In World Two, Level Three, Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad trudged across the dimly lit, cool expanse of a pyramid's sandy floor. Before them loomed a locked door. Mario brushed the sand off his shoulders, and Princess Peach fanned herself as Toad removed his oversized mushroom hat, and Luigi sat down. "The relentless heat outside," Mario remarked, "was unbearable." Toad pointed to the locked door, saying, "Look!" Princess Peach sighed, "Another encounter with Phanto, I presume." Mario smiled, trying to stifle a chuckle, and replied, "Oh, he's not as bad once you get to know him." A shimmering figure, radiating an aura of light, descended from above, revealing itself as a Shyguy adorned in a monk's gray robe, a black belt cinched at her waist, and a medallion bearing the inscription: "Shyguy; Job Class: Monk; Rank: Corporal."
Abruptly, an ethereal image of King Wart appeared over the Shyguy, with his claws reaching through the image to gently encircle her shoulders. He glanced at Mario and declared, "You've had your share of victories. Now, come and face me, Mario." Wart's laughter echoed as his wavering image slowly dissipated, and the Shyguy's eyes gleamed brightly from within her mask. "I'll handle this. You guys need to find the key buried beneath us," Mario directed. Luigi nodded, saying, "Be here when we return, brother." Toad queried, "Why not confront her together?" Princess Peach intervened, "Because she's not like Birdo. Can't you sense her formidable power? We'll require Mario to keep her at bay while we escape through the door." Toad reluctantly accepted this explanation, and the three conjured shovels into their hands, plunging them into the sand to dig a vertical tunnel.
As they delved deeper, the Shyguy stood poised in the sand, her body adopting a serene Tai Chi stance. Mario took a defensive stance, fists raised to protect his face, and remarked, "I thought Birdo was the de facto mid-boss around here." The Shyguy replied in a voice eerily similar to Mouser's, "Fix the Dream Machine." Mario, baffled, lowered his fists, only to be struck by the Shyguy's powerful blow to his chest. He staggered but did not fall, maintaining his balance and peering at the Shyguy. "I'm sorry, but your princess is in another castle," she taunted, mimicking Toad's voice, and returned to her martial stance, focusing intently on Mario.
Luigi, Toad, and Peach continued their arduous excavation, their progress swift but sweat-inducing. A radiant Starman materialized from the sand beneath them, glowing with vibrant red and golden hues. Luigi urgently warned, "Don't touch it! My brother needs your help!" He carefully raised the Starman above the shaft, and it ascended, leaving a trail of yellow light in its wake. The three nodded at each other, feeling a shared determination to dig in a different direction, as if guided by an unspoken understanding.
"I don't appreciate mind games," Mario declared, standing up and brushing himself off. The Shyguy nodded and spoke in a calm, feminine voice, "Alright, I won't do that again." She dashed toward Mario, attempting to strike his face, but he blocked with his right arm, and the sound of the impact echoed throughout the pyramid. Mario and the Shyguy locked eyes, their hands touching for a brief moment. Mario gazed into the Shyguy's mask and asked, "Why do you harbor such animosity towards me?" The Shyguy countered with a swift knee to his chest. Mario stumbled back, nearly falling into the hole his friends had excavated. A brilliant yellow light illuminated the pyramid, casting Mario's shadow across the walls. He turned to see it.
Luigi, Toad, and Peach emerged into a hidden chamber through the sand wall, finding a door and a platform with a body-sized key. Phanto masks adorned the walls, giving an eerie ambiance to the room. "Creepy," Princess Peach remarked. Luigi asserted, "We know what we must do. Mario still needs us!" Toad, determined, picked up the heavy key and, as one of the Phanto masks shook violently and detached from the wall, he confidently declared, "It's time to go. You know the drill! Mario needs us!" Luigi and Peach hurriedly followed Toad, and Peach struggled to bear the weight of the key as she descended. Phanto's mask surfaced beside her, its eyes blazing crimson. "Toss me the key!" Luigi gestured to Peach, who tossed the key to him. He caught it, wall-kicking off the Phanto as he ascended. Peach regained her footing and followed Luigi. "Toad!" Luigi shouted, throwing the key up the shaft with an underhanded motion. Toad's eyes widened as the key approached him.
