushroom to flee the scene. "Sorry I'm late, guys!"

"You always did have the habit of showing up exactly when we really need you most!" Mario replied, casually punching out the jaw of a Kremling creeping up behind him. "Did you go back to the castle!? How's the Princess doing?"

"I haven't been yet. The Toad Brigade said they would take care of Princess Peach while we were out protecting the town."

"You mean she's alone with no one but those guys!" the older plumber screamed in shock.

"Relax bro, Captain Toad and his friends were recently promoted to Royal Guards. There's no need to worry."

"Are you crazy, Luigi! We gotta get back to the castle before these creeps realize there's no one else protecting her!" Mario took off back towards the central plaza, his friends immediately following out of concern.

"But the princess told us to protect the town's folk." Toad caught up quickly, his small frame and short legs surprisingly fast.

Luigi trailed behind the others, taking considerable effort for him to keep up the pace. While an excellent runner whenever danger was involved, he was also the slowest of the three. Of course, that wasn't saying much considering his friends were all equally superhuman in different ways. As they ran, he noticed the crowds of enemies had thinned considerably since they began, a rather suspicious occurrence since the invaders had been swarming the place mere minutes ago.

"I knew it!" the older plumber pointed towards the skies ahead. The trio came to a halt, their eyes widening at the sight of a large Crocodile-shaped aircraft hovering over Mushroom Castle. "They must've been trying to lure us away just to snatch the princess."

Luigi looked equal parts confused and worried. "What would these crazy crocodiles want with Princess Peach? It's not like they have anything to gain by taking her."

Toad shrugged. "Maybe ransom money? Imagine the number of bananas they could buy with the Royal fortune at their disposal."

"Wrong answer, morons!" a deep, raspy voice echoed from what felt like every direction at once.

The green plumber immediately recognized the voice and began shaking uncontrollably, his knees giving out shortly thereafter. "Oh no!" He grabbed the sides of his hat, pulling it down over his eyes.

Mario clenched his fists as a familiar being materialized in front of the castle gate. "It's you! the big boss of the ghosts... King Boo."

The ghost monarch let out a low-pitched cackle, causing Luigi to duck behind his brother in fear. "Heheheheh! I can't believe I was beaten by that spineless scaredy cat twice in one lifetime!" He frowned at the sight of his arch-nemesis before grinning wickedly. "No worries... I'll have just as much fun getting my revenge either way!"

Toad felt his own body shake, but held fast. "W-we're not a-afraid of you!"

"Oh please! If you were any more afraid, you'd be standing in a puddle!" King Boo mocked him, his gaze returning to the brothers. "If you wanna reach the castle, you punks will have to get through me, first."

"I'll take you on!" The older plumber responded by angrily jumping towards the ghost king, his entire body phasing right through. He spun around in midair, landing on his feet. "No more tricks! Why don't you fight me without tricks!?"

"Gimme a break... That's why Bowser always loses." the ghost monarch's red eyes flashed brightly, his body slowly growing until he was the size of a Big Boo. "Fighting isn't fun unless you change the rules in the middle of it, right boys!?"

A large portal opened behind the king, large numbers of Boos spilling out of it into Toad Town like a flock of sparrows. Snickering in their high-pitched chirps, the mass quickly descended on the town and began terrorizing everyone in sight, several Toads jumping out of their own windows as the ghostly swarm began their assault. Random household objects filled the air as the ghosts plundered and destroyed whatever they could grab, several innocent townspeople screaming in fear as they were lifted off their feet and thrown around like rag dolls.

"Leave them alone... It's us that you want!" Mario shouted over the din, earning am ironic chuckle from their opponent.

"How right you are." King Boo loomed over the trio, menacingly gnashing his teeth. "We're not only after your precious princess... We're after ALL of you accursed do-gooders!"

"What!?" The red-clad plumber blinked in surprise before looking even more defiant. "What do you mean by that!?"

"Heheheheheheh... Oh, if only you knew. It would make this plan all-the-sweeter. Unfortunately, his fire-breathing royal laziness doesn't want the secret getting out until its too late!"

Seeing his brother's obstinate look, Luigi swallowed his fear. "Never mind Mario, you've gotta get back the castle and save the princess." he slapped the shorter man's shoulder and forced a brave smile. "Leave this to us... You save Peach."

His words returned Mario's focus, the older plumber casting his sibling a grateful smile. "Thanks Luigi, I knew I could count on you!"

"And me, too!" Toad chimed in, trying his best to look confident.

Luigi reached into his pocket and pulled out a small orb. He cracked it open, the item inside popping out and returning to its full size. In his arms was the Poltergust 5000, the tricked-out vacuum cleaner that Professor E. Gadd had given him to fight the ghosts of Evershade Valley. Possessing a strobe light and an augmented power source, it was a vast improvement over the original version.

King Boo hissed like an angry cat. "That blasted machine! Why do you still have it!?"

