The Town

Villager slowly looked over the kart parked outside town hall, giving Mario the same straight line smile he gave the vehicle. "Thank you. I do very much appreciate the kart."

"It's-a no problem," Mario said. "Besides, Isabelle put together the spec."

Isabelle dashed around the kart. "I can tell you the exact specification if you like? We selected a lightweight, circuit special body for easy handling, with crimson red wheels suitable for the roads of the town. We've installed a plane glider should we need to take precautions."

"Don't forget-a bout your own kart," Mario said.

Isabelle jumped. "Oh, where did the time go? I've been so busy setting up the course I forgot about my own vehicle. Excuse me, I must go and prepare myself for the race tomorrow." Isabelle rushed up the steps to the town hall, almost tripping over Luigi who was sat eating an apple. Luigi went bright red, clumsily getting to his feet and apologising before standing by his brother.

The brothers' chat with Villager was interrupted by an unhealthy buzzing sound. Luigi coughed as the motorbike pulled in, smoke spreading forth from a cloud out of its exhaust pipe. Mario frowned as Wario and Waluigi laughed between themselves. "Wahl, wahl, wahl," Wario said. "If it isn't Fatio and Pooigi."

"Wah-ha-ha! Good one, Wario."

"There's no need for name calling, friend," Villager said in a calm, monotonous voice, his thin smile still plastered over his face as he stared at Wario. "We are all pals here."

Wario nudged Waluigi. "Who's this guy?"

"He's been at one of these grand prixs before," Waluigi said. "He's that creepy looking fellah, remember?"

"Creepy?" Luigi said. "The only person who is a creep around here is you, Waluigi. Daisy told me about those letters you sent her."

"You're just jealous I'm her number one." Waluigi jumped off the bike, stretched out his lanky legs and did a little tap dance. "Who could possibly resist all this?"

Wario wahed in appreciation. "You're so haht."

"You've never been number one of anything," Mario said. "The only reason you're-a even here is to make up the numbers."

"Watch it, moustache man," Wario said.

Mario rolled his eyes. "You have a moustache, as well."

"No, you. Besides. You'll be eating your words tomorrow when that prize money is mine."

"Prize money? There is no-a prize money. There never has been, ever."

"Oh yeah? Well, perhaps I'll just take that peachy little princess of yours instead."

"Hey." Mario marched forward, his thick eyebrows coming together as he prodded Wario in the chest. "Don't you talk about Peach like that."

Wario revved his engine. "I wouldn't poke a man whilst you're stood in the way of his bike."

Luigi worried, ooh-ering in the background. "I don't trust him, Mario. I'd move."

"He doesn't-a scare me." Mario continued to prod Wario as he revved is engine.

"My friends. Relax." Everybody turned and looked at Villager.

Wario nudged Walugi once more, muttering under his breath. "When did Baby Mario grow up into an axe murderer."

"I have an idea. Why not a little early competition? Why don't you each do a lap of the town? Just for a bit of fun."

Wario rubbed his chin. "You know, the axe murderer might be on to something. I'll tell you what, Mario. One lap each, around the entire town. The winner gets all the coins in the other's pockets. Do we have a deal?"

"Besides the fact I can see you don't even have pockets, I'll accept-a your challenge." Mario and Wario shook hands.

"He-he-he. Imbecile. I don't even have pockets."

"Yeah, I just said that…"

"Shotgun I go first. Come on Waluigi. You don't wanna have to stand around and talk to these losers." Waluigi took his place on the back of Wario's bike. They pulled up to the starting line, just beyond the town hall and before the bridge over the river.

The Villager set his stopwatch. "Go!"

The warm sunshine embraced Captain Toad as he walked through the trees, enjoying the tranquillity of the town. It was so nice to be able to walk through woods without having to worry about those pesky Goombas. It was a shame those buffoons Wario and Waluigi had zoomed passed him on the former's motorbike, lobbing a banana peel at his head as they did so. The blue sky was enough for him to immediately forget his embarrassment. He picked a tree and ate a sweet apple as he walked.

He wandered through Main Street, looking through the windows of every shop he passed. All the friendly animals waved at him as he went by. There was a squirrel, a hamster, a duck. There was even a dog sat by the fountain playing the guitar. He walked around the other side to the Mole who was yelling at people not to get too hasty about the race tomorrow.

He came to the empty beach at the bottom and listened to the soothing sound of the ocean, of the flowing liquids of the waterfall. Captain Toad let out a slow, relaxed breath, taking his place on a stripy sunlounger. This is the life, he thought to himself.

The sound of an engine came round the corner, and the kart whizzed passed him. "You go, Mario," Toad shouted, raising an arm. A cannon burst through the other side of the waterfall.

Mario screeched to a halt, looking over at the giant tank-ship rolling marks into the sand as it came towards him. The machine was grey, save for its red wings, and rolled along on tank treads. Mario defiantly looked down the barrel of its cannon.

Captain Toad jumped off his sunlounger. "No, Mario!"

A furry creature emerged out of a door in the top of the vehicle; Captain Toad could not see its face. It grabbed Mario in its claw, and the tank-ship rose into the air. Captain Toad gasped, sprinting forward. He jumped up, holding onto the tank treads of the machine as it blasted into the sky, flying over the ocean at the end of the town.