2

The train was already about to cross the border into Sarasaland as it continued winding its way past large sand dunes and rocky formations under the clear starry skies. Everything seemed quiet and peaceful. Mario and Luigi were fast asleep, dreaming of their future lives as heroes of the Mushroom Kingdom and husbands to Peach and Daisy. But it was not long before the train suddenly came to a complete stop, forcing the brothers to wake up after the loud click of the engine being turned off. They got up and peaked around the corner and saw a couple of Bombshell Koopas pacing the train and looking inside each of the individual cars to check for freeloaders. It was obvious that they were part of Sarasaland's Border Patrol.

"What do we do now?" Luigi asked. "They're going to find us and throw us in prison!"

"Like I knew we were going to be leaving the Mushroom Kingdom for this journey!" Mario said. "If I did know that, I would've taken us to get each of us a passport."

Luigi shut his mouth after that remark, but was still troubled about getting caught by the Koopas. He listened and heard their footsteps get ever closer to their car, and it would be a matter of time before it was too late.

"Luigi!" Mario whispered. "See that trapdoor in the ceiling?"

Luigi looked up and sure enough he could see it, but it was too high. Luigi also noticed that they only way to could be opened was if someone were to push it up from below, so pulling it open would not be an option.

"There's no way we can reach it!" Luigi said. "Unless…"

"Unless what?" Mario asked.

Luigi ignored his brother and turned his attention toward a large wooden box that had been placed in the corner of the empty boxcar. It was only now that the brothers noticed it.

"Great thinking, Luigi!" Mario said. "I never thought of that before!"

"Can you help me push it over there?" Luigi asked. "This box is too heavy!"

"Yeah, of course!" Mario replied. "At least it's stable."

Mario walked over toward his brother and stood next to him behind the box.

"Ready?" Mario said. "One, two, three, PUSH!"

Slowly but surely, Mario and Luigi were able to push the box under the trap door with their amazing strength. Mario climbed on top of the box and reached for the door handle, but he himself was too short to reach it.

"Luigi, you're taller than me. Can you reach the door handle and push the door open?" Mario asked.

"I can try, but I can't guarantee success."

"Just try before the Koopas find us!"

Luigi climbed onto the box and reached for the door handle, but he too was having trouble. He was barely able to reach the handle, but he was still too short to push the trapdoor open.

"Mario, give me a boost!" Luigi said.

"Why you?" Mario asked. "I'm shorter than you!"

"Yes, but you're also heavier than me!" Luigi said.

"Fine." Mario said. "I'll help you!"

Mario stooped down and Luigi carefully climbed onto his back while Mario lifted him up to the ceiling. Luigi accidentally bonked his head as this happened, but with the extra height boost, he was able to open the latched door and push it open.

"Here, I'll climb out first." Luigi said. "I can pull you out with my long arms."

"Okay, bro." Mario said. "You might want to hurry though. I think those Bombshell Koopas are getting closer now."

"Will do."

Luigi climbed on top of the boxcar and admired the dark desert scenery around him. Looking towards the east, he saw that the sky was starting to turn blue and get lighter, making it easier to pick out the monolithic black silhouettes of the large desert pyramids in the distance. The second Crystal Star was bound to be in one of them, he knew. Still, it was truly a sight to behold.

"Hurry up, bro!" Mario called from below. "They're coming!"

"Sorry, I had to admire the scenery." Luigi said.

Mario glared at him.

"There's no time to be doing that! Hurry and pull me out of here!"

Without hesitating, Luigi extended his arms down to his brother so he could grab on. Mario grabbed Luigi's hand and Luigi was able to pull him out of the boxcar with no problems. Mario sighed.

"That was close." he said. "But we're still not safe. We have to get way from here without getting seen."

"What do you suggest we do?" Luigi asked.

"I suggest we jump off the other side and run for those palm trees in the distance." Mario said, pointing towards a large desert oasis. "We still have to worry about getting through the fence of the inner gate too, but we can climb it easily."

"Isn't the fence electrified though?" Luigi asked.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Mario said. "However, I don't think that it's waterproof either."

"Are you suggesting that we pour water onto it?" Luigi asked. "We can still get electrified that way too. I don't want a repeat of what happened when we tried peeing on an electric fence back home! That fucking hurt!"

"I'll think of something, don't worry." Mario said. "But right now, we need to get off this train!"

With that said the two brothers jumped to the left side of the train and ran away from the train tracks as fast as they could. The sand made it very difficult for them to run, but they tough enough to reach the oasis and hide behind the large palms. There was also, quite surprisingly, a small pool of cool, clean water where the brothers took handfuls at a time to quench their thirst. After that, they continued their journey into Sarasaland on foot. They could now see Sarasaland's electric fence and also the train from which they escaped as it approached a large beautiful golden door. Even the electric fence was crafted beautifully, forming intricate and complicated patterns and pictures.

"There they are, Luigi." Mario said. "The Gates of Sarasaland."

"Wow!" Luigi said. "I feel like we're looking straight at the gates of Heaven! I never knew Sarasaland was so sophisticated, besides the fact that their history is very intricate, much like the Mushroom Kingdom's."

"You can save your history knowledge for later." Mario said. "We should probably get through before anything bad happens."

"Like what?" Luigi asked.

Suddenly, as if the timing could not get any better, a loud noise was heard coming from the sky. The brothers looked up and saw two large airships zooming through the sky and losing altitude as they appeared to be landing at the entrance to Sarasaland. They were obviously sent out by none other than Bowser.

"Oh, no!" Mario said. "It looks like we have company!"

"Damn it!" Luigi shouted.

Suddenly a large explosion burst just inside of Sarasaland's entrance. The brothers looked closer and saw that the airships had bombed the train. They could also hear disturbing cries coming from the burning wreckage.

"Come on, Luigi!" Mario shouted. "Bowser is taking this way too far! We need to stop his troops!"

Without even worrying about the possible consequences of intrusion into another kingdom, the two brothers angrily took off towards the crash site to raid Bowser's additional army and help the train passengers that were in danger. There was no time to waste!

Hey, everyone. Sorry for the long wait, but here's the second chapter of Part 2!

Mario and Luigi have just reached Sarasaland and escaped being chewed by Border Patrol agents! But now, Bowser's army is raiding the entrance to the desert kingdom and the brothers have just realized that they have underestimated his power. It now seems that wherever they go, Mario and Luigi always encounter some sort of danger!

So what will Mario and Luigi do to save hundreds of innocent lives? But more importantly, what will be the outcome of such an act of heroism? All will be revealed soon...;)

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