Mushroom Plains
Five karts take a tour through the plains, spotting flowers spread all over, rolling green grass, and even Question Blocks.
"Just what we need!" Mario's got a grin as he pumps the brakes.
The crew comes to a stop and leaves their vehicles, but there's a problem ahead…So. Many. Warp. Pipes. Of every color under the sun.
The Doctor checks his wrist. "Check your trackers."
The crew do, and Daisy isn't happy. "Wh—the signal's gone!"
"Hmm…" the Doctor gets an idea though. "The signal got us here, but all of a sudden dissipates around these pipes. I don't know where these pipes lead but it'll be a risk we have to take."
Mario brushes a green pipe. "Any of these could lead us to that star. If we enter and the signal comes back, we're good..but there's a lot of work to do. We've gotta try as much as we can."
Sweat drops from Luigi's head. "Again?"
Mario takes his hand. "We're doing it. Brace for impact." He throws his brother up the pipe, and he slides right in. The man in green points his only light source. "Oh come on, Mario!"
"You'll be fine!" The last thing Luigi sees is his thumbs up. All he can offer is one back as he sinks down.
Daisy turns to the dinosaur. "Two people can enter at once. We don't have to split up you know." The Princess looks at a yellow pipe in the distance. "Two is better than one."
The Yoshi throws her on his back, and flutters up a Blue pipe.
Before they can even go down, the doctor calls out to them. "Hey! I know I don't usually go on these adventures, but hear me out: Shouldn't we all go alone to cover more ground?"
Daisy sticks two fingers up. "Sorry doc, but we need numbers just incase the worst happens! Mario speaks highly of you, so I'm sure you'll be fine!"
As they slide down the pipe, the Doc hangs his head down. "Well I need to step my game up anyways." He sees Mario hop onto a red pipe. "You'll be good right?"
"Haha! Of course!" Mario says. "I know you'll be ok. If you can survive hours of surgery, a fight should be ok!"
"That's..not how it works but I'll make it back."
Mario waves his cap as he slides down. The Doctor looks at another green pipe in the distance and heads for it…
Who knows where our heroes will end up?
Unknown Location
A pipe shows up, as the table of two rise from it. They hop down and get a look at their surroundings. There are quite a few mountains around. There's even waterfalls around, the h20 adding itself to a big river.
"Wow…" Yoshi's enamored. "This would be a great vacation spot!"
Daisy's just looking around with a smile. "It's beautiful. This could be a hotspot."
"We'd love the competition."
In a survey of Yoshi's Island versus whatever this place is, it could go either way.
They continue their walk around, but come to a staircase with four pendulums up top. On it..is a shining green jewel, bigger than your average one. The princess pulls her tracker out, and the dinosaur decides to check his own as well.
"Damn. Not picking anything up." Daisy mutters.
Yoshi frowns. "Guess it's a walk back to the—"
BAM!
Yoshi crashes into a tree! Daisy turns, and BARELY sidesteps a punch from a spiky white glove! She steps back to get a good look at the attacker..
It's a red echidna? Strange.
"Why?!" Daisy shouts, and the aggressor stops himself. "We we're just looking for some power and you came in like a bat out of hell!"
The echidna raises his fist. "Do you people think my duty's a joke?"
The princess catches a look at the jewel.
It looks powerful so of course there has to be a guardian. But that's not the mission. We need to get back home.
"If your duty's to guard that jewel, you're doing a bad job just leaving it open!"
The echidna takes a step forward. "Hm. Since you're eying the emerald up AND running that mouth, it's time I show you why they trust me to guard it." he cracks his knuckles. "You may be royalty but I'm about to knock you down the ladder."
Daisy's takes her gloves off, vicious intent in those eyes. "Then knock me down."
"Gladly!"
The echidna charges forward. She doesn't back down and heads right for him. The two lunge at each other…
Meanwhile, Doctor Mario exits his pipe, and it's not a good sight. A city is burning. Screams of the innocent are heard as a giant shadow casts over the Doctor.
