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Chapter 5: Storm

It had been three days since The Creators had abandoned their creations. Luigi was making his way back home after visiting Princess Peach. She was very upset by the information, and was very concerned over what will happen in the kingdom without Bowser being held back by The Creators' stories. The green-capped ex-plumber was also very concerned, especially after hearing of Ridley's return and the newly-formed militia being led by King Dedede. His prime concern was that Bowser will launch a full out invasion of the Mushroom Kingdom in the fragile state the world is in.

Luigi walked up to his home, seeing Yoshi out front, where he was eating a butterfly.

"Luigi!"

"Hey, Yoshi! I'm back! Be nice with the butterflies, eh? What did that little guy even do to you?"

"Um…." Yoshi contemplated, obviously struggling to come up with a reason.

"Haha. Oh, Yoshi." Luigi chuckled as he walked into the house. He saw Mario sleeping on the couch. Luigi smiles and walks into the kitchen. Out of curiosity, he checks the Mushroom drawer. Only five out of 10 were left.

"Mario… I told you to not overpower up yourself…" Luigi mutters. At that moment, Luigi hears shuffling on the couch. Mario was awake.

"Hello, Luigi. How's Peach?"

"Hi, Mario. She's okay. She's going to make an address to the Kingdom sometime today. Now, why did you consume so many Super Mushrooms? That could be dangerous! I told you not to!" Luigi scolded his brother. Mario hung his head in shame.

"It's been a long few days, Luigi. A long few days… I'm not proud of what I did. I'm not the proud hero I was when I traveled the universe to save my Princess. I'm the one who needs the saving now."

"Mario…" Luigi softly says as he puts his hand on his brother's shoulder. "We both are having a tough time right now. Heck, I think almost everyone in all the worlds are. We'll all get through this." Luigi consoled, not only to his brother, but to himself as well. "Now let's see when Peach is on."

XXXX

King Dedede's new army confidently marches down the streets of Mushroom City, heading for the headquarters of The Creators outside of their own world. The citizens of the city watch on in amazement and shock as they watch the group head up to the building. Among those watching are Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong who have also been planning on going to the headquarters themselves. However, they thought better of going into the building with the army, deciding it more reasonable to wait until they got a reason for or idea of why The Creators abandoned them.

"All right everyone. Here's the plan!" called out King Dedede upon reaching the building's entrance plaza. "Roy, Wario, King Boo, Tom Nook and the Hocotate President, you come with me to the central offices on the top floors. Knuckle Joe will go with Saki, Starfy, Starly and Gary to the open offices in the middle floors. Waddle Doo, Lier X. Agerate and the trio from Star Wolf will go to the Info Storage chambers. Lastly, I want my army, an the Toads, Piantas and Hylians to stay down on the lower 3 floors and outside for safety. Is everyone clear? All right! Let's move in!"

The group moves into the building, and find it strangely empty. The lights in the lobby were turned off, and the receptionist was missing.
"That's strange…" said Dedede. "I've never seen this building this empty. Well, maybe the heads are still here. All right, my group! Follow me!"

XXXX

Pikachu had been roaming the streets of Saffron City now for a few days. He always wonders whether his owner missed him or not. Something seemed to be going wrong here, that much Pikachu could tell. Out of nowhere, the mouse Pokémon had gotten swept up into a bag by a pair of dark-clothed thieves. Pikachu had used his Thunderbolt to try and break open the bag, but it appeared to be electric proof. Pikachu's last hope at this point was to start crying out, hoping that his cries would not be muffled by the thick, seemingly rubber bag he was trapped in.

"Calling in to base. Squad 18 has now caught a stray Pikachu. Heading back to base with the Pikachu as well as three other Pokémon we found immediately." one of the thieves said into his black-colored PokéGear. The phone-like device had a red R on the outside from what Pikachu could see from a tiny hole in the bag. Where have I seen that red R before? Pikachu wondered to himself.

XXXX

In the open floor offices in the middle of the building, the group there wandered the floor, searching for any sign of The Creators or why The Creators left.
"They certainly made it out very quickly." Saki remarked.

"Sure did." Responded Knuckle Joe as he went through the papers scattered on one desk.

