Chapter 15 – It's War Now!

It was mid-day when the contestants were escorted back to the base. There was a long line outside the Confession room; everyone had something to say about that day's embarrassment of a challenge.

Kammy was seated in front of the camera, a glaring look on her face with raised eyebrows. "I am a very attractive woman. That Simon has no idea what he is missing. I may not be as young as I used to be but I can still give you what you want. I'll work it, put my thing down flip it and reverse it. You can go downtown and eat it like a vulture."

The cameraman gagged as she quoted lines from the famous Missy Bones song. Kammy proceeded to blow a kiss to the camera, slowly turning and slapping her ass.

"You know you want a piece of this." She exclaimed and left the room.

Amazee Dayzee and the professor, a now unbreakable pair, were playing a game of Go Fish. Valentina was watching intently, she didn't give a damn about the game, but she was eyeing her mirror which rested in Amazee Dayzee's lap.

"Got any Toads?" Gadd questioned.

The flower shook her head slowly. "Tuki tuki."

Valentina slyly crept over. "Looks like you two are having fun."

Amazee Dayzee shifted her eyes to look at her suspiciously, firmly gripping the mirror in her hands. "Tuki tuki tuki tuk tuki?"

"Good question. She asked what you want." The professor translated.

An evil grin formed slowly over her ugly face. "I've come to inquire about a possible trade. I have some items that you just might like and I'll be willing to part with them if you hand over my mirror."

Amazee Dayzee leaned forward and whispered something into Gadd's ears. He looked to Valentina. "She said she doubts you'll have anything she'll want but go ahead anyway."

Valentina held her tongue as she brought up a beautiful pink brush, looking like it was made for royalty. "How about this lovely item?"

"She says what the hell would she need a brush for? She doesn't have any damn hair."

Peach saw this and marched over, snatching the brush from Valentina's grasp. "That is mine, you wench."

Next she held up an antique fan, spreading it open and fanning herself. "This is a spectacular item. Do you like?"

Amazee Dayzee perked up, apparently interested. "Tuki tuki tuki tuki tuki tuki."

Professor Gadd giggled. "She said that she likes it but you'll have to pay a thousand coins."

"What?! It's my mirror and I have to pay you?" Valentina shouted in disbelief.

The flower simply nodded and stuck out her hand.

Valentina growled and pulled out her purse. "Fine! One thousand it is… as long as I get my mirror back."

"What's going on over here?" Lady Bow said to them as she floated over.

She quickly hid the fan behind her back. "Nothing that concerns you."

"Actually I think this is very much of her concern." The professor retorted and pointed toward Valentina's back.

Bow nodded knowingly as her eyes widened. "What's behind your back, dear?"

Valentina swallowed hard. "My back? Nothing of your's is behind my back."

"I beg to differ, you see I somehow misplaced my fan. You don't have it do you?" The ghost continued and attempted to move behind her, but Valentina would always counter her movements.

"Okay, fine, you caught me… how much do you want for it?" She asked in return.

Lady Bow cackled. "That fan is a family heirloom and it is irreplaceable, all the coins in the world wouldn't be enough. So I suggest you hand it over."

Valentina managed to muster up some tears. "You don't understand this is my only chance to get my precious mirror back. Please show some compassion."

"I forget where that's my problem. Now give me the damn fan!" She barked.

Time seemed to stand still as Valentina rushed forward, lunging toward Lady Bow. The disqualification bell immediately sounded throughout the base. Kandy casually walked onto the scene. "Congratulations, Valentina, you have been disqualified."

She slowly got up from the grown, brushing off her dress. "I didn't touch her."

Kandy looked over to Lady Bow. "What is she talking about?"

"It's true." The ghost replied with a frown.

Indeed it was. As fate would have it, when Valentina went to tackle Lady Bow she used her transparent move. The two never touched thus no violation occurred.

"Shit, that's no fun. False alarm I suppose," Kandy said with a sigh. She suddenly perked up. "Since I'm here I might as well inform you all of tomorrow's challenge!"

There were numerous groans from the contestants and a slew of profanities.

"When are we ever going to get a break?" Twila asked.

Kandy brought her hand to her chin, stroking it as if in thought. "Let me see… when you are eliminated or disqualified. How about that?"

Geno rolled his eyes. "Whatever. So, what's our challenge now? We have to make some dresses?"

"No, not even close. Simon's gone so we won't make you do anymore of that queer stuff."

Simon peeked through the window above them. "I'm not gay!"

"That was random." Mario said with a chuckle.

Kandy smiled sweetly. "Tomorrow your strength will be put to the test in a warball match!"

Bowser roared in excitement. "Finally something that's not faggoty."

"Well, I'm glad you're happy. I'll be back in the morning." Kandy said to him and happily skipped out.

Valentina decided to come up with a different plan of action and reluctantly gave Bow her fan back. She retreated for now but she was going to get her mirror back even if it killed her. After all, she could vent her anger tomorrow when she got the chance to hurl balls at everyone's faces.

A koopa entered the room bearing gifts. "Here are your outfits for tomorrow's match." He then left as soon as he had come.

Peach went up to the box that was for her and opened it. She frowned when she saw grey sweat pants and a low cut plain white top.

Raphael saw her disappointment. "Mad about the revealing shirt?"

She shook her head slowly. "No that's not it at all… it's not pink."