He looks up, and sees a floating octopus with eyes ALL OVER its body. Hundreds of eyes stare at him.
"Nope."
He heads right back where he came.
Luigi exits his pipe, and it's like a nightmare come to life.
The sky is a dark purple, Boos are floating everywhere. He checks his tracker, sweating as he goes. No signal, so he doesn't have to stay.
He'll be glad in the long run, because giant yellow eyes are staring down the plumber.
"If it isn't Luigi Mario…"
He looks up, to see those eyes with HUNDREDS of ghosts behind it.
.
.
.
"AAAAAAAAHHHH!"
He heads right back in his pipe, retreating like the doctor before.
Two retreats from Luigi and the Doc don't set a good precedent. The status of Daisy and Yoshi are unknown, so that leaves Mario left in this rotation.
He steps out of his pipe, and he's got quite a sight. A crocodile is chasing around a creature with orange fur and blue shorts. The animal roars as the bandicoot goes so fast he trips over himself!
Mario checks his tracker. "Hmm..nothing." Instead of leaving though, he runs right in and stomps on the crocodile's head! It's stunned, and the plumber takes off for the pipe.
As he runs off, the bandicoot kips up and just watches him leave. He looks at the plumber, then crocodile.
Plumber, crocodile. This is puzzling the bandicoot, but before he can get any answers, Mario's already gone.
Overworld, Mushroom Plains
Three people arrive back, all in the family. There has been more pipes tried than just those, but
"Got nothing." Mario admits. "Had to stomp a crocodile, he was going after a innocent…I don't know what to call it."
"Yeeeaah. I don't want to talk about what I saw." Luigi adds.
The Doc sighs. "I can't even begin to explain what I saw. If a pipe can lead to THAT, we better hope that Power Star's in a safer place."
Mario brushes his overalls off. "It's never that easy."
Luigi's eyes widen, the realization hitting him. "Oh no…where are the others?" He looks around, but the more he can't see them, the more he shakes.
His older bro comes to his side. "They're fighters, they'll be ok. For all we know they'll be back in a few."
All he can really do is take Mario's word. "Yeah…you could-a be right."
While the two brothers were talking though, their cousin, and not in-law like E. Gadd joked, has a theory. "Have we checked any red pipes at all?"
The older brother tilts his head. "Huh? Color doesn't usually matter.'
"We've all struck out using the same-colored pipes. I'm sure these pipes go by random, but I find it convenient we haven't found anything yet." The Doc theorizes. "If it's too far fetched, I'll eat my words."
Mario adjusts his cap. "Let's find out."
Instead of splitting up, the three come together in a red pipe. None know what exactly they are going to see back there, but if the Doctor's theory is correct, and a Power Star is in one of them, then there's power in numbers.
"I hope those two are ok…" Luigi remembers. "Splitting up wasn't good, Mario."
Mario swallows his pride this time. "..no more splitting up. That wasn't a great plan."
They all hop in, one after the other. Given where they go next, there's no guarantee they come back up.
Underground
The three exit their pipes, but there's not much to see because there's little light at all! Doctor and Luigi use their flashlights, while Mario uses his fireball.
Clack.
They move forward, and Luigi's not comfortable. "Um…guys?"
"Shh. Don't give us away.." the Doc whispers, as the plumber in red looks at the tracker.
"I got a signal…"
Luigi tries to raise his fist, but the Doc grabs ahold of that too. "No sudden movements.."
"Can't I celebrate?"
Mario joins the whispering. "Noise will give you away, stop arguing."
Clack.
.
.
Clack.
.
.
Clack.
That sound only gets closer, as there's a dark path ahead, with a purple-crystal like bridge leading them there. Mario stops the group as a Piranha Plant lunges from the pipes, but can't get far enough.
The three duck, and move past that obstacle. Luigi's foot hits something, and he jumps! But it's just a Glow Block, and he picks it up, and shakes it to add more light.
