Chapter 8

What to do?

Everyone gathered in the lobby of the mansion where it was lit by several of Mario's fireballs in a jar. All of the swordsmen were given their main swords back. Everyone was looking around the room trying to figure out who it was that had been killing everyone. "Al-a-right everyone," Mario said. "This virus is getting out of hand. It has-a gone too far ever since Luma died. We need to-a track this thing down and stop it before things get-a worse."

"What exactly are we supposed to do?" Trainer said. "We have no idea who it is?"

"I intend to find a way to make this thing come out," Marth said.

"We can't risk losing anymore people," Link said. "This thing has been catching people while they are alone."

"The only way we are going to figure out who is corrupted is by letting it come out."

"You know the virus is here in this room, right?" Toon Link asked.

"Yes, but even then, I bet it wouldn't be able to resist a challenge."

The virus laughed from inside its victim and thought, "You aren't wrong."

"Then we could separate into groups of two. There is only one virus, so we should be able to figure out who it is if someone's partner goes missing."

"Do you really think I'm so stupid as to not be able to figure out a way to avoid this?" The virus thought. "Narrator, stop narrating my thoughts."

"No," I said.

"Let's come up with groups" Link said. "Zelda and Rosalina can stick together since we know they aren't corrupted."

"So the rest of us have to hope we get lucky and don't end up with the virus," Bowser said.

"That's-a pretty much the plan," Luigi said.

"Alright," Bowser said. "But if we are doing this, I call Peach!" Bowser slid over next to Peach.

"What?" Mario said. "That is-a ridiculous. I want Peach, and-a I'm sure Peach would choose-a me over you, right?"

"Um," Peach paused. "I'm sorry Mario, but I think that there's a good chance the virus could have corrupted you. I don't think it got Bowser, so, as much as I don't want to, I think it would be safer with Bowser."

Mario stared at her with wide eyes. "You have-a got to be kidding."

"Don't worry bro," Luigi said. "I will-a be your partner." Mario looked up at his brother and smiled.

"I guess the rest of us can form groups," Pit said. When the groups were done, Marth was searching the halls with an improvised torch with Pit. They had begun searching a room when Pit asked, "So it isn't you, right?"

"What?"

"I'm just making sure that you aren't lying to everyone."

"Why would a liar ever admit to lying when their lies haven't been discovered?"

"Hey, it's better to be safe than sorry. You never know."

"I promise you that I am not the one corrupted. Did that help make you feel better."

Pit paused before saying, "No, not really." Pit stopped talking for a few seconds before asking, "What are we even looking for?"

Marth looked back at Pit. "There was something we never told you about when we went to turn the power off. When we were down there, we found Sonic and King Dedede in the basement dead. Fox had let King Dedede through before he shut the gates. They had been mutilated and looked like whoever had done it had taken time to enjoy it."

"When we turned the power off, however, the bodies stood up and began talking to us before they disappeared. Since then, I can't help but wonder why the virus would even bother with doing that."

"Maybe it was just a scare tactic."

"Well if it is just trying to kill us, why wouldn't it choose someone who would be really good at killing."

"Maybe it's just looking for a challenge,"

"Then why wait so long. This just seems strange." Marth opened a door and the torch light fell on scorch marks on the wall. It read, "DuoS won'T woRK." Scratch marks took out part of the message before it continued. "…cAn STill GET AnY oF You."

"Pit," Marth said. "I found another message."

Pit opened the door wider and entered the room. He began looking at the message. "We should tell the others," he said.

"I agree." They turned and had just left the room when they heard screaming. Marth's eyes widened when he realized who was screaming. It was Zelda. Marth and Pit glanced at each other before they headed toward Zelda and Rosalina's room. They reached the room and tried to open the door, but it was still locked. "We're coming in!" Marth shouted as he began trying to break through the door. With Pit's help, they were able to get in.

They had both their weapons out, but they weren't prepared for what they saw. Peach's body was laying down on the floor. She had her head tilted so she was looking towards Zelda with blank eyes.. Zelda looked terrified, while Rosalina had begun to cry. Marth and Pit had begun backing away as they stared at the body. Link and Toon Link soon arrived. They shoved their way past Marth and Pit and froze once they saw Peach. Mario and Luigi were the next to arrive. "What's-a going on?" Mario asked.

The swordsmen turned toward him. "You don't want to go in there," Pit said.

"Why? What happened to Rosalina?" Mario tried to make his way through, but the swordsmen kept him from getting in.

However, they forgot about Luigi, who walked by and froze as he looked at the body. He stared at it for several seconds before he said, "Peach?"

When Mario heard that he paused before he threw Marth to the side and broke through the rest of the smashers. He ran to Peach's body and began shaking her. "Peach, I'm so sorry. I should have tried harder to protect you. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry." Mario remained by Peach's side and began to weep. Other had begun to arrive. After everyone had arrived, Mario stood up and glared at everyone. After he had searched the crowd, he said, "Where's Bowser!?" Marth looked around and realized that Bowser was the only one of the smashers who hadn't returned. "Somebody find him."

Several of the smashers left to find Bowser. Marth looked back and forth between the people leaving to search for Bowser and the Mario holding Peach. The ones who hadn't gone to look for Bowser waited to see what would happen next. Donkey Kong eventually returned with an unconscious Bowser on his shoulder. Donkey Kong tossed Bowser onto the ground, and Bowser began stirring. He groaned before he noticed how everyone was staring at him. "What's going on?"

"You lied to us," Mario said.

Bowser turned to Mario and saw the dead Peach in his arms. "Peach?" Bowser looked up at Mario. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect her. We were in a hallway and-"

"You killed her."

Bowser stopped talking and stared at Mario. "What?"

Mario looked at Bowser. The anger was easy to see. "You're the reason she's dead. You killed her."

"No, it wasn't me."

Mario looked at Donkey Kong. "Lock him up." Donkey Kong sighed before he left with several others to take him somewhere he couldn't get out.

I'm trying to do better with writing more than being just lazy. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I think I will add titles to the chapters now. I will get the next one up soon (hopefully). Until then, as always, tell me if you think there is something I should work on. Also, who has the virus corrupted. Is it Bowser, or has he been framed. Thanks for reading.