"The professor let me keep it after the Dark Moon fiasco. Said he was workin' on a new prototype for the next model, anyway!" Luigi strapped his ghost-catching gear on, looking slightly less frightened as he felt the familiar weight on his shoulders. "Looks like we might stand more of a chance than you thought."

"Naive fool... I will not be defeated by that accursed house-cleaning device again!"

Luigi glanced back at his brother, not entirely sure how long he could keep up this brave front. "Get going, we'll take it from here!" he flashed the strobe light at the ghost king, causing him to shield his eyes.

"This means a lot, bro."

"Just get moving already!" Toad picked up Luigi's discarded hammer and rejoined the battle.

As his companions faced off against the army, Mario burst through the Star Gates and ran uphill towards Mushroom Castle, the familiar landscape now crawling with a large number of enemies. Several Toads were unconscious on the ground while even more were bring forcibly marched into cages by Kremlings. The crocodilians patrolling the area were much larger and more muscular than the common Kritters he fought back in Toad Town, but this did little to intimidate him.

"Hey, there's an intruder in the castle garden!" a large blue Kremling sounded the alarm.

Mario jumped to avoid being crushed by a tree-trunk-sized weapon, looking even more surprised that such a large enemy could have gotten behind him so quietly. Standing over twice the height of an average Kremling, his attacker was incredibly robust-looking, with rippling pectorals and disproportionately long muscular arms. The humanoid crocodile had gray scaly skin and appeared to be missing one eye. He wore a pair of trousers and gripped in his right hand was a gigantic club with sharp iron spikes protruding from it.

He looked up at the hulking brute before being forced to duck a second swing. "Mama mia! You could at least introduce yourself! What do they call ya?"

"Kudgel..." he replied bluntly before renewing his attempts to smash the small man.

"Sounds appropriate!" The red-clad plumber swung his hammer, but beastly reptile knocked it from his hands with swing of his mighty club before advancing his attack. Doing a series of quick back flips, Mario manage to avoid brutal pounding before being grazed.

The partial hit had enough force to send him flying at least ten feet. Laying dazed on the ground, Mario saw the monstrous Kremling stampeding towards him and forced himself to stand, quickly breaking into a frenzied run. The portly man was confident in his speed and quickly outran his pursuer, but the monstrous crocodile responded by jumping into the air with surprising grace, landing with a crash directly in the hero's path. Mario took a step back and felt a spray of water, telling him that the castle fountain was nearby.

"Got you cornered, little man!" the Kremling brought his club down again. Mario panicked slightly before rolling sideways to avoid it.

Kudgel tried to raise his club again, only to find it wouldn't budge. "Grrrrrrrr... It's stuck!"

Mario smiled as he noticed the spikes lodged into the marble wall of the fountain and kicked the giant in the shin, causing him to lean just enough for the plumber to land a punch in the monster's face. The hulking Kremling stumbled backwards slightly, releasing his weapon and allowing the stout man to somersault high into the air, performing a spinning sidekick to the brute's chest. Kudgel doubled over for a moment before puffing out his rock-hard chest, completely unharmed.

Mario recognized the danger and jumped back, landing several yards away. "You're a tough fella, aren't you?"

"That's why King K. Rool chose me to be his personal bodyguard." the thuggish crocodilian pounded his stomach proudly.

"How about this!" the red-clad hero picked up his discarded hammer from before.

Kudgel leapt into the air again in an attempt to crush his prey, but Mario had expected this. Swinging his own weapon like a golf club, he whacked the enemy's giant club with all of his might, freeing it from the fountain and sending it flying into the large Kremling's face. Dropping like a stone, he spiraled rapidly towards the ground, crashing unceremoniously into the giant statue of Peach in the center of the fountain. The monstrous fighter let out an pained groan, his vision going black as Mario finished the combo with a direct smash to his skull.

The plumber took a moment to catch his breath, gently wiping the sweat from his face. "Phew... For a second there I didn't think it was gonna work."

"Get him!" a voice shouted from behind.

Mario spun around, hitting an advancing Kremling in the face with his hammer. "I figured by now these bad guys would've learned that screaming ruins the element of surprise." he mused, only to be thrown backwards by a strange shockwave.

His three new attackers were large Kremlings with blue skin and hair, the latter of which was unusual for the crocodiles. Muscular and stocky built, they wore leather shorts and black vests with dark sunglasses covering their eyes. Unbeknownst to Mario, these elite Kremlings were known as Kasplats, and were often assigned the duty or protecting important items and locations by their leader.

"You won't get past us, puny human!" one of the Kasplats pounded the ground, sending out a series of colorful shockwaves resembling miniature explosions.

Recognizing this as the attack that had hit him before, Mario responded by performing a series of quick leaps, prompting the others to create shockwaves of their own. The mustached hero continued his treacherous dance, noticing a similarity with his fight with the Ruined Dragon in Crumbleton. Naturally, the giant dragon's electric shockwaves were even more treacherous than the tremors caused by the Kremlings.

