Review Responses:

Plasmicstorm - Yeah I realized that both of my boss mini games (aside from Lakithunder's, who's essentially just Lakitu's fight) are luck-based. I didn't mean for that, but I'm looking towards other boss games in the series to see if I can pick up any other concepts. There is a boss in this chapter, and I think he's more reflex-based. Also, awesome username.

Elemental Queen - Oh. All right then.

(Mario Party, Nintendo, and any mentioned works of fiction or products to not belong to me in any way, shape, or form. This is just a story written for fun.)

Episode 8: Cave Story
Location: Creepy Cavern
Game: Mario Party 3
Team Royal Green: Daisy, Koopa, Rosalina, Petey Piranha
Team W-Shell: Koopa Kid, Yoshi, Hammer Bro., Boom-Boom, Toadette
Team Zero: Blooper, Waluigi, Dry Bowser

Bowser and Bowser Jr. were on the Koopa Kruiser.

"So dad, what all happened before I showed up last time?"

"Well son, I had the teams dig around Snowflake Lake for stars during the day. Then at night, the two winning teams had to go through a Freezie maze on Chain Chomps and destroy the interloper, who ended up being Mr. L!"

"Oh."

"Now I just have to know if he helped either Wario or Luigi."

"… Dad, I think-"

"Not now, son! Anyway, then you came in and made them play a boss mini game, since otherwise it'd be a three-way tie for failure."

"Dad, I know. I only asked for up until-"

"Team Royal Green won, and Dry Bones got kicked off of Team Zero, leaving them with only three members."

"… All right."

…
Team Zero:

Blooper, Dry Bowser, and Waluigi were panicking.

"We're the smallest team!"

"Koopa Kid's winning!"

"Bowser's still mad!"

"Aaaaah-"

"AAAAH-"

"WAAAA-"

…

Bowser, Toad, and all of the remaining players were gathered in Creepy Cavern.

"So Blooper, got any quips for me today?"

"Aww, you were thinking of me?"

"Dang it!"

Toad decided to take over the explanation before Bowser lost it. "All three teams have one small crystal for each member. Try to get to the end of the cave with as many crystals as possible. Whoever gets to fight the boss and attempt to win for their team is based on which crystals make it to the end."

"So if I drop all my team's crystals and lose them, none of us can play?" Toadette asked her brother.

"Yep! If you'll notice, the crystals have the players' names written on them. If you're the only one who makes it to the end, and yet your crystal is the only one lost, you still can't play the boss game."

Toadette gulped.

Toad handed out the crystals. Each player got one, and they were engraved with the names of their respective holders, just as Toad had said. Bowser regained his composure.

"Now all of you go through these three tunnels! One team to a tunnel, go!"

…
Team Royal Green:

The team went down their dungeon. So far so good, but Koopa was nervous.

"Why do you think Bowser's so sure that we won't all make it to the end?"

He found his answer when the team came up to a lava chasm.

"Well I guess it's the space case and me from here on in. Wish us luck, guys!" Petey put his crystal into his mouth in order to free up his leaf hands and then started flying across the gap. He got hit by a Podoboo.

"Yow!" Screaming with pain, Petey dropped his crystal from his mouth into the lava shortly before gaining control of his flight again. Regardless of making it to the end, he could not play the boss game, now. "Aww…"

…
Team W-Shell:

"Bwahahaha!" Koopa Kid was running rather recklessly.

"Yoshi!"

Toadette nodded. "Yoshi's right, Koopa Kid. We can't get careless."

"Well if any trouble comes along, my hammer is ready!" Hammer Bro. whipped out his weapon, ready to take on anything the tunnel had to throw at his team. "You see, it's light enough to be thrown and held easily, yet heavy enough to-"

"Boom-Boom not care!" the hefty turtle told Hammer Bro, slamming his fists down. Though he clenched his fists, crushing the crystal he was holding. "… Oh no."

"Yoshi, I have an idea. Eat all of our crystals, and keep them safe in an egg!"

"Eww, yuck! I don't want to hold my crystal again after it goes on a trip through Yoshi! You all can do that, but I'm out!" Koopa Kid stormed off ahead.

