Author's note: Before we begin this chapter, I'd like to thank everybody who submitted their OC to my story. For Princess Peacock, that backstory would normally be considered a little too dark, but lucky for you, this story is rated T and not K+, so I can accept it. And for AvalorianJaquin, it's awesome that your OC is friends with Kludd as I, too, liked the Legend of the Guardians movie, but unfortunately, the movie was made by Warner Brothers and Village Roadshow, neither of which are linked to Universal, so he cannot be part of the Epic Universe.
After the whole ordeal with Bowser and meeting Azrael, Alex decided to return home and relax for the evening. The next day, it was time for him to start exploring the rest of the Epic Universe, starting with the place he had been the most excited to visit: Super Nintendo World! Having grown up with franchises like Super Mario and Pokémon, it was only natural that such a place would be a dream come true for him! That's the reason he decided to take on the appearance of a Koopa Troopa, after all.
Alex looked all around him with wonder in his eyes, admiring the landscape based on various locations of the Super Mario franchise, most specifically, the Mushroom Kingdom. Green pipes were sprouting from the ground, golden coins were floating everywhere, waiting to be collected, and mushrooms of all sizes and colors were decorating the entire place! It was so tempting for Alex to just start running all over the place and smack the mystery blocks to see what power ups were inside. However, he remembered that Azrael asked him to try and bond with characters whilst also helping as much as he could.
"Alright, how am I going to help around here?" the young man wondered as he rubbed his chin. "Obviously, my destination of choice should be the Mushroom Kingdom; there's always trouble going on there. Maybe I'll even get to meet Mario or Princess Peach!"
His mind made up, the young man traveled all the way over to the Mushroom Kingdom. He couldn't stop his excitation from rising up when Peach's Castle came into view. Unfortunately, barely did he take a few steps toward the castle that he found himself surrounded by angry-looking Toads, who pointed their spears at him.
"Don't move, Koopa Troopa! We won't let you invade our kingdom again!" declared a peculiar Toad wearing a beige explorer's outfit with a headlamp wrapped around his mushroom.
Okay, maybe showing up in the Mushroom Kingdom as a Koopa wasn't a good idea. "C-Captain Toad?" Alex asked. "It's really you! I remember; your first appearance was in Super Mario Galaxy, my favorite game of the series! Sorry if I haven't played your game yet."
"Why did you come here? Did Bowser send you to capture the princess?" Captain Toad questioned.
"Wait, I'm not part of Bowser's army; I'm a guest! Here, look." Alex showed them his Power-Up Band that he bought at the entrance.
Captain Toad grabbed his arm and analyzed the item. "Hmm... Seems like it's a real one alright." He ordered his fellow Toads to raise their spears away from the guest. "Forgive our reaction, my good sir. But the people of the Mushroom Kingdom are on edge these days because of some outside trouble."
"It's okay, no harm done," Alex assured. "If you don't mind me asking, what kind of outside trouble are we talking about, exactly?"
"We're talking about Goombas and Koopas roaming around the kingdom," one of the Toads replied. "They've been here for quite a while now."
"Is there a lot of them?" Alex asked.
"Not really; they're just a little group. Nothing that we, Toads, can't handle on our own. That's why we didn't request assistance from Mario nor the princess," Captain Toad explained.
"Can I help you with this situation? One of my friends requested that I give my assistance to as many people in the Epic Universe as possible," Alex asked.
Captain Toad seemed a bit surprised by this demand. "A guest that wants to help against Bowser's army? That's quite rare. But, huh, have you ever dealt with this kind of situation before?"
"Nope. But I know the golden rule against enemies in this world: if they don't have spikes on their head, just jump on them, and everything'll be fine," Alex said with a chuckle.
"Well, I guess there's no risk in getting some assistance," Captain Toad deduced, the other Toads nodding in agreement. "Very well, you may help us. I want you to go patrol around the Mushroom Kingdom and let us know if you find the enemy group or anything that seems out of the ordinary. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!" Alex replied, doing a military salute before getting on his way.
