Chapter Eight:

He's Finally Back... and He's Booting You Out

Mario banged on the firewall, screaming with fear, as SMG4 and Meggy watched, confused and wondering what to make of the situation, aside from the fact they were separated with their friend in the Mushroom Kingdom and them outside the Mushroom Kingdom.

Cautiously and silently, the meme man approached the firewall, looking at Mario with a grave look of uncertainty, studying the force-field more closely.

"SMG4!" Mario wailed, "What's-a going on here?!"

He put his hand on the wall while Mario banged on it more intensely, the plumber's eyes were wider than ever and he appeared to be beyond terrified. Even Luigi looked uncertain, the green plumber was rubbing his forehead like he had a headache and he then clutched his head, muttering something about being dizzy.

"I don't know, Mario..." SMG4 said, "But we'll see what we can do to fix this. And I am very sorry for thinking you somehow caused this to happen."

"Mama mia! Why would you think-a that?"

SMG4 lowered his head, "And I can't believe I'm being reminded of when Francis kidnapped the Inklings to Anime Island for his wacky waifu project and we accused Axol of being the mastermind a few years ago."

Meggy punched a fist into her open palm. "Never mind that!" She yelled, "We need to break that barrier!"

She backed up, rotated her shoulder and ran towards the firewall with a battle cry. Meggy ran closer, leaped up with her arm arched back and threw her fist as the distance closed. But when she hit the field, nothing happened, except for a slight pain in her knuckles.

"Ow, ow, ow, ow!" Meggy dropped to her feet, clutching her hand and checking for bruises.

'Well, that went nowhere.' SMG4 thought with a shrug.

Everyone looked at each other as Meggy healed, they were just thinking of what to do when someone from above hollered, "Ha-ha! You idiots!"

The group's eyes widened. They knew that voice! Whirring helicopter engines flooded their eardrums and SMG4, Meggy and the Mario Brothers looked up to see a Kong Chopper coming down, piloted by an all-too familiar ape in a suit with a bandana and shades and a crazy grin.

"Is that...?" Meggy asked.

"No way!" SMG4 exclaimed.

Funky Monkey Nintendo Attorney:

-Lawyer Kong-

"That's right!" Lawyer Kong began singing, or, more technically, rapping; "He's finally back, he's launched his attack and he's come for you, to give you the boot!"

"I didn't think we would be seeing the likes of you again..." SMG4 quipped.

"Well, now you are." Lawyer Kong said with a sneer, "And I see you found the firewall."

"Hey! Whatcha think you're doing, you big monkey?!" Mario yelled.

"Yeah, how did we end up outside the Mushroom Kingdom and what dirty tricks are you pulling, you big ape!" Meggy angrily pointed her finger at the suit-clad Kong.

"What I'm doing is keeping you trash out!" Lawyer Kong replied, pointing at Meggy and SMG4.

"Hey! Who are you calling trash?" Meggy was furious, "Do you realize who you're talking to, I was an Inkling and I used to live in Inkopolis before that lizard turned me into a human.

"And I'm a Splatfest Champion who kicked serious ass out in the field a few years ago and became the first human to come out on top in Splatfest! What's the big idea anyway?"

Lawyer Kong stared down at Meggy and SMG4 with disdain, but looked at SMG4 more intensely than he was with Meggy.

"As I said, I'm keeping the trash out and turning everything back to how they used to be." He explained, "A long time ago, before he came to town, things in Nintendo Land used to be normal, it was just us making games about our mascot's adventures and it was a paradise. But the day SMG4 arrived, everything went downhill.

"With that big USB, Guardian Pod, whatever you call it, he spread his memes like a disease and everyone became stupid. And all we did was watch as the plague spread until it ruled the Mushroom Kingdom.

"We put up with it as best we could as long as our mascot and his friends kept making Mario games with us. Now, after watching SMG4's reign for too long, it's time to put the boot down!"

SMG4 looked offended. "I just wanted to make videos..." He said defensively, "And I was sent here to protect Mario. If it wasn't for my help, the world would have been destroyed by Zero."

"You and your fellow meme guardians brought that nightmare on the world and our headquarters was nearly destroyed during that meteor shower!" Lawyer Kong told the meme man, "Now, I have permission from Nintendo to make this wall that will keep you out and those on the other side will go back to their normal selves."

"YOU BASTARD!" Meggy yelled.

Mario scoffed, "There's-a no way we're gonna give in to him. Right, Luigi?"

He turned to his brother, who stood there frozen and silent. Mario, Meggy and SMG4 raised an eyebrow, wondering what was going on. Luigi's head was lowered and his body seemed to be shaking.

Mario became concerned and reached out for his brother, wondering what was going on, until Luigi raised his head with... an upbeat and colorful smile.

"Ready to save the princess, Mario?" Luigi asked.

The red Italian screamed with horror. Just like with Bowser, Toad and Peach, his brother had just been brainwashed by the firewall, reverted to the way he'd been before SMG4's guardian pod arrived in the Mushroom Kingdom.

Lawyer Kong laughed cruelly, "See ya, losers!"

Then the ape flew off, leaving SMG4 and Meggy to themselves as Mario wept while Luigi just smiled and waited for his brother to join him in saving Princess Peach from Bowser's clutches, just like old times. Meggy clenched her fist, thinking about Lawyer Kong's words, there was no way that ape was going to have his way.

"Hold on, Mario!" She yelled, "We'll get through that firewall if it's the last thing we do!"