Starman blinked, hovering above the shaft. Mario extended his hand, gently brushing it across Starman's radiant face without making contact. He then turned his gaze back to the Shyguy. She offered a nonchalant shrug and stated plainly, "Let's bring this to an end, Mario." The Shyguy resumed her initial Tai Chi stance, though there was something different about her now.
"Have it your way," Mario growled, reaching out to touch the Starman. As his hand made contact with the Starman, the wear and tears in the fabric of his suspenders magically repaired themselves, and his scrapes and cuts vanished. Mario began to radiate with the Starman's signature colors.
The Shyguy retaliated with her One Shot-Kill Move, bellowing, "HUNDRED FISTS!" She launched herself at Mario, her fists moving in a relentless, blinding blur, too fast for the plumber's eyes to follow. Each punch struck Mario's chest with the force of a jackhammer. She delivered a series of powerful kicks and furious combinations, but Mario remained unyielding, displaying no signs of pain or distress.
Toad darted through the door and ascended the shaft, narrowly evading Phanto in his daring ascent. He shouted, "You want it? Catch!" as he threw the key toward Phanto, who promptly vanished. Peach caught the heavy key, her heels sinking deeper into the sand as she struggled to maintain her footing. "Luigi, I'm slipping!" she cried out. Phanto's mask emerged from the wall beside her, its eyes now glowing menacingly. "Pass!" Luigi gestured to Peach, who lobbed the key to him. He caught it, and with a swift wall kick, he continued his ascent, while Peach regained her balance and joined him. "Toad!" Luigi called out, hurling the key up the shaft with all his strength. The key spun gracefully in the air as it sailed toward Toad.
"HAAAAAAAAAA!" The Shyguy's relentless battle cry echoed as she continued her ferocious assault against Mario. The plumber, in quiet determination, extended his hand and gently rested it on her shoulder. She froze in mid-air, her entire body tingling with Starman's electrifying energy. "UHNNNNNN," Shyguy cried out in agony as her kimono tore, rips and tears forming all over the fabric. Her medallion sparked and danced amid the coursing current. Mario then withdrew his hand and stepped back, the Starman's power gradually waning. Silence enveloped the scene as the Shyguy dropped to her knees, a pained cry escaping her lips. Glitter and sparkles spilled from the various cuts and scrapes in her robes, and tears streamed through the eyeholes of her mask.
Just then, Toad proudly emerged from the shaft, the heavy key slung over his shoulder. "Mario, we're here!" he exclaimed, his arrival signifying the team's return and the crucial task at hand.
Luigi and Peach emerged next, their voices filled with concern. "MARIO! Are you okay!?" Peach asked, her anxiety palpable. As the tension lifted, Phanto gradually rose out of the shaft to find Toad skillfully inserting the key into the door's lock. Toad turned it, unlatching the mechanism.
"Phanto… I'll miss you," the Shyguy lamented, her kimono beginning to fade into obscurity as she acknowledged the end of their unique connection. Mario knelt and cradled her, a complex mixture of emotions surging within him. An unusual breeze picked up within the pyramid, gently tugging the Shyguy's sparkles and glitter with it. "Mario…do you understand why we brought you here?" she spoke, her voice filled with a mixture of sorrow and pain. Luigi, Peach, and Toad, having missed the context of the preceding events, observed in silence.
"No, I don't," replied Mario, his voice filled with regret. Phanto brushed against the Shyguy, maintaining his silent vigil. She continued, "I…only have so much time; the spell is fading." With a weakened hand, she unclasped her mask, revealing a Subcon's face. However, the stunning fairy visage that was expected did not appear. The Starman had exacted its toll.
