Review Responses:

Moley Koopa - Yeah I like Boom-Boom's development. I think I could have done better with it, but I'm still happy. Of course now that he's a boss in New Super Mario Bros. U, that complicates things. Thanks for the review.

Pandamonium - I'm trying to cut down on the fourth wall humor (you should've seen me on Lemmy's Land and DeviantART), but I guess I couldn't help myself and slipped one in. I am very glad you felt that the song fit the train scenes. I listen to music when typing and thought 'huh that'd be good to write train scenes to', and it was so good that I felt I had to share it. And thank you for the compliment on originality, I always try to make my stories different, or at least different takes on common ideas. Most writers should do that. A late review is better than no review, so thanks for reviewing.

Owen96 - I'd like to work on this faster, but I've been bogged down by classes. Just be glad you're not following my Fullmetal Alchemist story, I've had that on hold for quite a while now, unfortunately. (Someday...)

AwesomeDragonGirl1601 - I'm glad you're enjoying this story.

bekbekah92 - I'm glad you're in suspense. As for Mr. L and Daisy? Well, I think the story can speak for itself.

Katieisawesome - I've made comma mistakes? Uh-oh. I'd better be more careful.

Freakshow - Well thank you for the suggestion, but I really believe my story is fine without an OC. I don't plan too far ahead with this story, so I can try to keep it fresh, but I do know that no direction this story can take would benefit from an OC. There are more than enough Mario characters (and even non-Mario characters like Koloktos), so I won't find much need for an OC.

One final note: As it turns out, Larry, Morton, Wendy, Iggy, Roy, Lemmy, and Ludwig are not truly Bowser's children, according to Miyamoto. … Kind of wrecks a few things in this story. I'm disappointed at this, but oh well. Since this has created a plot inconsistency, I'll be sure to address it in-story at the next opportunity. Also, I misspelled 'fourth wall' in the author notes last time. How'd I let that one slip?

Episode 12: Junker Chase
Location: Neon Heights
Game: Mario Party 7
Team Royal Green: Daisy, Koopa, Rosalina, Petey Piranha
Team W-Shell: Yoshi, Toadette
Team Zero: Waluigi, Dry Bowser
K. Kids Remaining: 3/3

Bowser sat upon his throne, specifically the throne designated to the Koopa Kruiser. Alongside him were Bowser Jr. and Kamek, the latter doing some paperwork. Bowser was not happy.

"Team Koopa Kid didn't win last time in Western Land in that stupid train race! I bring them in, and they fail me immediately!"

"But dad, even though Team Royal Green beat everyone, Team W-Shell still lost Boom-Boom! They're easy pickings now!"

"Maybe. There's got to be a way to get rid of more players. Once I get rid of Dry Bowser, and find a way to stop Mr. L from interfering, it'll be smooth sailing!"

Kamek looked up from his work.

"Sir, are you really sure that none of the other players can make it? Team Royal Green won last time didn't have much trouble at the claws of Team K. Kid."

"Yeah, but Team K. Kid only lost because Dry Bowser and Mr. L kept mucking things up! I swear, I'll put that Green Thunder in my dungeon if it's the last thing I do!"

Team Royal Green:

Daisy, Koopa, Rosalina, and Petey were sitting around in their personal airship.

"Man, we're awesome! We haven't lost a single player since KB, and all the other teams are down to two!" Petey boasted.

Rosalina contemplated this. "That is true, but while we have avoided voting off players on our team, we haven't won all the time. Of the past eleven games, we've only one four. Five, if you count the race that divided us into our teams. Which I don't."

"I'd sure hate to be on Team Zero. They've lost teammates faster, and when you think about it, they've only won once!" Koopa pointed out. Daisy turned her head.

"What?"

"They won back in Pyramid Park, and in Toad's Midway Madness. But the second one was only because Bowser was so frustrated that he picked their team at random. Team Zero's only legitimately won once."