They don't get very far in their quest, as two red dots suddenly appear in front of them. Unfortunately, those aren't dots as that clacking sound returns, getting louder as those dots move forward.
Clack.
.
.
Clack.
.
.
Clack.
"Mario brotherssss.."
Those are eyes. Eyes from Dark Bones, with his dark body. The only source of light comes from his eyes, gloves, and shoes..yet even then, those crimson eyes stick out the most.
White bones come flying out and knock the flashlights from two hands! Mario sends a fireball at the source..but it does absolutely nothing. Before he can spawn another fireball, a red shell comes flying and smacks his head!
"Mario!" His brother picks the flashlight up, but all he sees are those eyes staring back at him.
"AH—"
The creature grabs his throat and pins him to the ground! Luigi holds the light up but can only look on in horror as Dark tears his OWN bone off, and tries pinning it on his throat! The human blocks the bone with his elbows.
"Brotherssss can't ssssave you now…"
Doc aims..and fires a pill at the eye! "Cousins can."
The pill just slides down into that void. The creature's head snaps at the medic. He sends a bone flying at him, but it's dodged. The Doc goes in for a firearm aerial…but the creature enters his shell and flies at the Doc, sending him to the ground!
Luigi gets up, and goes for a light, but a black bone smacks him in the chin! As he falls down, he trips over that Glow Block! He gets a hand on but a red foot comes down on it!
"YOW-OW-OW-OW!"
"Bowssser told me to keep my eye on Mario, but you're more annoying than he isss…"
Dark looks for a headshot, but Mario grabs his jaw from behind and slams him headfirst! Luigi finds himself with a nice circle around him, while only half of Mario is visible.
Luigi clutches his hand. "Thanks again…"
Mario looks back at his younger bro. "Don't stop for me. Go get that star."
While they get a quick second to breathe, Dark Bones gets to his feet. He looks around with that night vision of his. He turns around and spots a group of Thwomp's, at peace for now. He heads that way, but the plumber won't let him go,
"All that talk and—NO, come back!" Mario pursues the creature, fireball in hand for the sake of sight. He looks up and spots five of those Thwomos.
Dark rushes across the line, looking to incapacitate the hero..but Mario can run and is right by his side in no time!
"You can't stop MY light!"
"I can ssstop you in your tracks."
He grabs the plumbers arm and sends him up at a Thwomp! Mario hits hard, but the damage isn't done. The Thwomp comes down and crushes him! It rises again, and that creature gets confirmation.
Mario's out.
While that boney menace makes his way back, the Doctor takes a look at that bridge, plants sinking up and down. They would have preferred finding a safer way down, but they are in Dark Bones' domain. There's little light, and he can use himself as a weapon.
"New plan.." he mutters, scooting onto the bridge itself, ducking the plants looking to make him lunch. Those eyes reappear and only get closer.
"Ssstop delaying the inevitable."
He tosses two skulls out, as the Doctor's gets further on the bridge, a look of horror in his eyes.
"…."
"You aren't the first group to search for that star..but I'll make sure this is your last."
Dark sprints out, grabs his head and slams it on the bricks! He grabs him by the tie and gives him a nasty headbutt! The Doctor just falls flat, out for the count. The creature leans over to see the darkness below.
"So close, yet ssssooo far."
He (somehow) enters his shell again, spins, and levitates from the sheer amount of speed. A normal Dry Bones can't do this, but Dark Bones is just..different.
Right when he looks to send the Doctor through, two white gloves snatch the shell from the air! LUIGI holds him in place, saving his cousin.
"Get-a f*ck down!"
He smashes him through the bridge! It's not on the Doctor, but after dishing out all this damage, it's time that creature takes one. A crash is heard, but that's the only sound Luigi can hear.
"Huh…" his voice echos through the cave. He shakes the Glow Block up to keep the light going. It's held over the bridge like a lantern, and he gets a better view. The bones are scattered around, with the head shaking.
