The Rising of Two Heroes, Volume 2

by saturn95

After surviving the night and getting back on their feet, Mario and Luigi set out on an epic adventure to rescue the princesses from the evil Bowser. But it turns out that Bowser has a few tricks up his sleeve, and the two brothers have no choice but to survive these obstacles which stand in their way. Will Mario and Luigi survive? Find out in this breathtaking second installment!

4. Part 1, Chapter 4

4

Lord Crump and two of his helpers (both were Goombas) were walking through the dark midnight woods that surrounded Rogueport. They started their journey about two hours after Ishnail and the two other Robbo gang members were injured by Mario and Luigi, who were now identified by Crump as the Mario Brothers. Bowser was now counting on him to take down the two brothers once and for all.

The night was already half over and Lord Crump did not see any visible signs of the two brothers. The outcome of this search was starting to look bleak.

"How much longer do you plan to make this search?" one of the Goombas asked. "We're exhausted!"

"It will take as long as it takes to find those bastards!" Lord Crump said. "After we find them, I'll be sure they will never see the light of day ever again!"

The three goons were now stumbling through thick branches and rough terrain. But up ahead, they saw a large open area that contained an empty fire pit. They decided to investigate.

"Looks like someone was here recently," Lord Crump said to himself, "very recently."

"Mister Crump!" said one of the Goombas. "Come check this out!"

Lord Crump walked over to his Goomba helper, who was standing next to a large log. He pointed down at the ground and was shocked to see that there were tons of bare flower stems, with no flowers left on them at all.

"Hmm…" Lord Crump said. "Who would need that many flowers?"

"I don't know, Lord Crump." said the other Goomba. "But come check this out!"

"What is it now?"

"Footprints."

Lord Crump looked onto the wet ground and found two sets of human footprints. He smiled. They were almost the same size and they seemed to be headed deeper into the forest.

"I think they were here." Lord Crump said.

"Really?" said the first Goomba.

"Yes." Crump responded. "I know this because they're headed right for the large dig site that we set up just a few days ago! No one else would be dumb enough to walk along this forbidden trail besides the Mario Brothers! And how else would they manage to build a fire on their own without the use of a few fire flowers?"

"Well, what are we waiting for?" said the second Goomba. "Let's go get them!"

Following the footprints, Lord Crump and the two Goombas began their run through the dark woods after Mario and Luigi. It would only be a matter of time before they would find them and fulfill Bowser's command to finish them at whatever cost.