The novelization of Super Mario Bros. USA
By brown_pickup_truck
Chapter 1
Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Princess Peach stepped out of the Hawk's mouth in the third level of Subcon World 1. Grassy lands spread before them, complete with hilltops, suspended logs, vases, and waterfalls. Mario pointed forward with his gloved hand and spoke, "Our objective is to reach the boss and free World One." He said this in a militaristic way as if plotting his course across a battlefield. He and his brother were no stranger to fighting for what's right, although it never occurred to any of the four of them how they reached Subcon and why. Princess Peach spoke up, "Lead the way, Mario." Luigi and Toad nodded. Mario dashed forward, with the other three close on his heels. Three leaps later, the four of them reached a very thick log that was suspended between two hills. A waterfall ran underneath.
A Shyguy donned in red apparel approached them from the opposing side, stating, "You don't belong here." The four of them had quickly gotten to know the Shyguys by now, who were among Wart's most plentiful foot soldiers. None of them replied, but Toad reached into the grass and pulled up a turnip. He cast it into the Shyguy's path, knocking her off the log and into the waterfall below. "Great work!" Shouted Mario, whose hand touched a floating Starman on their descent from the log. The four of them became invincible, with their fabric turning multiple bright colors. Each made their way through the area, jumping across several hills and logs. Any Trouser in their path instantly found themselves bonked back into the waterfalls below.
Once the Starman's power had worn off, the four of them reached a long hilltop and paused. Luigi quickly began pulling vegetables out of the grass. After having pulled four vegetables, he reached for another, only to find that he pulled a clock out of the earth! The clock's spindly hour and minute hands froze across its beautiful brass dial before it quickly disappeared. Suddenly, time stopped and every enemy in World One, Level Three, stopped moving. Mario pointed towards a large bricking building ahead and shouted, "Forward, we're heading there!" Once again, the four moved forward, with Mario leading the way. Princess Peach leaped over a pink-robed Shyguy that was frozen in his tracks. Toad yelled, "Faster, that clock's about to run out!"
Four unmoving Ninjis and two Tweeters later, Mario reached a door. It was the typical Subcon door, wooden paneled with a classic ring door knocker. He turned the knob and entered, the other three in tow. A dimly lit interior awaited them, with purple walls, metal platforms, and iron chains hanging from ceilings. "What is this place?" Asked the Princess. Luigi looked straight up, using his right hand to hold his green cap against his head. He then spoke, "Looks like an old factory." He stumbled backward with Toad catching him from behind. Mario grumbled and said, "Ugh, nothing can ever be easy. Come on, let's head upwards." And with that, the four grabbed ahold of some of the many chains suspended above them and began to climb. Toad looked down and realized there were floors below them. "I hope we don't have to backtrack."
Mario reached the top first. He looked to his right where a metal girder lay before him. The mask of a pink Shyguy's face slowly appeared. She stepped forward, challenging him, "This is King Wart's Realm, not yours! Get out!" Mario maneuvered himself onto the girder and stared down the Shyguy as his friends reached the top. "How about I pick you up by the mask and throw you off the girder?" He stated in a testy manner. "Mario! How rude!" The Princess slipped out. Luigi dashed towards the Shyguy, leaped onto his head, and then jumped onto a stack of mushroom containers behind her. The Shyguy turned around, towards Luigi, and forebodingly said, "There are many more of us than you." And with that, Luigi tossed one of the mushroom blocks into the Shyguy's mask, knocking her off the girder and down into the levels below. There were no screams, only echoes as she hit the sides of the walls, girders, and floors in her descent.
"Bravo Luigi!" Princess Peach shouted. The four of them continued their ascent through the factory, sidestepping three Sparks on their way up. The four stopped at a door. There were no more levels to climb at this point. One of the Sparks neutrally addressed the group, stating, "I can never leave this platform." That Spark slowly moved along the surface of its girder and then added, "…but you will never leave that door." Toad gritted his teeth and looked down at the Spark, exclaiming, "Well we'll see about that, won't we?" Mario opened the door, and one by one they filed through. It closed behind them, with an echoing sound that reverberated throughout the factory's floors below.