The next morning…

Kandy entered as the clock stroke seven. She was dressed in the proper gym attire, similar to what the female contestants had been given. She blew the whistle that was around her neck. "Attention, cadets! Get into your gear and get your asses on the bus."

"We aren't in the army." Birdo sarcastically shot back.

Kandy walked over to her and spit in her face. "I didn't ask for your input. Do as I said before I make you drop and give me fifty!"

Luigi chuckled and whispered to his brother. "Talk about power trip."

The contestants quickly got ready not wanting to make Kandy upset and loaded onto the bus.

She grinned evilly at them. "Let me explain the rules of this little match we have set up. You will be divided into two teams; the team who wins the first round is automatically safe and will continue in the next rounds to see who the four winners are. The team that loses the first round will be split up and continue going downward, meaning that the loosing team will be divided and divided until we have a four losers."

"Wait, I don't understand." Daisy voiced.

Kandy rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Okay let me put it in retard terms: There are 32 of you, so evenly divided that will make two teams of 16. The two teams will go against each other. The 16 members of the winning team are safe. They will be evenly divided once more to two teams of 8 and finally the winning team from those will be divided into two teams of four. The team who wins the final match will be the four winners. The same process will be used to find the four losers."

"I still don't get it." Peach said.

"That's because you're blonde. Okay here we are get off the bus, maggots." Kandy retorted.

They piled off the bus and into the warehouse. This time it had been transformed into a gymnasium with bleachers on each side. The crowd roared as the contestants entered. Each person had a section rooting for them, granted Mario's section was bigger than the others.

A toad referee calmed the audience and addressed everyone. "Welcome to the first ever 'What Would You Do' warball championship!"

The applaud signs were illuminated and thus the crowd clapped.

"Thank you. Let's meet today's players…" The toad went through the long list, pausing after every name to allow for applause. After he was finished he pointed to a nearby scoreboard. The high-tech screen showed all of the contestants faces. He explained that once a player was eliminated from the round his or her face would be darkened.

"Now let's randomly select the team captains! Let's see, team… Mario! And team… Bowser!"

How convenient that the so called random selection was the hero and his nemesis. The team captains got first selection on their first teammate, the person they chose would get to select the next and so forth until no one remained.

Here's how the selections went:

Mario picked Luigi.

Bowser picked Peach, much to her and Mario's dismay.

Luigi picked Daisy.

Peach picked Yoshi.

Daisy picked Birdo.

Yoshi picked Geno.

Birdo picked Bombette.

And so forth until Valentina and Amazee Dayzee were the only remaining players. It was up to Professor E. Gadd to make the final decision. He looked back and forth, carefully studying them. His team was whispering to pick Valentina but he went with his heart instead.

"I choose Amazee Dayzee."

Valentina smacked her forehead. "You'll pick that dumb flower over me?!"

Amazee Dayzee teasingly stuck out her tongue and rushed over to the old man's side. Valentina retreated to the opposite team mumbling curses under her breath.

The referee smiled. "Alright, folks team Mario is made up of himself, Luigi, Daisy, Birdo, Bomette, Goombario, Lakilester, Parakarry, Lady Bow, Raphael, Johnny Depp the Shy Guy, Doopliss, the Red Axem Ranger, Kammy Koopa, Professor E. Gadd, and Amazee Dayzee!"

The crowd roared. "We love you Mario!" A group of cheerleaders shouted.

The hero grinned wildly and kissed his muscles. Peach walked over and pulled him to her by the straps of his overalls. "I can't slap you right now but I would if I could." She turned to the cheerleaders and flicked them off.

"Okay… and team Bowser is made up of himself, Princess Peach, Yoshi, Geno, Mallow, Frogfucius, Toadette, Twila, Jeffrey Star, Sonic, Jinx, Wiggler, Brighton, Janice Dickinson the Dry Bones, Petey Piranha, and Valentina!" The ref continued.

Tails clapped and whistled. "Good luck, Sonic!"

Bowser raised his eyebrows. "He's not even from here and he still has fans show up."

"Now that you know the teams, let's get to the rules. This here is a traditional match of warball so that means no physical contact! If you are hit by a ball you are out, unless you catch it and in that instance the person who threw it is out. The first whistle blow allows you to go up to half court; if you go past that you are out. The second whistle blow allows you to go up to the free-throw line, or in other words about three fours of the court. And finally the third whistle blow means it's a free for all! You can go anywhere and everywhere so you better get some balls fast!"

Most of the teenagers in the audience giggled at the referee's unintended pun. He looked around confused. "Did I say something funny?"

Kandy giggled and turned to him. "No, it was nothing keep going."

"No flying, no fireballs, and no funny business. Alright teams please go to your respecting sides and put one hand on the wall."

The contestants did as he said and toads with fair-sized balls came out to the floor and placed them along the half-court line.

The referee smiled. "This is going to be fun." He muttered to Kandy before turning to look at the players. Once he was sure that all of them were touching the wall he proceeded.

"Good. I hope you're ready cause here we go!" The ref said and paused briefly, bringing his whistle to his lips. He gave a loud blow and the contestants rushed forward.

Mario ran forward, he was a fast runner and reached the half line rather quickly. Too bad he didn't notice Yoshi who had reached the line before him, a ball in hand. The dinosaur threw it at him and hit him square in the nose.

"Bye bye." Yoshi called to him with an evil smirk on his face.

Mario was the first one out due to Yoshi's fast footwork, but was the same fate in store for the rest of his team?