"What are you?" Mario asked, guilt weighing heavily on him. She responded, "I am one of the many Subcon fairies that inhabit the Seven Worlds of Subcon. We are its caretakers and maintain the Dream Machine." Luigi inquired, "What is the Dream Machine?" She explained, "It allows us to create dreams. This land is where your nighttime thoughts, imaginings, ideas, and visions come to life." Peach interjected, "But Wart has control of it now, doesn't he?" The Shyguy coughed, expelling a magical glitter-like fluid onto the sand, the breeze intensifying into a fierce wind, and her mask vanished entirely. Perhaps the Shyguy meant to answer Peach's question, but her failing body intervened her. "My time is almost up," she whispered, breaking the medallion off her neck and holding it up weakly. "You're strong, Super Mario, far stronger than Wart." Mario accepted the medallion, and she dissolved into the wind, her essence carried away.
Mario stood there, clutching the medallion, his emotions in turmoil. He trembled, a complex blend of anger and guilt coursing through him. A monstrous and grotesque roar echoed through the pyramid and beyond, violently shaking the door and causing the sand to swirl about. "Tryclyde…" Toad listened. Peach embraced Mario, reassuring him, "You did what you had to here. If it weren't for you, we might not have made it past her alive." Mario, lost in his thoughts, didn't acknowledge her affection or words. "Let's break Tryclyde free from Wart's spell," he said, stepping forward. Toad nodded and opened the door. The four of them moved through it, with Mario leading the way. Phanto descended into the shaft, his voice echoing, "I am reminded of how hollow the label of leadership can be and how heroic fellowship can be… great work, Mario."
Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Princess Peach ventured into a lengthy corridor and were met by four red Shyguys, positioned defiantly in their path, side by side. The first Shyguy spoke with a tone that carried the authority of King Wart, warning, "We are the envoys of King Wart. Turn back now, or confront your worst nightmares." Each Shyguy assumed a combat stance.
Mario acknowledged their presence and retorted, "The time has come for a change not only in World Two but throughout all of Subcon. You are the bullies. You are the nightmares." With determination, each of the four heroes charged forward, engaging the Shyguys. Mario swiftly picked up the leader and hurled him into another Shyguy, both vanishing into thin air. Peach managed to deliver a kick that sent the third Shyguy tumbling into the fourth Shyguy, while Toad and Luigi restrained the latter, causing both to disappear. Mario dusted off his gloves and declared, "Let's proceed. The final stretch before facing Tryclyde awaits."
They surged forward, encountering a towering mound of sand. Two pink Shyguys wielding spears leaped from the mound and landed in front of them. Atop the mound, a Panser cackled maniacally, showering the area with a barrage of fireballs. Toad remarked, "They're growing stronger as we progress through each world." Peach and Luigi summoned shovels into their hands, standing poised for confrontation. Peach, Luigi, and the two pink Shyguys engaged in a standoff, their weapons clashing. "How far did you really think you'd get?" the first Shyguy taunted. "Resist all you want. We all know how this ends," the second Shyguy added. "Not as you think!" Toad retorted, lifting both Shyguys by their collars from behind and knocking them together until both faded into oblivion.
Amid the skirmish, Mario stealthily ascended the mound. Upon reaching the summit, he confronted Panser. "OMG! You're not supposed to be up here!" exclaimed Panser. Mario seized the plant and throttled its stalk, declaring, "You'll serve as a valuable asset." He aimed her toward a group of Cobrats up ahead, and Panser cried out, "You creep! GET OFF ME!" She unleashed a fiery barrage, incinerating the Cobrats. Mario maintained his firm grip on the plant and ordered, "Do as I say, and I'll extend your lifespan." Panser teared up and fell silent, grasping the consequences of her actions. "The Hawkmouth is just ahead, Mario," Luigi calmly informed. Peach playfully inquired, "Are you bringing your new Tommy Gun, Mario?" "Only if you bring the shovels," Mario bantered back. The four shared a smile as they approached the waiting Hawkmouth, entering its maw one by one.
Inside, they arrived in a green-bricked chamber with a soaring ceiling, enveloped in a dense fog. Levitating platforms were scattered across the vast space. Mario bellowed, "Come out, Tryclyde!" and clutched the trembling Panser in his hands, who seemed comically terrified. Peach and Luigi brandished their shovels, their blades gleaming in the eerie green light. Toad surveyed the surroundings, noticing several stacked Mushroom Blocks at the room's center. Suddenly, what seemed to be a colossal Cobrat emerged from the fog, sporting a single menacing face and standing two stories tall. Tryclyde let out a menacing growl and homed in on Mario, meeting him eye to eye. The massive serpent flicked its tongue multiple times, assessing the power levels of the four heroes before him. "HISSSSS… I am the General of World Two, Level Three," Tryclyde proclaimed with disdain in his voice. Mario reached into his overalls, revealing Corporal Shyguy's medallion.
