Chapter 2: The Plumber and the Swordsman

Link was shocked to hear someone's voice coming from the top of the cliff. It was not the thought of a stranger that worried him, but if whoever was up there was friendly. Not like Link had a choice at the moment.

Link- Who's up there? I could use some help.

Then Link saw a mustached man wearing red plumbers' clothes and a hat with an M on it.

Mario- What happened here? How did you get stuck there?

Link- Just help me up! I'm in a hurry!

Mario pulled out a rope, tied one end to a nearby tree, tied part of it around his waist, and jumped down the cliff to help. However, Link's grip on the treasure that was stolen by the Gorons slipped through his grip and dropped down into the canyon. Mario grabbed Link and pulled him back up, but Link's gaze followed the path of the fallen treasure.

Once everyone was safely on top of the cliff, Mario turned to Link.

Mario- What?! You almost fell off that cliff and now you want to go back down there?!

Link- Yes. That item I dropped belongs to a tribe in my homeland, Hyrule. And if I don't get it back by sunset, there will be a civil war. That's why I was in that predicament in the first place; I was trying to get it back.

Mario- I understand now. That is important. I guess you're a defender of Hyrule like how my brother and I are defenders of the Mushroom Kingdom. Would you like some help?

Link- Sure. I'm Link, by the way.

Mario- Mario.

Mario and Link managed to get to the lower parts of the canyon. As they looked for the treasure, Link told Mario about his adventures in Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. Mario also told Link about his adventures in Super Mario Brothers, Super Mario Brothers 2, Super Mario Brothers 3, Super Mario World, and Super Mario 64. Eventually, after searching for 2 hours, Link and Mario found the treasure lying on the ground. However, there was a suspicious amount of shade surrounding it. When Mario and Link went for it, out the shadows on the ground behind them, Ganondorf emerged and hit Link with a paralyzing spell from behind. Link fell to his knees.

Mario- Link! Are you alright?!

Link- My body…won't move right…

Ganondorf- How predictable. I knew you were going to show up here, Link. Consider this payback for almost chopping off my arm earlier.

Link- Ganondorf…you…asshole…

Ganondorf- But I was not expecting a second person to be with you.

Link was able to draw the Master Sword, but the paralyzing spell made it difficult for Link to move.

Mario- Link, let me deal with Ganondorf. You can barely move.

Ganondorf- How brave, but it's foolish to fight me. I am the great dark wizard, Ganondorf. Fighting me and the Triforce of Power is futile.

Mario- That's what they said about Bowser, and my brother and I defeated him.

Mario ate a fire flower to turn into Fire Mario. Ganondorf made two black swords appear from black smoke and charged for Fire Mario. Fire Mario dodged and tried to punch Ganondorf, but a barrier created by the Triforce of Power blocked it. Fire Mario then tried shooting fireballs and those managed to hurt Ganondorf.

Ganondorf- My piece of the Triforce can block his physical attack, but not those fireballs…

Fire Mario- What's the matter? Can't stand the heat?

Ganondorf- Guess I'll have to put out your fire.

Ganondorf suddenly shot s blast of water at Fire Mario and knocked Fire Mario against the wall and changed him back to regular Mario.

Link *thinks*- Mario won't last much longer. With Ganondorf using the Triforce of Power, Mario can't touch him.

That's when Link noticed the Master Sword was beginning to glow.

Link *thinks*- Of course! The Master Sword can fight against Ganondorf. But will it deem Mario worthy to wield it?

Link used what little strength he could pull together, stood up and held the Master Sword in the air.

Link- MARIO! CATCH!

Link threw the Master Sword into the air and Mario caught it. Then the Master Sword began to shine brightly. Link was amazed that the Master Sword had accepted Mario to wield it as well as himself. Ganondorf tried to strike at Mario, but Mario blocked with the Master Sword, then cut Ganondorf with it.

Ganondorf- That light! It burns!

Mario- Whoa! What kind of sword is this?

Link- The Master Sword…also called…sword of evil's bane…it has the power…to repel Ganondorf's dark magic…

Mario- Thanks, Link. Time to go in for the end game and finish his sorry ass!

Ganondorf was still dazed a bit from that attack, but when he finally came to, he saw Mario directly in front of him, slashing him with the Master Sword over and over again. After enough blows, Ganondorf opened up a portal behind him.

Ganondorf- You might've bested me now, but there is no way you will return the Gorons' treasure in time to stop the civil war!

Then Ganondorf escaped into the portal as the portal closes behind him. Suddenly, the paralyzing spell stopped affecting Link and he could move again.

*Somewhere else in the Mushroom Kingdom*

Link was on Epona's back and was ready to return to Hyrule with the treasure Ganondorf stole from the Gorons. Mario had already returned the Master Sword to Link and was wishing him the best of luck making it back on time.

Link- Thanks for all your help, Mario.

Mario- Don't thank me yet. You still have a deadline to keep and the sun is already starting to set.

Link- You're right. I better hurry. Until we meet again, my friend.

Link and Epona dashed off to return to Hyrule as quickly as they could. As for Mario, he decided to return to his house in near Toad Town

*Mario and Luigi's house*

Luigi was placing an icepack on his head, because he had a headache. Recently, he and Mario and Yoshi were in Kongo Jungle where they met and helped an ape named Donkey Kong. They helped Donkey Kong save his friends, but when Luigi asked how they were getting back home, Donkey Kong had shot them out of a barrel cannon, and launched them back to the Mushroom Kingdom. During the landing, Luigi hit his head and was spending all day with an icepack on his head, trying to do something about the pain. Luigi sat on the couch and turned on the TV while still holding the icepack on his head. Then Luigi heard the door open and saw Mario returning home.

Luigi- Mario, you sure have been gone for a while. Where've you been all day?

Mario- What a day I had today! You wouldn't believe it.

Mario told Luigi about Link and about what happened at the canyon.

Luigi- Sounds like you went through one hell of an ordeal.

Mario- I just hope Link made it on time. It's almost sunset.

Suddenly, Toad rushed into the Mario Brothers' house and ran up to Mario and Luigi.

Toad- Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach has summoned you! Bowser is up to something again!

*Somewhere in the Mushroom Kingdom*

Link was riding Epona and approaching the boarder back to Hyrule.

Link- Faster Epona! Our time is almost up! Hold on a second! What is that?

Link thought he saw something moving towards the Mushroom Kingdom in the distance. He pulled out a telescope to get a better look. What he saw shocked him.

Link- Oh no! Mario could be in danger! I know I have to bring this back to Darunia before sunset, but I can't leave my new friend after all he has done for me. What to do?