"Looks like we got a little twinkle-toes, here!" one Kasplat let out a guttural laugh.

A second Kremling smacked him. "What are ya trying to do, get a job as a comedian? Just smash 'em, already!"

"I can have dreams too, ya know!?"

Mario did a triple jump high into the air and came stomping down on the head of the first Kasplat while tossing his hammer at the second one. The third attempted to attack him upon his return to the ground, only to be elbowed in the gut and grabbed by the tail, the plumber performing his signature spin throw to send the unruly crocodile soaring far off into the distance. Compared to his previous fight with Kudgel, even the elites of the Kremling Krew were not much of a challenge.

"Looks like I'm gettin' the hang of fighting these guys... ... ..." Mario dusted off his gloved hands before bolting towards the castle.


-Meanwhile- Sarasaland: Chai Province

Princess Daisy exhaled deeply as she looked out over her peaceful kingdom from the balcony of her home. Located in the heart of Sarasaland, her castle was located in Chai, one of the four constituent states making up her domain. Much like the neighboring Mushroom Kingdom, Sarasaland was a colorful place filled with countless unique sights and even more exotic species found nowhere else in the world.

Chai Kingdom was a lush green land where bamboo forests dominated the countryside and rocky mountains lined the horizon. Standing atop one small peek was the royal castle, just as splendid as the one belonging to Princess Peach, but far different in appearance; a large four-level dzong with an ornate red roof and several concentric walls protecting the inner yard.

Stepping out into the castle gardens, the central courtyard decorated with a giant statue in her likeness given to her by the Mushroom Kingdom as a goodwill present. Similar to Peach's statue, Daisy had placed her own in the center of the palace fountain to welcome guests. The princess admired the beautiful arrangements of flowers prepared by her servants, many of those matching her namesake. Despite her tomboyish nature, she had a strong appreciation for the botanical arts, and openly incorporated the theme into her wardrobe in the form of broaches and jewelry.

"Admiring the decor, your majesty?" an elderly man emerged from the castle behind her.

"It's quite beautiful, as always. The servants do good work." Daisy replied.

Her companion was a Pionpi, one of the stiff-limbed, gray-skinned humanoids, with small ears and large round eyes that populated Chai Kingdom. Most stood an inch or two shorter than Sarasaland's Princess, though they usually walked with their arms outstretched and knees straight, closely resembling folkloric zombies. Their kind usually dressed in long-sleeved eastern robes and round top tall-rimmed hats, giving them a uniform yet dignified appearance.

Despite their odd and somewhat frail demeanor, Pionpis was relatively strong compared to Toads and Goombas. The older individual standing behind Daisy was slightly taller than her, with wrinkled skin and a long manchu mustache. Known as Ganchu, He wore long royal blue robes to signify his status as her steward, their relationship being very similar to that between Toadsworth and Peach.

The minister folded his hands, gently inclining his head in respect. "I am honored..."

Daisy openly laughed at his demeanor. "You've watched over me since I was a little kid. There's no need to be so formal! We've had this conversation before, or have you forgotten?"

"I have not, my lady. However, certain traditions need be maintained for the purpose of the royal family's image. Respect is not given. It is earned."

"Of course..." She exhaled deeply, placing one hand on her hip. "And you wonder why I spend so much time in the Mushroom Kingdom."

"Forgive my forwardness, but some of our people have begun to think you spend a little too much time away from home. Surely you understand these concerns?"

"My friends treat me like a regular person, and I wouldn't have it any other way."

Ganchu was silently happy to see her smile, though he hid it. "I always did believe the people of that land to be a little too relaxed." she gave him an irate frown, to which he relented. "Of course, you always seem so much happier returning home after a sojourn among the fungus people."

"And to think the only reason I was able to make such wonderful friends is because that alien freak nabbed me."

"He was certainly an uncouth and dangerous being... Hypnotizing our people into becoming his minions and seizing the palace without an ounce of dignity."

"Then Mario came and kicked his butt into next week." The tomboyish princess pounded a fist into her opposite hand. "Years later he invited me to the Mushroom Kingdom sports festival, and that's where I met Luigi and Peach."

"To think a single handyman could so easily gain the favor of royalty."

"And not just me! He's earned the respect of at least 9 monarchs, and dozens of other leaders around the world."

"From how highly you speak of that man, one might think you actually seek his favor." Ganchu chuckled at the thought.

Princess Daisy shrugged off the comment without so much as an ounce of embarrassment. "I have never once had any serious desire to wed another." her thoughts returned to a certain green clad plumber. "Though I'm certain there exists someone much more appropriate should I ever change my mind."

"One of the suitors, perhaps?" the minister questioned hopefully.

"They wish..." the princess spun on her heel, a wide grin plastered on her face. "Tell 'em all to jump off a cliff. It takes more than a fancy title to impress this lady!"