Petey looked out the window. "Yayeah! Looks like we're hitting the big city!"

Everyone went to the window to see what Petey was referring to. It was true, outside were dark skies, many lights, and a bunch of skyscrapers.

Daisy winced. "Aw no. Don't tell me it's Neon Heights…"

All Teams:

Petey leaned in to whisper to Daisy.

"Hey Daisy, I'm not telling you that we're at Neon Heights… but here we are."

"… I noticed."

It was true. They all stood upon the shortest and emptiest of four large skyscraper roofs in a big city. One had a space station, one had a baseball field, another had a movie lot. Big hopes and dreams were high in the sky.

"Waluigi can't a-wait to see a movie!"

Yoshi licked his lips and eyed a fruit stand, but Toadette had to grab him and keep him from wandering off. Team K. Kid rolled their eyes at the idiocy of the other teams.

"Uhh… I didn't have a prepared introduction for Neon Heights…" Bowser started.

"Boss sure has things figured out." joked Green K. Kid to his clones, both of them laughing.

"Don't you dare go Blooper on me! Toad, give them instructions!"

"Okay then." Toad stepped forth and gave a whistle. A pink trashcan robot with arms, feet, and glowing eyes on the inside fell from the sky and landed in front of the teams.

"Say hello to the Junker! He's got a star inside of him. First team to catch him and beat him in a mini game gets the star!" announced the mushroom man.

"Seems easy enough." Koopa commented.

"Well obviously it's not going to be that easy!" Red K. Kid said.

Blue K. Kid nodded his head. "Yeah!"

"That's right! Because this guy gets a five minute head start! He'll run right into town and hide somewhere, and you all have to find him!"

Petey raised a leaf. "Isn't Neon Heights just four different skyscraper roofs?"

"Bwahaha! Good eye, Petey!"

"I don't have any-"

Bowser ignored Petey and kept speaking. "So he's going to hide in the actual city below!"

With that, Junker leaped from the roofs, and dived down into the sea of lights and cement below.

"And in five minutes, you all have to search for him by any means! And we're not leaving until at least one of you catches him! I have him rewired to take out the trash at my castle on weekends, so I need him back!"

Bowser and Toad hopped into their respective copter bowls and flew away. Everyone was silent, until Waluigi broke the silence.

"… So what's keeping us from going right now instead of waiting for the rest of the five minutes? … I'll just go now!" Waluigi started to run, but ran into an invisible wall. "Waaa!"

"That's what you get!" Kamek scolded, making his presence known.

Team Royal Green:

Team Royal Green was riding an elevator in a glass tube shaft, headed down to the city below.

"So Daisy, why don't you like Neon Heights?" Koopa asked.

"Eh, last time I was here, we were playing baseball, and my team lost."

"So if Luigi's hanging around as Mr. L, doesn't that mean technically we've only lost King Boo?" Petey asked. Rosalina shook her head.

"No, because Luigi is not participating in the game. He's merely assisting from outside."

"Can we quit going over our statistics for five minutes?" Daisy was getting annoyed.

Team Zero:

The elevator stopped.

"Hm?" Dry Bowser and Waluigi grunted at once.

The Koopa Kids were then in the next shaft over, and Green K. Kid was holding some oversized scissors. The kids went down, blowing raspberries at the other team when they were not giving each other high fives.

"I have a bad-a feeling they cut our a-power." Waluigi narrated.

Dry Bowser put a hand to his face.

"Ya think?"

Team W-Shell:

Toadette was riding Yoshi throughout the town, asking various Shy Guys if they have seen Junker.

"It's this big trash can, it's pink, and it flails its arms around a lot."

The Shy Guy she was asking shook its head.

"Drat."

"Yoshi?" Yoshi asked in his own way.

"I don't know, Yoshi. It seems like nobody's seen that robot. But where would a trash can robot be?" Toadette thought for a few seconds, until she finally had an idea. "Oh!"