Hammer Bro. shrugged. "Eh, all right."

He and Toadette gave Yoshi their crystals. He set his own down as well, and ate all three. Then Yoshi laid an egg and placed it on his back for safekeeping.

"Yoshi!"

…
Team Zero:

Dry Bowser looked over to his two teammates. "Okay, let's form a back-to-back triangle so nothing can sneak up on us."

Blooper and Waluigi nodded.

"Waluigi doesn't want to lose anymore! He's running out of people to blame!"

"Yeah, the longer I stay on a losing team, the more likely it is that I'm the next to go."

The three survivors of Team Zero grouped together like how Dry Bowser explained, though not close enough for his shell spikes to poke anybody. The dynamic trio went on through the tunnel. Dry Bowser looked up.

"Thwomp! Scatter!"

A thwomp almost crushed the team and their crystals, but they got out of the way in time. "Waa, that was close."

After that escapade, the group went back into formation. Blooper spoke up. "So. You think Mr. L's gonna help out again, even though Bowser knows about him now?"

"Waluigi hates him! I don't care if he never comes back! But I do wonder how they know each other."

Blooper stopped for a second. "… Seriously? You do know Mr. L is probably just Luigi in a funny costume, right?"

"… Waa! Well Bowser doesn't know! So obviously Bowser's met him as Mr. L before!"

"Good point. … Never thought I'd say that to you." Blooper jabbed.

…
Team Royal Green:

Rosalina had levitated Daisy, Koopa, and herself across the lava chasm.

"Well I sure hope the boss isn't a feat of strength or anything, now. Since Petey can't play." Daisy pointed out.

"Well at least now I don't have to try." Petey then started to lay down.

Rosalina shook her head. "We can still vote you off. If you help us, but someone else makes a mistake that causes us to lose, they might get the vote instead of you."

"Aw nuts." the plant got right back up.

Then Koopa noticed a mine cart. "Awesome, let's get in!" Koopa ran over and hopped in, and was excited to go. But then he noticed that nobody else was following his example. "Um, guys?"

"What if it's not safe? If we lose all our crystals from a trap on there, we're out!" Daisy told him.

Mr. L suddenly appeared. He walked along the rails, headed towards Koopa in the cart. "Oh no, it's safe."

"Luigi!" Daisy noted.

"Ba-wha? Err… no! I know not of this Luigi! I am the Green Thunder! Mr. L!"

The princess sighed. "Come on Luigi, we all know it's you."

"I didn't." Petey said honestly.

"What you know and what Bowser knows are two different things." Mr. L said. His old teammates got the hint.

"Oh I see what you mean." Koopa realized. "So why are you helping the other teams?"

"(I'm not allowed to tell them who's helping me… I'll have to reword my story to exclude him.) I want to a-help everyone who Bowser has forced to play his evil game! He can't get away with this! If I only helped you guys, that would be bad news if you all still lost, so I help everyone. Except Koopa Kid."

"What about Dry Bowser?" Rosalina was curious. "He's one of Bowser's pawns, right?"

Mr. L shook his head. "No, no. He's secretly going to betray Bowser for his own reasons."

Petey spoke up. "Oh actually, King Boo and I knew that. I imagine his team knows that too."

"Petey, why didn't you tell us?" Daisy asked. Petey shrugged.

"Thought you knew. So wait, how do you know about that, Mr. L?"

"I know a lot about this game. Some things I cannot a-tell you. Now while this tunnel challenge isn't a race, you should still hurry. Before any more of you lose your crystals."

Mr. L jumped away.

"(Luigi… be careful.)" Daisy thought to herself. With that, she hopped into the mine cart along with Rosalina. Petey pushed them off.

"Petey, get in!" Rosalina called out.

"Nah, someone needed to push. And I can't play anymore anyway! Go on ahead, I'll catch up by flying."

Rosalina nodded, understanding Petey's words.

…
Team Zero/Team Royal Green:

Blooper, Waluigi, and Dry Bowser were riding in a cart as well. The tracks led them to a wide, open cavern. They could see Team Royal Green on another track.

"Waa! We're gonna win!" Waluigi taunted.

Daisy fought back. "In your dreams, Waluigi!"