Once inside, Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Princess Peach observed a body-sized key resting on a suspended girder. Another Spark silently traveled the girder, paying them no mind. Sinister red and white masks (Phantos) lined the walls. Princess Peach jumped on top of the girder, holding her dress as she landed. Her pretty heels struck the girder with a poetic clacking sound. "Well, now we have to figure out what door this key fits!" She giggled, placing her white-gloved hand onto the surface of the key. Suddenly, one of the Phantos began to shake and then fly off the wall towards her. She held the key tightly and slid off the platform. "Mario!?" Princess Peach screamed. "Go for the door!" Luigi shouted. The princess exited, with the others following.
Upon exiting the doorway, Princess Peach leaped off the girder in front of her. She quickly descended through the factory's many floors, passing sparks, chains, and mushroom containers. Phanto raced after her in pursuit. The voices of her friends echoed from above, "We're Coming!" Shouted Toad. "Find the locked door!" yelled Luigi. "You can do this, Princess!" Mario cried. Shortly thereafter, Princess Peach lifted her dress, slowing her fall, and safely landed on the very same girder at which they initially entered. She threw the key to the side, causing Phanto to disappear. A minute or so later, the others had reached her, with all four of them now looking at the key.
"I wonder if Megaman ever has these kinds of problems." Mario scratched his red cap. "No, but he has to contend with a green dragon that-" Toad stopped speaking mid-sentence when Luigi picked up the massive key. The three looked at him in silence, but then Mario yelled, "GO! GO! GO!" Phanto quickly descended from above, its oval shadow casting itself in and around the floor and purple walls. Luigi nodded, slipping himself over the girder to the ones below. A red Shyguy awaited him, solemnly stating, "You do not want to go any further down." Luigi responded, "Sure I do!" and tossed the key into the Shyguy's path, knocking them off the girder and into the twilight. The green plumber caught his breath for a moment, but Phanto whizzed past, readying to take him down. Luigi grabbed the key and descended further, landing with a thud against a blue-bricked floor. The key fell to his side and the rapid footsteps of his comrades could be heard above, making their way down.
A small chasm separated Luigi from the opposing wall. An eerie rotating sound could be heard from the other side. It sounded like gears churning and getting faster and faster. Suddenly, Luigi recognized the sound-a gray-robed Snifit stepped out of the darkness on the other side. He threw his hands out to his sides and screamed, "HAIKANKOU O SHINU TAME NO JIKAN!" Much like a machine gun, the Snifit rapid fired bullets toward Luigi, who quickly rolled to the side. Mario landed behind the Snifit, now lifting it above his head. The mechanical whirring sounds stopped, and the Snifit coldly said, "Fool me once, shame on thee, fool me twice, shame on me." He then stopped moving altogether and Mario threw him into the chasm below. Princess Peach and Toad landed on Luigi's side. "Are you okay? Toad Asked. Luigi nodded, and then looked at Mario, who pointed down.
Luigi picked up the key and leaped into the purple chasm, passing the Factory's usual characteristics on the descent. Phanto chased after Luigi, grazing Peach's dress in its fury. Despite Phanto's efforts, the four landed safely on a blue-bricked floor. A locked door stood before them. Mario crossed his arms as the Phanto loomed over the four. There was no more running. There was an aura of rebellion from the four, no longer fearing the red and white mask from above. Luigi placed the key into the door and looked up at Phanto as the lock unlatched. The Phanto remained silent for a moment and then endearingly stated, "Luigi, you may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try." Luigi found himself a bit awestruck, having trouble finding the words to respond, but the Phanto disappeared seconds later. The four entered the door.
A large room spread before them with levitating girders patrolled by Sparks. Razor-sharp spikes lined the floor below. The four jumped from girder to girder, reaching an area with several more levitating platforms. A Tweeter bounced towards them, calmly stating, "You should have listened to the Shyguy." Each of the four sidestepped the strange creature, which moved passed them, as if on a rail. Mario pushed forward, jumping from girder to girder, bypassing Snifits and sidestepping Sparks. The four reached a long hallway where two Ninjis charged them. Each had a deep male voice, one of which stating, "No one enters Master Mouser's domain." But the Ninji's attacks were all for not, as Luigi grabbed one up, and Toad the other. Both threw their Ninjis into one another, causing them to disappear.