Team Zero:

The team was still stuck in the elevator shaft, and Waluigi was beginning to panic.

"Waa! We'll never find Junker now, and we'll a-lose!"

"Calm down, you big baby! Just because we don't win doesn't mean we'll lose, it just means we might be able to lose! Though that would ruin my plan."

"To-a win and give me and all of the other Team Zero players castles?" Waluigi asked. Dry Bowser had forgotten about his lie.

"Uh, yeah, sure. (Idiot. You are so going in my new dungeon.)"

Team W-Shell/Team K. Kid:

Junker was in the city dump, putting random trash into itself, when Toadette and Yoshi spotted it.

"Aha! Let's go!"

"Heads up!" Green K. Kid dropped down from a ledge and landed on top of Junker just as Yoshi's tongue made contact with the robot.

"… Now what?" Toadette asked. Toad floated down in his copter.

"Now both of you play a game against Junker."

Game: Billistics
Players: Yoshi, Green K. Kid, Junker
Instructions: Run around to avoid the Bullet Bills!
Controls: Cross Pad (move)
Tip: "Sometimes a Bullet Bill will flash. It'll chase you for a while!"

The three players stood atop the tower.

START!

Bullet Bills began swarming the place. Green K. Kid had a close encounter after only a short time, but survived.

"Man, if only we could jump in this game." Green lamented.

They all kept the game going for a while, until Yoshi got hit with a Bullet Bill.

"Owowowowow!"

"Aww, did Yoshi get himself-" Green was interrupted via his own Bullet Bill.

FINISH!

Junker began flailing its arms and grabbed both Yoshi and Green K. Kid, and placed them within itself before running away.

"What just happened?" Toadette asked.

"Err… Bowser didn't want me to say this, but if you lose at challenging Junker, he captures you for the rest of your time here."

"Aw man!"

With that, Junker ran away.

Team Royal Green/Team K. Kid:

Petey was flying around the town while the two princesses and Koopa were riding on his head and forming a back-to-back triangle.

"Junker! Junker! Come out, come out, wherever you are!" Koopa called.

A blue fireball then knocked Daisy off of Petey's back.

"Whoooooa!"

In shock, Koopa and Rosalina looked to find Blue K. Kid standing on a rooftop with a smoking mouth.

"Neener-neener!"

Mr. L sprung high into the air, holding Daisy in his hands. He landed on Petey's head, set Daisy down, and leaped over to Blue K. Kid.

"It's not a-nice to a-spit fireballs."

"Just wait until we get Bowser on you!"

"L-ater!" Mr. L jumped on Blue K. Kid and used him as a springboard to get to a higher rooftop.

"Grrrrr!"

Rosalina turned to Daisy. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah, but I've had it with those Koopa Kids!"

"Sweet!" Petey announced. "There's the robot!" Petey quit flapping and dropped to the street, in front of Junker.

"Aha!" said Koopa.

"Gotcha!" said Daisy.

"Shiny Petey time! … Uh, I mean…" Petey fumbled. Rosalina hopped off and placed her hand on Junker.

Game: Camp Ukiki
Players: Rosalina, Junker
Instructions: The Ukikis have built an obstacle course! Race to the end for glory!
Controls: Joystick (move), A (jump)
Tip: "There are alternate paths, but being reckless on those can cost time!"

Rosalina and Junker found themselves at the beginning of a wooden obstacle course in a jungle, complete with a pole maze, platforms, and a zip line.

START!

The competitors took off through the course. But the affair took a turn for the anticlimactic, as Rosalina had a guaranteed victory. Alas, Junker was too big to fit through the obstacle course's first challenge, the pole maze.

"Wow… This is actually a little sad…"

FINISH!

"Looks like we won again! Whoooooooooaa-"

Bowser appeared, and he was furious.

"No! Who's idea was it to make that stupid game eligible for this challenge?"

"But we still won though, right?" Koopa asked.

Bowser roared. "No! That doesn't count! Ugh, I can't believe this!"