Her attendant let out a hearty laugh, having expected her answer. "I should have known as much." the older man scratched his chin thoughtfully. "If I recall, my lady was planning to attend this year's sports competition, was she not?"

"That's hardly news! I attend the festivities every year without fail. This year I intend to bring home the first prize trophy for Sarasaland!"

"Perhaps for once, you would allow the royal entourage to accompany you?"

Daisy snorted in an unladylike manner that clashed with her regal appearance. "They'd just slow me down. There's a non-aggression pack between kingdoms, so it's not like anything bad ever happens at these outings?"

Ganchu shook his head, looking unconvinced. "What about that possessed tennis racket from last spring's tournament? Even the Koopa King was afflicted by its dark magic."

"Not a problem... The greatest heroes in the world gather for these events. We were never in any real danger."

"Very well, then. I suppose there's no point in trying to convince you otherwise..."

"Maybe one day you'll learn not to bother trying." Daisy leaned in before teasingly whispering in his ear. "And that's why I find these conversations so tiresome."

The pair heard a series of footsteps nearby before turning to greet a man standing roughly Luigi's height. Clad in brown overalls and a yellow construction hat; he was fairly muscular with a long nose, a thick mustache, and bushy black beard. His sudden appearance was a surprise, but he was escorted by several Pionpis, which was proof enough that he had been granted security clearance by the palace staff before approaching her.

She straightened up, trying to look more professional. "What do I owe the pleasure of your visit, Mister... ... ..."

"Spike! The name's Foreman Spike!" the man grunted, sounding less courteous than expected.

"Foreman Spike!? Very nice to make your acquaintance. Is the first half an occupation, or merely your own name."

"Both! I used to work in construction back in the day." he responded before pulling a clipboard and pencil from behind his back. "Got a special delivery for the princess of Sarasaland... That'd be you, I suppose."

Daisy signed her name on the dotted line, though looking around, she saw no package. "Where would it be?"

"Bring it in, boys!" the ex-construction worker shouted.

A quartet of red-shelled Paratroopas descended from above, each holding onto the corner of a very large wooden crate. The flying Koopas began beating their wings repeatedly to soften the landing, gently setting down the package beside the delivery man before flying off without a single word. The box was at least seven feet tall and almost as wide, eliciting a suspicious look from its receiver as she had not ordered anything recently.

She exchanged a pensive look with her attendant. "Do you know what this is, Ganchu?"

The elderly Pionpi stroked his mustache before nodding. "I remember ordering a new chandelier for the main dining hall a short time ago. It appears to arrived sooner than I expected."

"Would you be so kind as to open it?" Daisy addressed the delivery man.

Spike pulled out a large sledge hammer, a devious grin hidden behind his beard. "Of course, your majesty." he pounded the side of the crate causing the front to fall away.

Four glowing eyes blinked from within the darkness before stepping out into the open, revealing the creature's full terrifying form. The beast had a rotund shape with a hideous face and dog-like muzzle that took up the majority of its body. It possessed short fingerless arms, stubby legs, dinosaur feet, and yellow fur covered in red swirly symbols. Two sets of horns protruded from the monsters head, while four fangs and a long moist tongue protruded from its open maw.

Foreman Spike let out a devious chuckle. "Special delivery from King Bowser! He hopes you find the surprise an enjoyable one."

"My word, what is that monster!?" Ganchu questioned in disbelief.

"Who're you calling a monster? Belome's my name, and I happen to be a surprisingly picky gourmet." The beast licked the corners of its mouth hungrily. "I've got an especially strong taste for the flavor of princesses."

The elderly minister had heard enough. "Guards, seize that creature at once!"

Five Pionpi guards stationed nearby began hopping towards the dog-like beast, but he responded by lashing his long tongue like a snake's coils and ensnaring them, drawing the hapless creatures into his open. He chewed for a bit before regurgitating his prey in a grotesque manner, looking thoroughly disgusted.

"Blegh... What a revolting flavor!" Belome used his tiny arms to wipe his tongue, his four eyes gravitating towards the princess.

Daisy remained undaunted by his disturbing expression. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Consider it the greatest compliment! My eyes have a tendency to gravitate towards whatever is most delicious."

The princess held out her hand to Ganchu, who handed her a golf club from within his robes. She held it up in swinging position and smiled at the monster. "Back off, ugly! Making dinner out of me won't be as easy as you think."

Belome responded by repeatedly lashing his tongue at her like a whip, slowly attempted to close the distance between them as she gracefully maneuvered around his tongue. His attacks began coming faster as he crept ever closer to his prey, but she managed to twirl into the air using her dress to delay her fall before ground pounding his tongue, garnering a scream of pain from the dog-like monster. She followed up by smashing him in the head with her golf club several times.

"Looks like I'm the winner!" she playfully spit into his eyes.