Alex hummed the Super Mario Bros theme song to himself as he patrolled the magnificent landscape of the Mushroom Kingdom, hopping from one place to the other and collecting coins on his way. That would be the dream for anyone wanting to make money, but unfortunately, these coins could only be used to buy things in the Mushroom Kingdom or at the Super Nintendo World souvenir shops.
Reaching the Desert Land from Super Mario Bros 3, Alex took out his water bottle and took a good sip before hearing a strange noise. He walked over to the edge of a cliff and was surprised to see a large group of Goombas and Koopas gathered down below. There had to be at least twenty of them.
"That must be them," Alex deduced, pulling his water bottle back in his backpack. "It seems a bit small for a group to try and assault the Mushroom Kingdom. I wonder what they plan to do..." Before being able to do anything, the young man felt his cap getting snatched off his head, a figure floating away from him with it. "Hey! That's my cap! Come back here!"
Alex began chasing the thief, struggling to catch up because said thief could float over the ground. Understanding that running wasn't gonna help, Alex decided to change tactics and tossed one of the coins he had collected, connecting straight with the back of the thief's head. He collapsed on the sandy ground, dropping Alex's cap in the process. "Ouch! That hurt!" he whined.
Picking his cap back up, Alex now took the chance to analyze who tried to steal from him. A rather strange physic, as he looked like a white top hat with blue wisps of hair and large eyes with red irises. He rubbed the back of his head in pain, looking at Alex with comical tears in his eyes.
"Don't throw things like that at me! Don't you know how easily I bruise?!" the strange character exclaimed.
"Sorry, but you're the one who stole my cap. That's not very nice either," Alex remarked. He gave the character a good look before gasping. "Wait a minute! You're Cappy! From Super Mario Odyssey!"
Cappy blinked his eyes before floating off the ground and staring at Alex. "Yes, Cappy, in the leather and...whatever material I'm supposed to be made of!" He gave a good look at the Koopa Troopa before continuing. "Judging by your attire and Power Up Band, I deduce you're a guest, right? Sorry about what I did; I thought you were one of Bowser's soldiers sent on a reckoning mission."
"You deduced correctly," Alex mused. "I was just visiting Super Nintendo World, when Captain Toad informed me that there was trouble going on with a group of Bowser minions. Those guys at the foot of the cliff."
For some reason, Cappy sighed sadly at this. "I'm afraid there's been a huge misunderstanding, my friend. Those guys aren't with Bowser - at least, not anymore. They ran away from his fortress and came to seek refuge in the Mushroom Kingdom. Unfortunately, the Toads aren't really happy to see their species around here, so they chased them away without even allowing them to say a word."
"Really? Well, considering Goombas and Koopas have been helping with Bowser's schemes even since the very first game, that was to be expected," Alex said with rubbing the back of his head. "I mean, they also held me at spear's point because of my appearance."
"That doesn't mean every Gooma and Koopa is automatically evil!" Cappy protested. "Mario teamed up with Goombella during the whole Thousand-Year Door fiasco! And she wasn't alone; there was also Koops with him, both of them helped Mario on his quest! I know that Goombas and Koopas don't have the best reputation here, but these guys shouldn't be punished for it!" He sighed and rubbed his eyes. "I tried to find Mario or Princess Peach to solve this situation, but I can't find them anywhere! Being a hero and a princess must mean having a busy life..."
"You make good points here..." Alex snapped his fingers. "I know; how about we go see those guys and bring them before Captain Toad so that we can find a solution together? You're one of Mario's companions, so I'm sure they'll listen to you."
"You think that would work? Okay then!" Cappy floated to the edge of the cliff. "Let's go talk to them!"
Alex slid down the cliff whilst Cappy ascended with ease, the two of them carefully approaching the group of former Bowser minions. "Look out, everyone!" one of the Koopas exclaimed, pointing at the newcomers. "It's Mario's cap friend who ruined Bowser's wedding! And he brought one of Bowser's soldiers with him!"