Tryclyde inhaled deeply, and his mouth widened. His eyes blazed crimson, and he recoiled, evidently enraged. "HISSSSSS… I am aware of my Corporal's defeat. You have deprived me of my soldier. NOW I WILL EXACT JUSTICE UPON YOU!" A red aura enveloped Tryclyde as the fog dissipated. Two more heads sprouted from Tryclyde, each as menacing as the first. All three heads now rose, unveiling Tryclyde in his full, dreadful glory. "I understand that this isn't your true self," Mario called out, still holding the medallion aloft. Tryclyde's scales reflected the Corporal Shyguy's emblem. "YOU CAN JOIN HER!" Tryclyde bellowed, launching a volley of fire unlike anything the four had seen before. Toad took cover behind a Mushroom Block, while Luigi and Peach used their shovels to deflect the flames. Mario, however, remained unyielding, pointing Panser in Tryclyde's direction and unleashing a fiery assault. The meeting of their firestorms produced a deafening clash and intense heat.
"Mario has given us an opening. We must act now!" Luigi shouted above the fiery tempest. Peach, her voice barely audible over the inferno, asked, "Tryclyde is so POWERFUL! What can we do!?" By this point, flames covered most of the floor, and the bricks glowed a searing red. Peach's dress was disintegrating, and sparks singed Luigi's cap and shirt. Their shovels began to melt as they turned red-hot. Toad, on the other hand, was relatively unaffected, protected by the Mushroom Blocks. He selected one from the stack and urged Luigi and Peach, "If we don't strike now, we may not have another opportunity!" High above, Tryclyde's fiery barrage surpassed Mario's. "Panser, why are you holding back?" Mario inquired, his face scorched by the heat.
Chunks of molten lava and flames cascaded from the point of impact between his and Tryclyde's fiery blasts. "He is under the same spell that you are. Without your help, I can't set Subcon free," Mario stated, maintaining his composure in the face of the scorching flames.
Panser met Mario's gaze, her eyes brimming with tears. "Farewell, Mario." Her entire body began to flicker, and magical fluid flowed from her stem and leaves. Her flower bloomed fully, revealing her true power—a fiery comet that overwhelmed Tryclyde's flames. The colossal three-headed snake recoiled, now engulfed in fire. Each of Tryclyde's heads emitted a deafening and anguished cry. Panser disappeared from Mario's grasp. "Thank you," Mario uttered quietly, his hands filled with a shimmering, magical fluid that was fleeting.
Down below, his comrades pushed forward, with Peach and Luigi steadfastly plunging their shovels into Tryclyde's chest. Glittering fluid gushed forth, inundating the room. Tryclyde howled in agony, disoriented, frightened, and cornered. Toad hurled a Mushroom Container at Tryclyde from the rear, dealing the finishing blow. Simultaneously, all the fires ceased. The intense heat subsided, and a cool breeze swept through the room. One by one, each of Tryclyde's heads descended to the floor, each causing a resounding thud upon impact. Sparkles and glitter danced over the magical fluid. Two of Tryclyde's heads closed their eyes, never to open again.
The creature let out a mournful moan. Mario hopped down from the platform and stood by Tryclyde. Peach and Luigi abandoned their shovels and joined him, followed by Toad. Mario tenderly caressed Tryclyde's head and said, "I'm sorry. I know now that this isn't the real you." Tryclyde observed him, his eyes returning to their natural black. "You truly came down here to save me…I was worried you'd never come." Tryclyde replied weakly. "I wouldn't have missed meeting you for the world, General," Mario declared.
In the distance, a melody rang out, and a door materialized in the midst of the chamber. "Wart is hiding in World Seven, Level Two…good luck," Tryclyde revealed before vanishing beneath Mario's hand.
Authors Notes:
Phanto's quote was from Warren Bennis.