"Princess Daisy, look out!" screamed her retainer, only to be whacked on the head from behind,

"You shoulda been paying more attention to me! No one ever suspects that the middle-aged day worker would be planning something sinister." Foreman Spike heaved his sledgehammer over his shoulder and smiled nastily.

"You coward!" she leapt towards the bearded man, realizing too late that she had made an error.

Belome raised his prehensile tongue and wrapped it around Daisy's body spinning her around and tossing her into one of the garden walls. She collided painfully but managed to stick the landing, her competitive side melting away to reveal a rarely seen anger.

She glanced over at her injured companion with a frown before turning to face the evil duo once more. "Why did you creeps even come here!?"

"None of your business. little lady." Foreman Spike raised his weapon and charged, only to be struck in the knee and elbowed in the face. He dropped his hammer onto his own foot and screamed in agony before being clubbed in the stomach, passing out on the ground.

Daisy hesitated afterwards, questioning whether if she had gone too far, though the sight of her unconscious servants and the hungry monster standing across the garden remedied this. "You're next, ugly!"

"I got a good taste of you just then... Now you'll get a taste of your own medicine."

The bizarre-looking creature opened his mouth, spitting out what appeared to be exact copies of Princess Daisy. Each looked exactly like her, from the bushy hairstyle right down to the details of her signature dress. The only difference she noticed was an unfocused zombie-like stare on their faces, but it was still like looking directly in a mirror. There were three clones standing in front of the beast, and it was an unsettling sight for the real princess.

She quickly recovering her bearings. "Under normal circumstances, I'd compliment such astounding beauty."

As if responding to her words, the copies rushed the original princess. Daisy managed to clock one of them in the face with her golf club, but the fake princess recoiled for only a second, as if it had felt no pain. She kicked the second duplicate in the stomach, but it retaliated by grabbing onto her leg and pulling her down, allowing the first to grab her from behind while a third fake tackled her to the ground.

"S-So hungry... ... It's dinnertime!" Belome lost his self control and attempted to snag the real princess with his tongue.

Daisy saw it coming and managed to flip over with her captors still holding on, causing the monster to eat one of its own creations. Her arms now free, she pulled herself upright and attempted to flee, the lower half of her dress tearing as the remaining doppelgangers tried to restrain her again. Her damaged outfit now resembled the skirt she wore during sporting events, not very formal, but perfect for the situation.

The shorter length freed up her legs, allowing greater mobility and speed. She did a gymnastic flip and seized her discarded golf club, striking one of her remaining duplicates with it while performing a roundhouse kick on the other. The mindless copies stumbled backwards before disintegrating into puffs of smoke.

Daisy blinked in disbelief, before pumping her fist triumphantly. "Looks like there's a limit to how many hits they can take before turning to dust. As if your cheap knockoffs could ever beat the real thing!"

Belome's four eyes seemed to bulge, saliva pouring from his mouth. "N-Need f-f-food! THE HUNGER... ..."

He broke into a sprint and opened his mouth, but Daisy seemed prepared for this. She lifted Foreman Spike's unconscious form with surprising strength and threw him as hard as she could into the beast's open mouth, watching with a cringe as Belome ate his own ally. The princess turned her head in disgust as the monster swallowed though a moment later, be began gagging uncontrollably, spitting out the middle-aged man with a look of revulsion.

"Yuck!" he looked at least ten times more disgusted then the time he ingested the Pionpi guards, stomping around as if the flavor caused him physical pain.

Suddenly a strange portal opened up in the sky, sucking the two invaders through it like a giant vacuum cleaner. "Oh bother... To think those nincompoops were humiliated by one insignificant little princess." a posh, female voice echoed from within.

Daisy held up her hand as the wind suddenly picked up and the skies slowly darkened, shielding her face from the draft which might have swept her into the air if her dress hadn't been damaged. When the tempest died down, she looked up to see a stranger floating in the skies above the castle courtyard. She was a slightly plump woman with long blond hair and a mask over her eyes. Wearing an elegant dark pink dress and holding a fan, she looked like someone who had just returned from a masquerade ball. The woman slowly descended until she was standing across the garden.

Princess Daisy grasped her trusty golf club in both hands, her gaze strong and defiant in the face of the stranger. "Are you also here for a fight?"

"I am Terrormisu, the ruler of the demonic realm." The woman answered with a greeting whilst ignoring the question.

"They must've been your minions." Sarasaland's ruler took a step forward, though cautiously.

"They were associates, and very poor ones at that... So uncouth and barbaric, not to mention entirely worthless." she let out a reserved chuckle befitting royalty.

"You've obviously come to start trouble, too. If so, I'll be forced to show you the door, just like I did to them."

"Heavens, no! I have no desire to be involved in such a messy situation." the demon snapped her fan shut and pocketed it before pulling a strange-looking mask from her dress. "As a queen, I can assure you there will be no further trouble here, tonight..."