"Whoa, whoa, easy there!" Alex eased them down. "We didn't come here to cause you trouble! We actually know about your situation and would like to help you however we can!" The group exchanged looks and approached the duo to better listen. "Cappy here is a good friend of Mario, so he could convince the Toads to let you stay in the Mushroom Kingdom. All you have to do is follow us."
"And how do we know we can trust you?" a Goomba asked.
"You can't know; all you can is doing it," Alex replied. "Come on, you don't have anything to be afraid of!" To back up his claim, he gave them a friendly, confident smile, like those we see in anime and manga.
The group once again exchanged looks and debated on what to do until one of the Koopas spoke: "Come on, guys; what do we have to lose at this point? If one of Mario's friends is willing to stand for us, it'd be stupid to let that opportunity slide." The creatures all agreed on that point. "Okay, we're with you!"
"Awesome! Let's get on our way then!" Alex beamed.
With that being settled, Alex and Cappy began going back to the Mushroom Kingdom with the little pack behind them. It would take them a while to reach their destination, so Cappy decided to float closer to Alex and engage a conversation.
"You still haven't told me your name, have you?"
"No, I didn't. It's Alex Russo."
"So, Alex, tell me a little about yourself. Did you come here because you're fond of the Mushroom Kingdom and its other worlds?" Cappy questioned.
"You bet!" Alex replied with enthusiasm. "Super Mario has been part of my life for as far as I can remember! One of the first games I ever played was the original Super Mario Bros on the NES my mother owned. It was the 2-in-1 cartridge that came with Duck Hunt, which I tried to play as well... But I didn't have a Zapper, so every time, I was forced to look at that stupid dog laughing at me..." He took a deep breath to calm down. "My favorite Mario game, as well as one of my most favorite games of all time, is Super Mario Galaxy - I never managed to explain why, but this game just felt like a magic experience both the first and last time I played it."
"Oh yeah, I remember, that's the story where Mario goes to space with that little star thing taking refuge under his hat!" Cappy exclaimed. He then rubbed his nonexistent chin. "Now that I think about it, with me and that little star, it makes a lot of people that take residence in Mario's hat. Strange..."
"I also played Super Mario Odyssey, your game. While I didn't enjoy it as much as Galaxy nor have I ever truly finished it, it was still fun and the very first Switch game I ever played," Alex continued. "Say, what did you do after the game ended?"
"After defeating Bowser with Mario, I returned to my home of the Cap Kingdom with my sister, Tiara. We've been living there ever since - I sometimes pay a little visit to Mario or answer his calls for help when needed," the floating hat explained. He then gave a nonexistent smile. "You know, with your energy and willingness to help others, you kinda remind me of Mario."
As soon as they entered the Mushroom Kingdom's territory, the group was met by Captain Toad's squad, all of them rising their weapons upon seeing the Goombas and Koopas. "Here they are! Good job on finding them, Alex! Now, we can chase them from the kingdom!"
"No, wait!" Cappy said, getting between the two sides. "Captain Toad, it's me, Cappy! I wanted to tell you that these guys escaped from Bowser's Fortress and simply want to move in the Mushroom Kingdom!"
"What?" the captain said in disbelief. "What are you talking about? They are from Bowser's army, correct?"
"In the past, yes," Alex replied, joining Cappy. "However, they have changed their ways and want to start a new life. Don't forget that Mario did team up with Goombas and Koopas before, some of which sided with Bowser before changing their mind. I say we should at least give them a chance."
Captain Toad stared alternately at Alex, Cappy and the group behind them. Eventually, he came up with a decision. "Well, I guess there's no harm in trying. We can allow them to live in the Mushroom Kingdom for the time being. However, it's only temporary, as Princess Peach will be the one to decide your fate. And if you do anything even remotely suspicious, I will kick you out. Understood?"
"We can live with that," one of the Koopas replied, everybody letting out cheers of joy.