Luigi gulps, as he checks his tracker again. The star's right down there. He's all that's left. He closes his eyes, as it's now time to decide. Will he go the long way? Or finish this once and for all?"
"…."
The creature's head is scooting towards it's body.
"Let's do it."
Luigi jumps down the hole he made, and lands on his feet. That's great news for him, as he's in CLOSE proximity of the star they need. He turns around and follows the signal, until he sees a dead end of purple blocks…at first sight.
"Hoh-hoh…" Luigi mutters. He pulls that hammer from his overalls, and smacks the blocks…but there's only one crack, in a lone block.
"Mamamia…this could take forever."
He goes for another swing, but a boney hand grabs his hammer and sends the man flying into a rock! Luigi uses that hammer to stand up, and the creature closes in again. With some quick thinking, the plumber smacks Dark in the face with that Glow Block!
He goes for it overhead, but it gets snatched away! Dark digs those fingers into the block, as cracks begin to form…
"Lightssss out."
.
.
.
CRACK!
.
.
.
The block is destroyed. There's nothing but them, and the darkness.
Luigi's in a precarious position. His only weapons are a hammer and the power of sound, while Dark Bones has that night vision.
"It'ssss been fun playing with my food…but you will fall like the others."
Those red eyes circle Luigi, as the plumber readies his hammer. Dark runs faster around him, but as Luigi raises his hammer, he's struck upside the head and falls backfirst!
"Owie…."
"Bowssser told me that you pushed through the pain. Unfortunately, you'll be dealing with more than a mere tail whip."
Luigi tried to stand up, but Dark sends him flying at a wall! He crashes into it and has a hard drop on the floor!
"To think, they call you heroesss. You three don't fight like them."
Two spiny's come flying , but he swats both away with that hammer! A third comes in at eye level, but he ducks! He stumbles away from the three stuck spiny's, but gets a red boot on the cheek, sending him down again!
"Thisss is cute. You think that if you can stay alive long enough, you'll beat me. Heresss the reality. You aren't the main character, you are just the SSSSIDEKICK. Here me? Mario would have saved Peach already.."
Luigi's legs wobble as he gets up, ready for more.
"Another choke from the green one. I see why it'sss not called the Luigi brothers." The creature taunts. "Only one of you can hold your weight."
He grabs Luigi's arm and slams him back down! He looks down at the hero's face, looking him in the eye.
"Your brother's only trying to make you feel better about yourssself. But he can't lie to you forever."
"…."
"He carried you in life, but when the grim reaper calls there will be nobody to hold your hand."
He lifts Luigi by the throat. The younger brother gasps for air, as his grip tightens. "You will be a nice addition to my collection."
Luigi lifts his hammer, but just gets laughed at. "Do you think a hammer isss going to stop m—"
SMACK!
.
.
.
His jaw flies off!
Luigi, hammer in hand watches as the creature feels his face..and notices it too.
"Did you jussst?"
The plumber smirks back, but gets a glare in return. With one hand, he sends Luigi crashing into the purple blocks! More cracks form in the wall, as Luigi uses that hammer to stand up yet again.
Dark Bones snaps that jaw back into place, and makes a b-line for him. "This is a losing battle! You can't kill me!"
Those eyes close in. He goes for a swipe, but hits the wall instead! That hammer sends him forward, and destroys a couple more blocks! Dark sees what he's doing, and dodges another hammer shot!
Luigi hits the blocks, but gets pinned to the wall by the beast. That monster slams him at the wall again, cracking into the wall behind, but the plumber's got guts. He slips his white gloves onto those red pupils, blinding his foe for the moment.
Dark claws into Luigi's arm, leaving a red mark on his bare arm, taking the clothing with him. The sting's getting to him, but that second star is right behind him. He's come so close..
"You're trying to learn from hissstory but you are doomed to repeat it."
Dark gets his head slammed through a block! He tries to push himself out, but his head's too big to leave! It's prime time for Luigi!