Terrormisu's body floated into the air and began swelling to gigantic size, her full form towering fifteen feet tall. She placed a horned red mask on her face, the air around suddenly turning dry and hot. Daisy glanced around, now noticing that her entire garden was surrounded by a wall of fire. One by one her precious flowers withered and burst into flames, the temperature soaring ever higher with each passing second.

The evil queen bore down on her target, who was sweating profusely. "Feeling a little warm, my dear?"

"I could do this all day!" Daisy retaliated, only to scream as the golf club became too hot for her to hold onto.

She fell to her knees in shock, but the rapidly increasing heat was beginning to take its affect. Her vision blurred as she reached towards the sky, as if trying to touch the demonic queen, who hovered several dozen feet out of her reach. The evil queen glanced down at the princess before blasting her with a shower of brightly colored energy blasts, rendering her unconscious.

"Far too easy..." Terrormisu extinguished the fire with a wave of her hand.


-Meanwhile- Yoshi's Island

"All forces are in position, sir." A Fly Guy lowered a pair of binoculars. "If we strike now, those dinosaurs will be finished before they even know we're here."

"Well done, soldier... This'll be one for the record books." General Guy responded from atop his Toy Tank.

The other Shy Guys were hurrying to their positions, forming lines and preparing weapons for the battle. Several Spear Guys wearing painted masks and grass skirts took the front lines, while ordinary Shy Guys occupied the middle ground. The next row consisted of stilt-walking Stilt Guys and a few large Fat Guys. Fly Guys carrying slingshots, Boom Guys, and a handful of Snifits were stationed in back to provide cover fire, while Medi Guys were stationed throughout the ranks to heal any injured soldiers.

General Guy's strategy was pure military genius. By now they were within striking range of Yoshi Village and were planning on moving in as soon as their leader gave the command. Surveying his formation one last time, the commander ducked into his Toy Tank and readied the Thunder Cannon. Its would be the signal for the others to begin their attack, and if things went according to plan, it would be over in a matter of minutes.

"SHY GUY BRIGADE... ... ... CHARGE!" General Guy screamed, his weapon firing a concentrated beam of electricity into the sky.

Hundreds of Shy Guys stampeded through the clearing, vandalizing houses and smashing down fences as they moved into a pincer shape around the village square. Upon establishing a strong formation, they charged towards the central hub and attacked relentlessly, the Spear Guys stabbing their weapons into everything that moved while the second row of Shy Guys scrambled in to tackle. It was over in a matter of minutes... Or so they thought.

"Well done, boys! Everything went just as I envisioned." their leader cheered from atop his tank.

"Um, general... There seems to be a little problem! The boys down below say that we..." a dispatcher Shy Guy handed the radio to his superior.

"Give me that!" he grabbed the device before screaming into the receiver. "What the heck's going on down there!?"

The soldier on the other end hesitated for a moment before answering. "We've been tricked, sir."

"WHAT!?" General Guy shouted, almost deafening his own subordinate.

Across the battlefield, several Spear Guys were pulling their spears from butchered dinosaur-shaped scarecrows. "We thought all the Yoshis were in the central square, but all we found were a bunch of decoys..."

"Gah! Those blithering idiot dare to call themselves Spy Guys!" The commanding officer jumped up and down repeatedly in frustration before reaching for the radio again. "So where are those dinosaurs hiding, now!?"

Before he could receive an answer, the general was smashed in the face by a flying Yoshi egg, causing him to tumble over the side of his vehicle. Looking up at the hills overlooking the village, he watched several dozen Yoshis emerge from the bushes, each heaving large numbers of projectiles down on the unsuspecting Shy Guy Brigade. Several Stilt Guys were knocked off their own perches while many other Shy Guys began running around in panic, the formation falling apart in a matter of minutes.

"Mayday, the troops are falling apart! Please send reinforcements!" a voice echoed from the radio's speaker.

General Guy ignored the distress call as he avoided another egg barrage, ducking back into his tank as quickly as possible. Rather than saving the radio, he grabbed hold of the loudspeaker. "Scatter to confuse the enemy and prepare a counterattack!"

While most of the army had heard him, the situation was not idea for following the order. Back in Yoshi Village, the advance party had completely lost focus and were scampering around looking for cover as a combination of eggs and rotten fruits bombarded the ground around them. Several Shy Guys attempted to flee the town square only to be eaten by a handful of Yoshis, who had been hiding in wait.

Yoshi himself poked his head out from a bush and headbutted a line of Shy Guys, causing them to tumble over like dominos. He ate them to replenish his supply of eggs and began tossing them at the Fly Guys attacking from above, causing them to plummet helplessly to the ground. A large Fat Guy approached from behind and wrapped its arms around him in a bear hug, but was conked in the head by a flying watermelon, causing him to release his grip.

"Get down, man!" a Blue Yoshi dropped down from a tree, knocking the large enemy out with a ground pound.

"Nice work!" Yoshi called over to his fellow villagers.