As the Toads escorted the newcomers to where they would stay in the Mushroom Kingdom, Alex and Cappy watched with smiles, the floating hat chuckling. "It makes me so happy to see how far this kingdom has come. If we were back in the 80s or 90s, Mario would've simply come to stomp all these guys away without any question."
"True. But, luckily, people are capable of changing for the best," Alex said with a nod. He then shook hands with Cappy. "It was nice to meet you, Cappy! There's nothing better for me than to meet heroes from my video games with whom I used to team up! I must go now, but don't hesitate to call me if you guys need help in the Mushroom Kingdom, okay?"
After giving his phone number to Cappy, it was time for Alex to part ways with his new friends. Since there was still time remaining before the end of the day, the young man simply walked around Universal Studios, buying souvenirs and getting snacks, whilst also trying to get more familiar with the place. Then, when the sun started setting, it was time to leave.
Alex played some games on his cellphone whilst waiting for his bus to get him back to the Endless Summer Resort. A smile on his face, he thought about the fact he solved a conflicting in the Mushroom Kingdom and teamed up with a Mario partner for his second day in the Epic Universe. Surely Azrael would be happy of this result. Lost in his thoughts, he jumped when his cap was once again snatched and taken away.
"Not again!" Alex groaned and ran up, this time catching the thief much faster. "What are you doing here, Cappy? Why did you follow me?"
"Re-hello, Alex!" the floating hat chuckled. "I came here because... Well, I actually had a lot of fun with you today. Plus, you seem really genuine about helping people around the Epic Universe, something that I haven't seen often amongst guests. Like I said, this attitude reminds me of Mario - I really miss going on adventures with him, y'know?"
"And so...?"
"And so, I'd like to follow you on your journey!" Cappy exclaimed. "I'm sure we can make an awesome duo and overcome any challenge together, like I did with Mario! What do you say?"
Alex blinked his eyes at this. Teaming up with one of Mario's allies to bring good across the entire Epic Universe? That seemed like a dream scenario! Plus, Azrael did say he would need to form bonds with characters. "That's a great idea! However, if you want us to become friends, you're gonna have to pass a serious test."
"A test?" Cappy questioned. He didn't know what idea the Koopa had in mind, but he hoped it wouldn't be too hard.
"Yes, a very serious initiation test. You have to...," he reached his fist forward with a smile, "...exchange the Bump-Fist of Friendship with me!"
Cappy blinked his eyes in confusion. "... A bump-fist? That's all?"
"Dude, bump-fists are sacred; it's a sign of friendship and mutual respect between individuals! If we are to become friends, then it's a bump-fist or nothing," Alex explained with a comically serious tone. Cappy hesitated, but eventually shrugged and reached Alex's fist with his own. "Amazing! We're friends now!"
The two chuckled before Cappy went to take residence under Alex's cap. A new friendship was born, destined to make a change in the Epic Universe.
Author's note: Alex made his very first friend in the Epic Universe: Cappy from Super Mario Odyssey! While I never finished it, it was the very first game I ever played on Switch, as Alex stated in this chapter. So, it still feels special to me. I personally would've paired Alex with a Luma from Super Mario Galaxy, but Azrael stated in his call to Gabriel in 'Dream Keeper Chronicles' that Alex is partnering up with Cappy, so I must respect continuity.
You may have noticed similarities in this chapter with TheDragonSaver's 'Living in the Magical World' chapter 2 'Hyenas in the Boneyard'. It actually served as inspiration because I don't think every Goomba and Koopa is necessarily evil - Mario did team up with them in the past. So I thought it would make a good first conflict for Alex and a good way to meet his first Epic Universe partner. Let's just hope he won't abuse Cappy's ability to possess others' body.
I'd like to point out a funny detail for this AN: turns out that there is actually a Disney character called Alex Russo, she is the protagonist of Wizards of Waverly Place. Huh, what do you know, the world is full of surprises!
Since I'm not as familiar with Universal's Epic Universe as much as I am with Disney's Magical World, I'd like to get suggestions on where Alex and Cappy could go, what they could do and if there are any Universal properties I don't know of they could interact with. At least giving me some direction.