Blooper was confused. "Hey, wasn't there one more of you guys?"

"Yeah, Petey's gonna catch up later." Koopa told him.

"Oh. Cool. … So nice weather, huh?"

Rosalina questioned Dry Bowser. "Are you truly planning on betraying Bowser?"

"What? Only my team knows! … Oh and Petey and King Boo. Did Petey tell you?"

"Mr. L told us." Rosalina said.

"Mr. L's here? Wahaha! When I see him, I'll pummel him!"

"Waluigi, he's helping us out!" Daisy scolded.

"But I don't like him! He reminds me too much of Luigi!"

Blooper rolled his eyes. "I told you, he is Luigi!"

…
Team W-Shell:

"So what's stopping us from leaving this cave and going back to our homes?" Toadette asked.

"Bowser's got all the entrances surrounded! Rawr!" said Koopa Kid.

"Unfortunately, he is correct." Mr. L dropped down from the ceiling.

"Mr. L! How dare you!" Koopa Kid dashed at Mr. L, but the man jumped out of the way, causing Koopa Kid to trip and break his crystal. "Nooo! Curse you, Mr. L!"

"Waaa!" Yoshi was upset.

Toadette agreed with Yoshi. "Mr. L, are you trying to get us to lose?"

The Green Thunder leaned in to Toadette. "Try to get rid of Koopa Kid. Dry Bowser has secretly turned on Bowser and is playing for himself."

"Oh…" Toadette realized. Mr. L then jumped away.

"L-ater!"

Koopa Kid smashed open Yoshi's egg and grabbed Hammer Bro.'s crystal. "No way you get to play the boss game and I don't!"

"Koopa Kid already lose crystal! Koopa Kid can't play boss game anyway!" Boom-Boom said as Hammer Bro. took back his crystal.

"Grrrr! Hammer Bro., come on! Give me your crystal!"

"They're engraved! Bowser will know anyway!" Hammer Bro. tried to tell his teammate.

"Rawr! Mr. L will pay for this!"

…
Team Zero:

At the end of the tracks, Team Zero hopped out of their cart and went onward. Back in a tunnel, they noticed that there was a constant stream of thwomps, ready to crush any fool who dared enter the tunnel.

"… Rush on through?" Blooper asked.

"Rush on through." the others agreed.

…

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH-" Team Zero screamed the whole way. Eventually they made it out of the tunnel alive.

"Wahaha! We are the best! Touchdown!" Waluigi slammed his crystal into the ground, shattering it.

"…"

"…"

"What?" Waluigi looked down. "Oh no! Waluigi got carried away!"

…
Team Royal Green:

Podoboos, podoboos everywhere. Koopa gulped. "Uh, now what?"

Daisy picked Koopa up, stuffed his head and limbs into his shell, and threw him across the tunnel. "Go long!"

"AAAAAH!"

"I could have projected a minor force field." Rosalina said.

"Oh… Whoops."

…

On the other side of the tunnel, Koopa's head popped out of the shell. "Ow…" He removed his arms and legs from his shell and noticed that he still had the crystal. "Sweet!"

Dorrie, a green lake monster with goggles, made a noise that startled Koopa.

"Wagh!" In shock, Koopa dropped his crystal, but quickly caught it with his other hand. "Phew!"

Daisy and Rosalina then caught up to Koopa.

"All right, Koopa! I can see Bowser on the island in the middle of the lake, so let's just get on the Dorrie already."

…
Team W-Shell:

Boom-Boom was using a spin attack to keep any and all bats away from his team as they went through the tunnel.

"Take that, bats!" Hammer Bro. threw a crystal at one bat, knocking it out and breaking the crystal. "Oh no! I thought it was my hammer! Yikes!"

Toadette shook her head. "Worse news. That wasn't your crystal! I'm holding your crystal! You broke Yoshi's crystal!"

"Waaah!"

"I thought we all picked up our own crystals when Koopa Kid broke the egg!"

"Don't blame me for your stupidity!"

"Well great, now only two of us have crystals left! Let's just hurry!" Toadette said.

The team walked along and saw a yellow Dorrie waiting for them. Koopa Kid ran up and hopped on its back.