The Shy Guy Army had fallen into complete disarray and was beginning to retreat. Seeing so many brightly colored baddies, several hungry Yoshis that had provided cover fire before were beginning to descend from the surrounding hills to give chase. Several of the hooded baddies were retreating back to the grove where their leader was stationed, incidentally bringing along their predators. A trio of Yoshis consisting of a Blue, Black, and Red one had entered the clearing.

"Yikes! Help us, general!" a yellow Shy Guy screamed, only to be swallowed a second later.

"If you want something done right... Do it yourself." he grumbled.

General Guy retaliated by firing his Toy Tank's Thunder Cannon at the dinosaurs, knocking them out. He drove straight through the brush, mowing down bushes while shooting off blasts of electricity in every direction, not caring about his own troops as he accidentally zapped several who were standing too close to his real targets. Several Yoshis tried to attack, but their tongues had no affect on the slick armor, and the electric feedback from within knocked most of them out as soon as they touched it.

"Toy Tank Squadron, target the surrounding hills and follow my lead into the village!" he called into the intercom.

"Roger that, general!" a voice answered from the other side.

Two copies of the Toy Tank piloted by other troops emerged from the nearby forest. The general had made certain to hold back the true threat in case the first wave failed. Although he hadn't expected the advance party to be defeated so easily, having a backup plan always helped in case the first failed. Following their leader's command, the drivers operating the remaining tanks began firing lightning bolts at the surrounding hills, causing several egg-tossing Yoshis to flee their posts.

"Take that!" General Guy laughed before directing his troops back to the center of the village. "As if those pea-brained dinosaurs could damage my new and improved tanks."

The Yoshis inside the village were now stationed inside houses and treetops, throwing rocks at the advancing artillery in an attempt to stall them. Green Yoshi peaked out from the safety of a two story hut before signaling a small group of his friends to follow his lead.

"All right guys, all together now!" he leapt from the window, a dozen others following suit.

They flutter-jumped to position themselves above the advancing tanks before performing ground pounds in mid air, their combined weight toppling the approaching vehicle. Yoshi kicked the large light-bulb protruding from the side to disable the thunder cannon, his fellows prying open the top hatch and swallowing the crew with a few lashes of their tongues. A moment later, several other Yoshis followed the example of the first group and overturned a second tank.

"The situation is beginning to reverse itself... Units 02 and 03 had been terminated, sir!"

General Guy grunted in disbelief. "Not again! How can these primitive creatures possibly match my military genius." he shouted, angrily pounding the dashboard. He grabbed the loudspeaker again, before reluctantly relaying his next order. "All remaining Shy Guy units, retreat to the base camp!" Unsurprisingly, the soldiers took their leader's words to heart and immediately fled the scene as quickly as possible.

The Yoshis cheered victoriously. "Good riddance!" their green leader cheered.

The enemy commander sped away from the village at full speed, but unlike his troops, he looked more intrigued than frightened by the development. Tearing through the jungle's overgrown pathways, he ignored the cries of his troops begging for a ride and continued driving. It took several minutes to reach a considerably safe distance. He poked his head out of the hatch and looked down from his new post atop a cliff overlooking Yoshi Village. Unbeknownst to the celebrating dinosaurs, the real attack was just about to begin.

General Guy pulled a walkie-talkie out of his robes. "Phase 2 has come to a close. Begin Phase 3 of the attack immediately!" he fired a second flare using the Toy Tank's cannon, signaling the hidden units.

Back in the village, the Yoshis were still celebrating their apparent victory. While several buildings had been demolished in the ensuing attack, they had made it out of the situation in relatively good shape. Several were bloated from overeating, while the others were quick to bounce back. Ever optimistic and cheerful, the resident dinosaurs were beginning to tend to their injured friends, carrying them to the elder's large hut to receive medical attention. Usually some rest and a large amount of food was more than enough to set things back to normal.

The chubby elder looked over with a calm expression. "It appears we were very fortunate."

Yoshi placed both hands on his hips. "Luckily a Pidget happened to spot the Shy Guy Army and warned us before the attack. Otherwise, things could've gone badly."

His superior relaxed for a moment, only to be interrupted by the sound of heavy footfalls, followed by the incessant squawking of birds. Moments later, a flock of Yoshis came dashing through the village gate, their eyes wide with terror. "My word!? What could that be?"

"Run away!" a blue Yoshi threw his hands in the air and ran for the nearest house, several others following after him.

"What's going on?" Yoshi ran past his fellow villagers and towards the forest, his feet coming to a screeching halt as he discovered the source of their fear.

Stepping out into the clearing was a giant silver orb with large golden horns, beady red eyes, and a broiler-like mouth. Atop his head was a crest of red feathers and protruding from beneath his body were a pair of red feet, making the creature resemble a decorated helmet. Moments later, a group of dark colored horned Bullies emerged from the surrounding foliage.

"Away puny creatures... Prince Bully has come!" the helmet-like leader announced his presence.