"Well, they can't hide from me! I'm Gary Oak! My awesomeness is gonna discover where they went!" said the extremely cocky Gary, who went from desk to desk, throwing papers onto the floor and searching through cabinets. The pair of starfish were reading a document on someone's computer, which they just turned on.

"What's that?" asked Knuckle Joe. Starly just shrugged and moved over a bit for the skilled fighter to look at it. The title read: Ideas for a new Starfy title.

"Enough getting distracted, Starfy! We have more important work to be done!" scolded Knuckle Joe.

Meanwhile on the top floor, King Dedede barged into the office. It was the first time any of them had ever gotten even a glimpse of the head Creator's office. Various posters, mainly of Mario and Link lined the room. Pikmin and Yoshi plushies sat on a shelf, alongside a Mario figurine, a PokéBall, and a replica of Samus' gunship. On the desk sat a turned off computer and a white remote control-like object. In the corner, a robot sat, seemingly dormant.

"Wow. Some place, huh?" remarked Roy.

"Yes, it is! I wonder how much all of this would sell for? I bet you I could buy a brand new car or even pay off my debts!" said the President of Hocotate Freight, seemingly always in some level of financial trouble.

"Even this room is empty. I feel like they might've all abandoned the building. Hastily too, I might add" remarked a slightly disappointed Dedede. All of a sudden, the robot became animated and made its way toward the group.

"Hello. I am R.O.B. I see that you are here in the central office. And if I am correct, you were hoping to meet with the Creators?"

"Yes, that's right, R.O.B. I didn't see you there, hehe." Said Dedede, somewhat concerned, as R.O.B. wasn't exactly a very emotional being, making it not trust anyone very much. The King had gotten on R.O.B.'s bad side once before.

"The creations are all concerned, I was able to tell. I believe that Bowser may be planning the Kingdom's destruction as I recite my information to you. It is a shame really, that The Creators left without telling everybody why. I was turned off before I could find out. But I do know one thing. They had plans for you all still. King Boo, you were meant to face off against Luigi once more. President, you would have seen Olimar off on his third trip to the Distant Planet. Tom Nook was meant to welcome in a new villager in his own special way. Roy… actually they had no plans for you. And King Dedede, they had plans on another great adventure involving you and Kirby. I do not know whether it was together or against each other. How do I know all of this? Well, look where I am."

"Wow… so they just left you here?"

"Yes. I know not why. Was there not Wario with you as well? Has he run off to go steal something else?" R.O.B. noticed. "The Creators will not appreciate that. They still have working cameras here. I would deem it best if you and your accomplices leave here. It is dangerous to get on The Creators' bad side. Have you ever heard of MissingNo.? It was a ghost Pokémon that did not follow what The Creators had planned out. It had five moves at once as opposed to four. It was banished from the world of Pokémon entirely. Moral of that, do not upset the Creators. You will regret it. Goodbye, Dedede…" R.O.B. ended as it backed off into its corner.

"Come on. Let's find Wario." said Dedede, leading the way out of the office.

XXXX

Back in the Mario Bros. Residence, Mario and Luigi were sitting down on the sofa, watching the news once more. Lakitu came back on the TV again, and piped up in his usual irritating tone.

"Welcome back everyone. We have received breaking news. Princess Peach has once more been kidnapped by King Bowser. This is likely a chain reaction from The Creators abandonment and that the Kingdom's police force is busy peacekeeping in the cities and keeping an eye on King Dedede's operation. The question here for all of you is likely 'Where are the Mario Brothers when the Kingdom needs them?'. Well I can answer that. They are done. The news of The Creators leaving destroyed them. The Mario Brothers aren't so Super anymore."

At that, Mario turns the TV off angrily.

"Luigi. It's time we get back into action. First job: I kill Bowser."

Luigi looks at his brother, and slowly nods. In this time of sheer anger at Bowser and Lakitu, both Mario Brothers are unstoppable forces of power. The two brothers stand up at the same time, walk over to the coat rack, and grab their hats. They step outside, call Yoshi to join them, and walk on, toward the dark cloud in the distance. One thing races through the legendary Mario's mind.

It's a Mario Time.