"Onward to victory!" the minion cheered.

…
All Teams:

Team Zero made it to the island first, riding the blue Dorrie. Followed by Team Royal Green, and then Team W-Shell. Shortly after, Petey flew over to the island.

"Hey guys… here I am… tired." Petey plummeted onto the ground. Right on top of Waluigi.

"WAA!"

"Bwahaha! Everyone who still has a crystal, put them in the slots on the altar!"

Daisy, Koopa, Rosalina, Hammer Bro., Toadette, Blooper, and Dry Bowser placed their crystals in the slots on the altar Bowser was standing next to.

"YOU SEVEN CHOSEN ONES SHALL FACE THE MONSTER OF THE CAVERN!" a voice rang out.

"Yeesh! Who was that?" Koopa asked.

"It's the boss! Have fun! Bwahaha!" Bowser then laughed as the altar moved out of place, revealing a stairway. Fog emanated from the opening.

"Isn't it a bit unfair for one team to have an extra player?" Koopa Kid tattled.

"Well hey, maybe some of you shouldn't have dropped your crystals!"

The seven qualified players went on down. As they left, fire walls blocked off anyone else from entering.

…

Daisy, Koopa, Rosalina
Vs.
Hammer Bro., Toadette
Vs.
Blooper, Dry Bowser
Vs.
Bogmire

Game: Bogmire Bash
Players: Daisy, Koopa, Rosalina, Hammer Bro., Toadette, Blooper, Dry Bowser
Instructions: Bogmire is attacking you with his shadows! Give him a taste of his own medicine by knocking them back into Bogmire himself with good timing!
Controls: A (jump), B (punch), A+B (jump-kick)
Tips: "They'll be sent back to Bogmire after enough attacks, just remember that you can't attack once a shadow touches you, meaning you can't earn a point!"

Bogmire, a purple, gooey, ghost thing, stood in the center of a small, stony platform over a pit of lava. He was surrounded by all seven players, each at the end of an equally small and stony bridge.

START!

"Oooooh!" Bogmire moaned. He shed seven shadow copies of himself. Each went really fast towards the players. The players attacked for a brief period and managed to knock all of the clones back into Bogmire.

"Ooooh!"

Bogmire sent more shadows out to attack. Koopa and Toadette both accidentally got hit, disqualifying them for the rest of the round.

"Ow!"

"Oh no!"

Everyone else managed to knock a shadow back into Bogmire after enough attacks.

"Oooh!"

More shadows came out. Koopa and Toadette got hit again, but this time Hammer Bro. was also unlucky.

"Ow!"

"Oh no!"

"Nonono!"

Then everyone else got an attack in. Bogmire briefly turned red and moaned some more.

Team Royal Green - 7 points
Team W-Shell - 3 points
Team Zero - 6 points

"Oooooooh!" Bogmire dropped a bunch of podoboos before casting his shadows. Every player except for Hammer Bro. jumped over them.

"Hot! Hot! Hot!"

Getting hit with fire made Hammer Bro. vulnerable to the shadow, and while Blooper and Dry Bowser avoided the fire, they both accidentally got hit by a Bogmire shadow.

"Nonono!"

"Come on!"

"ROOOOAR!"

After being attacked by everyone else, Bogmire dropped more podoboos. Though this time, water was sprayed from a ledge high up, dousing all the flames.

"Thanks, Mr. L!" Toadette called.

"We appreciate the help." Rosalina said. Both of the ladies got hit with a Bogmire shadow.

"Oh no!"

"Ouch!"

Everyone else managed to send the shadows back into Bogmire.

"Ooooh!"

Bogmire was still mad. He dropped more podoboos, only for Mr. L to intervene once more. Hammer Bro. attacked too early and got hit with a shadow, while everyone else knocked theirs back into the ghost, defeating him.

FINISH!

Team Royal Green - 15
Team W-Shell - 6
Team Zero - 10

…
All Teams:

Bowser laughed. "Bwahaha! Even though Mr. L helped, Team W-Shell still failed miserably compared to the other teams!"

"Well it doesn't help that Team Royal Green had an extra member!" Waluigi complained.

"You could've just as easily helped us if you weren't an idiot and smashed your own crystal." Dry Bowser reminded him.