Blue K. Kid ran up to Bowser.

"Your Vileness! Mr. L attacked me!"

"GRAAAAAAA! I've had it! Kamek, get out here! Warp every player here!"

Kamek appeared and waved his wand. Red K. Kid, Green K. Kid, Yoshi, Toadette, Waluigi, and Dry Bowser all appeared behind Petey.

"We're gonna try this one last time! One more mini game, sudden death! Pick your players!"

Team Royal Green:

"I'll do it!" Daisy said. "I want a chance to knock those K. Kids down a peg!"

"Just be careful. It's possible our team will automatically be picked as the losers if you lose." warned Rosalina.

"Hey she's the most balanced of us, I say she gives it a shot!" said Petey.

Koopa nodded. "Yeah, I think Daisy has the best chance at winning. You go, girl!"

Team W-Shell:

"Yoshi, we can't afford to lose this. Do you think you can pull it off, or should I go?" Toadette asked.

"Hap! Hrrrrrrm!"

"You want to make up for losing that last game you were in?"

"Yoshi!"

Toadette nodded. "All right then."

Team Zero:

"We haven't done anything today!" Waluigi moaned. "Waluigi needs to show his stuff!"

"(Hmm. I'm guessing the players who actually compete in this game are the only ones who can risk defeat. I can't chance it, but the alternative is to risk competing in the future by myself… But it's too early to risk myself.)"

Waluigi was confused. "What are you thinking so hard about?"

"… All right, show your stuff, Waluigi! But you'd better win!"

Waluigi struck a pose. "Wahaha! I intend to!"

All Teams:

Bowser looked to Team K. Kid. "You guys pick your player?"

"Yep!" the terrible trio answered at once. Blue K. Kid stepped forth.

"All right, let's get this show on the road!" the Koopa King ordered.

"Don't mind if I do!" said a new voice. Suddenly, Bandit appeared. He bumped into Junker and stole the star. "I'll be taking this, see?"

"How dare you!" Bowser roared. Bandit ran off to a construction site. "Okay, new game! Get that star from that bandit! Hop to it!"

Daisy, Yoshi, Waluigi, and Blue K. Kid ran after Bandit.

Game: Construction Climber
Players: Daisy, Yoshi, Waluigi, Blue K. Kid
Instructions: Climb up to the top of the construction site to reach Bandit! First one to the top wins!
Controls: Cross Pad (move), A (jump)
Tip: "Watch out for barrels! Get hit with one and you're out!"

Bandit stood at the top of the construction site. The building was incomplete, made up of only girders on all four sides. One side for each player to climb. The girders were laid out in a specific format, familiar to those who know Mario and Donkey Kong well.

"You're not stealing this star I stole! This is revenge for messing with me in Pyramid Park!"

START!

Each player started climbing, and Bandit started throwing barrels at each player from his platform at the top.

"Get back!"

Daisy jumped over a barrel. "Whoa!"

"Waaah!"

"Waaa!"

"Yikes!" Blue K. Kid yelled.

"Grrr! Just back off already!" Bandit was getting angrier. He started throwing barrels more quickly. Then a barrel finally hit Daisy.

"Oof!" The princess was escorted away via Lakitu.

Yoshi jumped over a barrel with relative ease, and then over a barrel coming right after it. "Yoshi!"

Waluigi jumped over a barrel. "Waluigi time!"

"Nonono!" Unfortunately for Blue K. Kid, he could not jump over his next barrel.

It was down to just Yoshi and Waluigi, at that point. They were both excelling at jumping over barrels, but in the end, Waluigi was quicker to reach the top.

FINISH!

"Wahaha! Waluigi told you he was the best-a! Wa!" Waluigi jumped onto Bandit's head and forced him to drop the star. "Waluigi's number one!"

All Teams:

Bowser was mad again. Waluigi offered the star, but Bowser swatted it away.

