I don`t own any characters, the ones I created are mine however.

In last episode… While the two elders were finally getting rid of the giant Goomba (with the help of Geno`s Whirl), Bowser was chased by Cackletta and Elder Princess Shroob, and Bowser had no else choice than asking Peach for protection, however the Princess refused.

Chapter 9: Bowser`s Struggles for Sanity

Bowser looked back. Cackletta was approaching at a dangerous speed, followed near by the Shroob. Bowser had no else choice: the moat. He had to plunge down and escape by the waterfall. He knew from a good source that there is a secret pass behind it. From the small, stone bridge, he jumped down and started swimming underwater. He knew very well that his opponents couldn`t go in water – Cackletta cannot swim, and the Shroob is vulnerable to water.

Bowser rapidly found his way toward the small waterfall, and using his super strength, he managed to swim up despite the current. He finally found a small air pocket behind, and followed the tunnel. He knew this pass would be used in case the castle had to be evacuated.

He followed the tunnel, and arrived somewhere in Toadwood Forest. He emerged out of the cave, and decided to stay there for a while.

***

During this time, the Mario Team was heading back toward Peach`s Castle, with Toadror and Junior following them. Junior had forbidden his revenge desires and was instead trying to trust Mario. They had to cross Toadwood Forest now; sadly, this was a scary alien, fuel-draining forest. Mario seriously wishes he could forget that terrible thing. Toadror and Junior also understood as soon as they stepped in the forest. It was a dark place.

"I hate this feeling, papa. It`s terrible. I can sense lots of Toads who died here…"

"At least, you don`t see dead Toads like you mother did. I`ll never forget when she said that. It crept the hell out of me, as you teenagers say."

"Please, be silent," Luigi asked. "I`m sure we`ll meet someone bad – at every scary place, it happens. Wait… Bowser?"

The turtle was sitting on an old trunk placed horizontally on the ground. He was scared as well. He really didn't look as he looks habitually.

"Mario Brothers! You gotta help me! Wait a second… Junior! What are you doing here?"

"I`m back on the right track, Bowser. I`m no more on the bad side."

"You`re lucky then…" Bowser looked around, then said: "I`m in real trouble now. You must help me!"

"Why would we do that?" Kylie said. "You`ve been evil since you were born!"

"Yeah… and when you were helping the bros," Peasley said, "you were always possessed by something so you`d turn evil anyway!"

"Maybe," Geno said, "But he fought like a hero when we fought against Smithy. Seriously, despite his evil side being overgrown, he still has a softer side. After all, he loves the Princess."

"Well, that`s the problem: Cackletta and the Elder Princess Shroob are each trying to possess me! That`s why I`m hiding here. Peach refused to help me, so my only hope is you, Mario, and your friends."

"Why would we help you? It`s your problem, you have summoned these two monsters. But if we do nothing, the Kingdom will get destroyed while they`re seeking you. So there is only one way to free the kingdom… you must get possessed, and then beaten."

Bowser looked at Mario, with a face saying "you gotta be joking!"

"I`m not joking, Bowser. Toadror! Immobilize him!"

Toadror launched a short spell and Bowser got caught in a rock shell, as a statue.

"Now, we`ll have to bring him to Cackletta, make sure they each possess him, and then we`ll have to kill him. He`ll survive, he always survived whatever happened to him, so I don`t worry."

During a complete day, the seven friends moved Bowser`s rock-shelled body towards Peach`s Castle, and they finally arrived. They saw a terrible scene there: the Castle, half destroyed, by Cackletta and the Shroob. Princess Peach was still in her throne room, awaiting her end. A captain always sinks with its ship. The Mario Team brought Bowser`s body near the Castle, and revived him.

"Here he is, monsters. You can possess him."

"I still don`t believe you brought me to my enemies, Mario! I thought you were the nice guy!" Bowser said.

But he had no time to say anything else. He felt not only one, but two things entering his body. And, in a few seconds, he turned into a total horror. Tentacles grew instead of his clawed hands, two enormous things grew on his head and his eyes turned dark purple with red pupils, and his smile grew enormous. He looked like a mix of Bowletta and the Shroob Elder.

In a giant jump, Shrowletta landed on the rook of Peach`s Castle, and said:

"Now, Smithy! It`s the right time!"

A giant impersonation of Smithy appeared as a hologram in the skies, and the hologram attacked in a more-than-real manner. Stars flew out of the sky and landed on Mario, just as it happened in the last fight against him in the Factory. The sky turned black, with thunder clouds everywhere. The stars attacking the seven heroes were nearly unavoidable due to their length. They were immense. One star immediately hit Kylie, who fainted. Then, another hit Geno, who fell down as well. Luigi was looking around, seeing his friends dying. He had used his only One-Up Mushroom on Geno during the battle against the giant Goomba. Now, he had nothing to revive them. And Smithy was too big of a threat. Even Toadror had fainted. Kylie was nearly fainted, she was just saying a weak "help…"

"FINALLY!" The hologram said. "I have won over Mario, and Luigi is worth nothing compared to him! Nothing can stop us now!"

And a last star approached Luigi, with the order to crush him.

"We are doomed now…"

The star almost crushed Luigi, who found himself under a powerful magical shield, which made them invisible.

"Wha… Junior?"

"Shut up, Luigi. We must find E. Gadd, we must stop all this at its very beginning and for this we`ll need the time machine."

"Wait… you want to destroy the archives of the past?"

"No… I plan on stopping myself from joining Bowser`s forces."

In next episode: It`s REALLY a terrible thing. E. Gadd no more has the machine, and Shrowletta has begun her powerful attack on the entire Kingdom! It`s now or never. The fate of the Kingdom is not in Mario`s hands anymore… but in Junior`s! That`s to read!