"The winners of this game are Team Royal Green by a longshot! Now take this pipe back to your airship!"

A pipe appeared and Team Royal Green went in, leaving the other two teams. Toad lowered down from the ceiling in his own copter.

"And now the Bonus Stars! Today's Happening Star goes to… Team W-Shell! The Travel Star goes to… Team Zero!"

"Wait, we all traveled the same distance!" Toadette said.

"Well Bowser really hates ties, so to avoid them, he's decided that if this star has a tie, it's given to the team who also went faster than the other one. Sorry."

"Bwahaha! And what fun would it be to tell you about that rule as soon as possible? No way, let it wait until it can surprise you the most!"

Toad continued. "And lastly, the Shop Star! … Nobody spent any coins, so it's a draw between the first two stars!"

"CURSES! I hate ties! Well… since Team W-Shell did worse at the boss game, they lose! Team Zero, get to your ship!"

Another pipe appeared, and Team Zero hopped in. Team W-Shell gulped.

"Well, first time you've all had to stay behind since the first day! But now your streak ends here! Everyone say who should go!"

"Hammer Bro.!" Koopa Kid eagerly cast his vote. Yoshi nodded in agreement.

"No way! Get rid of Toadette, she did bad too!" Hammer Bro. defended.

"Hammer Bro. annoying." stated Boom-Boom.

Toadette went last. "Well Hammer Bro. has a majority vote, so does it even matter who I vote for?"

"Nope!" Bowser said. "Say your goodbyes, Hammer Bro.!"

"But, I have so many things about my hammers that I've yet to share!"

A warp pipe opened under Hammer Bro.

"HAMMERRRRRRRR…"

The pipe closed while another one appeared, to take Team W-Shell back to their ship.

…

Back at Koopa Castle, the Koopa King was on his throne.

"Bwahaha! Today was great! I finally got to throw that annoying Hammer Bro. in the dungeon!"

"But dad, what do you think of Mr. L interfering again? Koopa Kid reported that Mr. L made him break his crystal, and he even helped down in Bogmire's tomb!"

"He did what? Curse him! As soon as we can finally capture Mr. L, he's toast! Hmm… Junior, get one of your brothers in here! I have an idea."

…

Mr. L was on the roof of Bowser's castle once more.

"Team W-Shell lost." the Green Thunder spoke.

"I was there. It's still not good enough. I assume you haven't told the other players of our alliance."

"No, I haven't a-done that… Dry Bowser."

Dry Bowser laughed. "Hahaha! Good!"

"I've only told Team Royal Green and Toadette of your betrayal as far as not actually being Bowser's pawn. I haven't a-told them about us.

"All right Mr. L, I'll ask Bowser where the next challenge is and then tell you."

"Okeydokey!"

…

Winners' Thoughts:

"Woohoo! Yeah! That was great!" - Daisy

"I actually went without breaking the crystal!" - Koopa

"I hope we can end this game soon." - Rosalina

"Meh." - Petey

Losers' Thoughts:

"We lost! I can't believe we lost!" - Koopa Kid

"Owowowow!" - Yoshi

"Boom-Boom happy that Hammer Bro. is gone." - Boom-Boom

"Mr. L told me that Koopa Kid is Bowser's only loyal insert left. Once we get rid of him, we're in the clear!" - Toadette

…

To be continued.

…

Remaining Players: Daisy, Koopa, Rosalina, Petey, Koopa Kid, Yoshi, Boom-Boom, Toadette, Blooper, Waluigi, Dry Bowser
Losers: Wario, Luigi, Birdo, King Boo, Shy Guy, Dry Bones, Hammer Bro.

A/N - Not that I got any comments wondering who Mr. L's informant was, but there you go. It's Dry Bowser.

A/N - Was it unfair for Team Royal Green to have an extra player in the boss? Probably. But I wanted to emphasize that the advantage really does come down to being skilled enough to keep the crystal safe.

(Want to leave a review? Great. Don't want to? Great. I'll field any comments, questions, concerns, and criticisms and take them into account. I'm open to improving on any faults in this story, if you spot any, for your reading pleasure. Just be polite.)