"We already sent your friends packing, and we'll do the same to you!" Yoshi lashed his tongue out at the giant monster, but was unable to ensnare or even budge him.

"It appears your appetite is not steely enough to devour the likes of me. Or perhaps you are just too small and insignificant to do so."

The large monster's words spurred his soldiers into action, his smaller brethren flooding into the village, random smashing their bodies into random houses while trying to attacking the confused Yoshis. Prince Bully spewed a series of fireballs from his mouth at the green-skinned champion, who responded by eating and spitting them back. He then began pelting the beast with eggs in an attempt to stop him, but the gigantic brute barreled through his barrage unaffected and slammed into his opponent, sending the poor dinosaur crashing into a nearby house.

A pink Yoshi poked it head out from the doorway with a panicked look. "Aaaaaah, he's coming!"

Yoshi looked up to see several others cowering inside. "C'mon guys, we have to work together to stop these guys."

"You've already lost!" Prince Bully announced.

The heroic dinosaur turned to see several of his fellow villagers fighting the Bully squadron, but in spite of their struggles, it didn't look like things were working out. Several Yoshis were trying to eat their attackers, but the steel enemies were too heavy to be moved, and getting close enough to attempt it only put them within striking range of their heavy tackles. Egg tossing was somewhat affective on the smaller enemies, but the Big Bullies barely seemed to feel it.

Not one to give up so easily, Yoshi responded by flutter-jumping over the enemy leader and ground pounding on his head, causing the giant to stumble with discomfort. For a moment it seemed to work, but his enemy's slick metal body caused him to slide off a second later.

Prince Bully exhaled smoke from his furnace mouth, letting out a low hiss. "Insolent lizard, you only delay the inevitable! Did you think we came alone!?"

The ground rumbled violently, a large stone slab rising from the nearby dirt. At its full size the creature was at over twice the height of the silver Bully, and upon closer inspection, also had mitten like hands and large cinderblock-like feet. It grunted loudly and turned to face the village, revealing a giant angry face, red eyes, and a golden crown atop his head. As if responding to his call, several smaller, but still giant, creatures nearly identical to the first began rising from the ground around the village.

"Whomp!?" Yoshi glanced around wildly, his chipper personality beginning to slip.

"The Whomp King!" the crowned stone corrected him angrily, his beady eyes settling on his prey. "Ugh, it's you! You make me so... ANGRY!"

The stone monster had once been tasked with guarding a star stolen from Peach's Castle, and had been subsequently grounded and stomped by the dinosaur. "Uh oh..."

The Whomp King collapsed his body towards his old nemesis, who began to run away as quickly as possible, only to be intercepted by Prince Bully's charge. Sent flying back towards the stone monster, Yoshi closed his eyes and braced himself as several tons of rock came crashing down on top of him.


Note to Readers: Thanks for the support. So here's another chapter for this story. Don't know how much longer I can keep this up, but we'll see what you guys think. Hope you enjoyed the read! By the way, Daisy's steward is an original character if you didn't already guess.

In the meantime, drop me a review so I know if I'm satisfying or boring the audience. I'm still open to friendly suggestions. If there's on thing I learned from writing fanfiction in the past, it's that there's no telling how long it'll be before I either run out of ideas or motivation (or both).


Character Reference Guide

Now for those who may be unfamiliar with certain characters, especially from Wario and Donkey Kong series games, I'll drop some notes. Pictures are easy to find using Google Search. For full details check out Super Mario Wiki.

- Draggadon: A species introduced in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker. Large fire-breathing dragons with a nasty attitude, they reappeared in Paper Mario Color Splash.

- Mallow: Long-lost Prince of Nimbus Land from Super Mario RPG. He was a skilled magician with strong elemental magic and a traveling companion of Mario in his quest to stop the Smithy Gang from ruling the world.

- Jojora: Mysterious ice fairy from the Beanbean Kingdom appearing in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga. She lives in an icy tomb known as Joke's End, and viciously attacks anyone who spoils her fun.

- Foreman Spike: Villain from one of the old Mario Arcade Games. Tried to ruin a construction site where the Mario Bros. were working. Later appears in Japan-only games as a minor character, he is considered the forerunner for Wario and Waluigi.

- Belome: Dog monster from Super Mario RPG. Has an uncontrollable appetite and bizarre magical powers. He will eat anything, though he does not always enjoy the taste. Can produce clones of victims he has tasted.

- Terrormisu: Great Demon Queen from another dimension that was sealed inside the Wish Stone and accidentally freed by Wario in Wario: Master of Disguise. Uses magical masks to alter the terrain and grant herself different powers. Pastimes include ruining civilizations and swallowing the souls of her victims.

- Kudgel: Muscle-bound Kremling wielding a cudgel with iron spikes, he first appeared in Donkey Kong Country 2 as the boss of Krem Quay. His monstrous size and strength make him almost invulnerable.