"Grrrrr! Curse you, Blue Koopa Kid! How dare you fail me! You and your twins get back to your ship! You too, Team Zero!"

Everyone who was supposed to leave has left.

"Wait a minute, Team K. Kid lost the challenge too, shouldn't one of them stay behind?"

"No! Yoshi, Toadette, get lost! Today's the day Daisy goes to the dungeon!"

"What?" Daisy asked. Toadette and Yoshi had not left yet. They gasped, as did Daisy's teammates.

"I told you it was sudden death! Time for this daisy to get plucked!"

Rosalina was saddened. "I was led to believe that Daisy losing sudden death meant that our team would automatically lose, not just Daisy."

Bowser started laughing. "Well you thought wrong!"

With that, a warp pipe appeared under Daisy.

"I'll get you for this Bowseeeeeeeer…!" The pipe disappeared as her last words echoed.

Koopa gulped.

"Huh. So much for not losing more people." Petey commented.

"Get back to your ships!" ordered Bowser.

Team W-Shell and the remains of Team Royal Green all fled. Then Bowser noticed something odd.

"Wait, where's Junker?"

Long after everyone has left Neon Heights, Mr. L came out from hiding in an alley.

"Mamamia! He got Daisy! Bowser, you'll-a pay for this!" Mr. L cried.

As Mr. L leaped away, Bandit came out from hiding.

"Okay, now to just follow him!" Then Bandit heard a noise. "Wait, what? What sounds like running?"

The blue thief turned around and noticed a frantic Junker heading right for him.

"Oh man! Help!" Bandit started running away, chased by a frantic Junker.

Team W-Shell:

"I can't believe he was so mean to Daisy." Toadette told Yoshi on their ship.

"Yoshi…"

"You think he's trying to bait Mr. L?"

Yoshi shrugged. He figured that Bowser was too dumb to know Mr. L's real identity, let alone use it to his advantage, but it was uncertain.

Winners' Thoughts:

"Waluigi has proven it! He is the most useful! Wahaha!" - Waluigi

"I'll admit, Waluigi's not as bad as I thought. And with their most competent physical player out of the way, the Royal Greens are going down!" - Dry Bowser

Losers' Thoughts:

"Oh man, things are heating up!" - Koopa

"I will miss Daisy very much." - Rosalina

"Oh man, Mr. L's totally gonna thrash Bowser now! This'll be awesome!" - Petey

To be continued.

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

Author's Notes:
So it's been, what, three months since the last update? I'm sorry, but like I said. Classes. And I might be even busier next semester, so I'd better churn out as much as possible during Christmas break. If I'm up for it. Can't write it well if I don't want write at all.

It really doesn't help that I had a writer's block in addition to all of this. I think after this story and Kingdumb Hearts II, I should just stick to shorter stories for a while. Doing two full-length fics isn't easy, especially since I had to put a third one on hold. (Someday...) Another reason this chapter was delayed was because I just couldn't think of a good challenge. Even after thinking of a challenge though, I feel that this one wasn't as good as some of the others. So I'm sorry if this one isn't up to my standard.

So yeah… Daisy. Sorry, but I needed her to be removed from the game. But as a consolation prize, I can promise that she'll get the last laugh over Bowser in the end, when things eventually go bad for him. I mean come on, it's Bowser, of course he'll lose in the end. It's just a matter of who beats him and how.

Only now do I see the irony of this chapter. At the start, Team Royal Green kept talking about how they weren't losing a lot of players, and how Team Zero had only won once. Can't say that anymore. But Waluigi almost didn't win. It didn't matter to me whether he or Yoshi won the game, but I decided to throw him a bone. And also, look at that, I finally did that boss-free chapter I've been meaning to do.

Also another update. I'm changing the character listings in this story from 'Bowser and Toad' to 'Bowser and Mr. L'. I think Mr. L's doing more to contribute to the story than Toad, don't you?

(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 this story for your reading pleasure. Just be polite.)