A Hawk's mouth opened at the end of the hallway and the four entered. Each descended into a red and orange bricked room, one side of which appeared weakened and decayed. Mario pulled a vegetable leaf from the brick floor, only to find a bomb underneath. He tossed it towards the weakened wall. An explosion followed, leaving bricks and rubble piled and scattered against the floor. The four progressed through the opening as smoke clouded the room. Another room lay beyond. Luigi looked up, seeing the glint of a pair of dark sunglasses. "Hello?" He asked the being. The others turned, looking up at the creature hiding in the smoke. It stepped forward, revealing itself to be a life-sized mouse with dark sunglasses. "I am Mouser, General of this world." He stated.
As the smoke cleared, Mouser was revealed to be standing atop a burgundy platform suspended in mid-air and holding onto Nintendo Power Issue #1. He was calm, collected, and confident, stating, "If you've come this far, you made it past my most fearsome soldiers, the Snifit and Phanto." Luigi touched his chest for a moment and nodded, saying, "Yes, yes they were." Angered to hear of his soldiers spoken of in the past tense, Mouser responded, "WERE!?" He reached back, a pixilated bomb forming in his hand before becoming real. "Wait, hold on a second we—" Princess Peach began to speak, but the fight was on. Mouser hurled a bomb toward Luigi, who moved to the side and evaded. Mario raced behind him, scooping up the bomb and returning the favor. It struck the burgundy platform and rolled under Mouser's feet. A bright explosion followed, with Mouser falling to one knee. A tear spread across his thick-skinned chest. A small amount of glitter like material spilled from it, blotting the platform below. It sparkled brightly with Mouser's reflection.
"I am the General of Worlds One and Three." Mouser breathed laboriously. "You are four, but we are many. Prepare yourself!" Mouser reached back, another pixelated bomb materializing in his hand. "You can't seriously believe in what you're doing here!?" Mario shouted. "What are we doing here, Mario?" Mouser cryptically responded, clearly in pain. He lobbed the bomb at the four, who scatted in different directions. An explosion followed. Mouser quickly began tossing more bombs toward each of them. There were several blasts, each time lighting up the room with brilliant colors. Suddenly, Princess Peach jumped onto the platform, amidst the falling rubble and debris. She said, "I'm sorry." And tossed one of the shiny bombs back at him, which promptly exploded at point-blank range. Everything went calm and the smoke started to settle.
"Get off the platform, princess!" Mario yelled. Mouser was down again, with several more lacerations across his thick skin. A crack spread down through the front of his sunglasses. The shades parted and fell to the floor, revealing his eyes. "I…am more than just a mouse." He struggled to stand but did so, wobbly and shaken. Princess Peach stepped back, surprised he could still move. "I won't let you reach Triclyde," Mouser stated nobly and out of character. He reached back with his right hand and brought his left foot upwards: another pixelated bomb materialized in his hand. "Mouser, listen to us!" Luigi shouted, but it was too late. Mouser began raining bombs down once more, faster than ever. The explosions rocketed through the room and beyond, with the factory now shaking. Mouser went to step backward but bumped into a fizzling bomb at his feet. He turned to see Toad jumping off his platform.
Knowing what was to come, Mouser tightly closed his eyes. A bright explosion followed which lit up the entire factory. As the smoke cleared, the four of them found Mouser laying against the far wall with severe wounds. The glitter material pooled around him. Mouser breathed less and much lighter now. He appeared unable to move his limbs. "Nice shot…" He calmly said to Toad, who frowned. Princess Peach walked over to him with tears in her eyes, and asked, "Why wouldn't you just stop?" Mouser struggled to speak, responding, "We can't…stop. This isn't me…this isn't who I am…" Princess Peach and Toad knelt beside him. A melody played in the distance, with a door suddenly appearing in the middle of the room. Sunlight poured through, illuminating the dusty area. "Fix… the Dream Machine," Mouser whispered. Toad leaned in to hear him better. Mario and Luigi watched in silence. "We will meet again in World Three," Mouser said, before disappearing.
Authors Notes:
Thank you for reading my Super Mario Bros. USA Novelization. This is the first fanfiction I have written. Super Mario Bros. USA was one of my favorite games growing up. In writing this story, I sought to provide my own take on the video game. This writing was also written for an audience that both played and enjoyed Super Mario Bros. USA as much as I did. As such, I did not attempt to detail each enemy, rather, I expect the die-hard Mario fan to know them.
Best Wishes!