Panting, he picks that hammer up and smacks him from behind! That causes a shockwave, cracking the blocks even more. The stability of the wall is running out.
"One..last..swing…"
.
.
THUD!
The purple wall shatters to pieces! Inside..is the glowing aura of the Power Star! Luigi's jaw drops at the mere sight.
Nobody can take this win away from him. He took a massive beating, but took advantage of the blocks for the "win" here.
He follows the only light source he has, and gets a finger on the star…
He's absorbed by the stars power, and becomes a very powerful rainbow. Star Luigi has hit the scene.
He turns around to see Dark Bones getting to his feet…but all the ground beneath him is just brown blocks beneath him. "You may have the starpower but I'll ssstill send you to my graveyard."
Luigi hits back with a smirk. "Oh buddy, you may dish it out but get ready to take it!"
Dark charges him..but one uppercut knocks his head clean off! His body goes for the save, but Luigi hits a roundhouse kick making a CRACK in his shell!
The star-powered hero grabs Dark's head, and turns it towards the blocks.
"Time to take out the trash!"
The eyes look right through him. "You ssstill won't beat the king. You can never do it without your meal ticket."
"I don't see my bro as an object."
He slams his head through the blocks, and into the level below! His body lunges at him, but Luigi swats his body down, and jumps up…GROUND POUND!
As Dark's body flies down, Luigi grabs onto the blue ground, and pulls himself up. He dusts himself off after the beating he just got. In the end though, his grit beat the brutality Dark Bones gave him. After wiping his cap off, he navigates back to where they originally fell.
On the bridge above, his brother crawls over to get a peak. When he sees his brother with that sparkle, he can't help but smile. "Don't know what-a happened down there, but that was awesome Lu!"
"Hahaha…" Luigi slides that cap back on. "Had to work for that one."
The doctor's white glove finally moves again. Mario jumps over the gap to help him out. "He messed you up…"
The Doctor can't even respond. Dark swatted that man.
Luigi uses parkour to get back up there. It's a good thing Power Stars make you like a world class athlete.
Once he's back up, the brothers carry the Doctor away from the bridge, and to the pipe they first entered in.
The power star floats out of Luigi's body, on display for all to see. Mario pats his brother on the back. "Dinner's on the house tonight. Where are we-a going?"
"Hmm…Chef Lloydardees!"
"Alright!"
The Doctor gets to his knees, finally back to his senses. "Oh…my..head." His vision's blurs clear and he sees the brothers with their second Power Star. "Oh…yeah good job.."
Overworld, Mushroom Plains
The three Italians leave that red pipe. Luigi inhales all that oxygen. "Fresh air! I never thought I'd feel it again."
It's a nice moment, but the two they were missing return, and have bruises on their arms, legs, and chest.
It's so shocking that Mario snatches his own cap off. "Mamamia, what happened?!"
"We met an echidna. Didn't like visitors. We're lucky he didn't punch the pipe from beneath us." Daisy explains, holding her cheek. "If I ever see him again, I'll be ready to knock a personality into him."
All Yoshi can do is frown. "He was so mean for no reason…kind of like Wario."
"He'll KILL us if he ever hears we compared him to WARIO of all people..he actually looks clean." Even when hurt, she can't help but take shots at the Wario's.
Mario nervously chuckles. "That sucks…but we got the power star!"
The sight of the star helps the Dino feel better "Great job Mario."
"No no.." he points out Luigi and the Doc, noticeably banged up. "Luigi got the star."
The two look at the guy, who gasps. "Wow..you're a generous guy."
"YOU beat him, not me."
Daisy eyes shoot out seeing the actual tears in his clothing. She got damaged but he got whacked up. "Oh my gosh what did he do to you?"
"I'll explain on the way.."
The five head back to their karts. That's two stars down out of seven. It's great progress for now, but with the Koop Troop pursuing the Power Stars as well, this search isn't going to be easy. There could have been a casualty today if a few shots weren't taken.
Two down, five to go. Tune in next time for Super Mario: Genesis!