Chapter 18

Mario had received praise for saving the Mushroom Kingdom countless times before, but that was nothing compared to the warm welcome he attained for saving the arcade in its entirety. Flanked by Peach, Toad and his seven companions, Mario found himself being practically carried back to the portal to Game Central Station.

Vanellope pulled up next to him in her Candy Kart. "Thanks, Mario," she said with utmost compassion. "You really are a hero after all."

"Thanks, Vanellope," Mario said sadly, with the knowing that he would never come back. It was time to go home.

However, there was one final task that had to be accomplished. Climbing aboard her saucer, Rosalina and Peach flew to the top of Waffle Cone Mountain. With the Power of the Stars combined with Peach's Wish Power, Rosalina cast a massive sphere of cosmic energy into the skies over Sugar Rush. As the sphere exploded, it rained Star Power down upon the game, eradicating Bowser's black magic and restoring the game to its former glory.

With the influence of Bowser gone and the train to Game Central repaired, the inhabitants of Sugar Rush returned to embrace its savior. Once again, Mario found himself surrounded by his numerous devotees.

"Hey, the game's back to normal!" said Rancis. "Nice going, Mario!"

"You did it!" exclaimed Jubileena.

"MARIO!" Amidst the hubbub, Luigi's voice had found Mario's ears. "We gotta head back, bro! The arcade's-a gonna open in five minutes!"

"He's right, Mario," said Felix. "We'd better move out."

With a look of sadness, Mario's eyes found the new friends he had come to know on his journey. "Y-you're not-a coming with me?"

"'Fraid not," said Ralph. "Saturday morning at the arcade… lots of quarters thrown our way… you know how it is."

"Same here," agreed Calhoun. "I have my own game to run over in Hero's Duty. But I don't pretend that I didn't have a blast in my time with this one." She smiled. "You did good, civilian."

"Mario! I'LL COME WITH YOU!" Candlehead screeched desperately.

"Er, you better stay here," Vanellope said quickly, elbowing her aside. "Besides, you won the daily roster race, didn't you?"

"Well… I guess I did…" Candlehead replied glumly.

Vanellope turned to face Mario one last time. "You don't have to leave, you know," she told him. "You could stay here and live in the castle, and race with us, and help to protect me."

Mario laughed. "Protect you?! I don't-a think the most-a powerful glitch in the arcade needs-a much protection. Besides, I've-a got my own princess to protect," he said, gesticulating towards Peach. "I'm sorry, Vanellope, but I have-a to go home."

"Will I ever see you again?" Vanellope asked sadly.

Mario thought to himself for a moment. "Well," he said after a long while, "There's a Mario Kart race at the Castle on Tuesday, if you and-a your friends wanna come. You all know where to find us!"

Vanellope leapt up and planted a kiss on Mario's cheek. "Thanks, Mario," she said again. "See you then!"

"And I'll see you too!" said Mario, removing his hat and bowing. "But you won't-a see me! Not when I'll be miles ahead of you!"

"Really!" she taunted him. "I hope you like dust, chumbo, 'cause you're gonna be eating a lot of mine on Tuesday! Just you wait!"

"Oh yeah? Well I-"

"Mario! Let's-a get going!" Luigi called out to him.

"Bye-bye!" Mario bade farewell the world of Sugar Rush as he, Luigi, Peach, Toad, Rosalina, Ralph, Felix, and Calhoun hopped aboard the 7:55 to Game Central Station.

…

A short ways away from the Mushroom Castle, two figures could be discerned against the bright blue sky- one riding a broomstick, and the other dangling by the end of it in desperation. As the pair flew overhead the Mushroom Plains, they spotted a lone figure trudging his way towards the Koopa Kingdom with his spiked back to them.

"Is that…?" Kamek asked his companion. "Could it be…?"

"Stomp my head if that's not King Bowser!" answered Boom Boom.

Kamek flew in low across the grassy plains of Mario Bros., where indeed his king was attempting to make his way home.

"King Bowser, sir! You're alive!" exclaimed Kamek. "How'd you get out of that…?"

"Long story," Bowser grunted. "Now, move over already! I need a ride back."

"Sure thing, sir!" affirmed Boom Boom. "Hey, listen to this! While we were in that other game, I came up with my OWN evil plan! Apparently, one of the racers there- the one with red hair- she's got an unlimited supply of cherries! If we kidnapped her, stole all her cherries and used 'em to get unlimited Super Stars- y'know, like in Super Mario Bros. 2- we'd be unbeatable! Sounds like a great plan, eh, sir? Sir…?"

With a defeated look in his red eyes, Bowser flung an agitated glance at Boom Boom. "Please," he grumbled, as the three of them flew into the sunset. "From now on, do me a favor, and just call me 'Boss'…"

…

Bowser may have been defeated, but that Tuesday a new battle was beginning to unfold- high above his kingdom. The finals of that week's Mario Kart Nitro Cup Tour were kicking off with Rosalina's home circuit- the notoriously challenging Rainbow Road.

This was no ordinary race, either- for the first time, the sweet racers of Sugar Rush joined the familiar roster of Mario Kart. Countless denizens of both games gathered together to watch what would surely be remembered as the race to end them all.

Among the many present was Ralph. "Go get 'em, 'Nelly!" he yelled.

"Teach 'em what's for, Mario!" called out Felix.

Hopping into his kart behind the starting line, Luigi asked the racer on his right, "Hey, what-a happened to my Star Coin? I never got it back…"

"Oh yeah! We forgot," replied Candlehead. "We'll have to do that on our way out."

Vanellope turned to her new best friend. "You ready for this?" she asked.

"Ready as I'll ever be," Mario answered her. "LET'S-A GO!"

And on his last word, an epic race- and an everlasting friendship- had begun.