"Help me! Help me, Mario!" A desperate voice echoed from outside, accompanied by the sound of Birdo's eggs soaring through the air. Inside the small room, Mario, Luigi, Toad, and the Princess strained to listen as the Hawk's Mouth sealed behind them.
"Did you hear that?" Toad inquired with a sense of urgency.
"Yes, someone's in trouble!" Princess Peach replied, her concern evident.
Mario glanced upward. They found themselves in a cramped chamber with a ladder leading to a second level, where a distant cry for help emanated. "Well, let's lend a hand, Luigi," he proposed.
Luigi had evolved during their journey through three worlds, gaining confidence under his brother's leadership. Without hesitation, he placed a hand on the ladder. "You're right, Mario. Let's go."
The quartet ascended the ladder and emerged onto a snow-covered hillside. Birdo stood a short distance away, poised for action. She extended her arms, inhaled, and then expelled a large, oval-shaped egg in their direction. The group scattered, easily dodging the attack. By now, they had grown accustomed to her species' assaults. However, their attention shifted to a fallen Subcon nearby. She lay on the snowy ground, her face etched with terror.
"Help me! Please! She's trying to kill me!" the Subcon cried out. The Princess landed nearby, her intuition telling her that something was amiss. Mario dashed forward and confronted Birdo, squeezing her snout shut.
"Well, that battle ended swiftly," Toad remarked as he walked forward with Luigi at his side. Birdo struggled helplessly, her eyes welling up with tears. "You're safe now," Mario reassured the fallen Subcon, then asked, "What's your name?"
"Karyme," she replied, blinking her pretty eyes. Karyme rose to her feet, brushing the snow from her robes and unfurling her beautiful wings. Luigi extended a warm invitation, "You're welcome to join us, Karyme. We're on a mission to overthrow Wart."
Peach, with a hint of suspicion in her tone, chimed in, "You're the first Subcon we've encountered in this world who hasn't fallen under Wart's spell."
The others fell silent as the conversation grew awkward. Karyme spoke with a hint of sadness, "There are very few of us left." She paused briefly to collect her thoughts and added, "I can help you cross this water. I have some friends who can assist us." She covered her mouth with her hand, an innocent gesture.
The four of them glanced past Karyme and saw that the snowy terrain abruptly ended at a cliff, with frigid, churning waters below. Given the fog and constant flurries, one wrong step might have sent them plunging into the icy depths if not for Karyme's offer. Without hesitation, Mario pushed Birdo aside, and she tumbled through the snow, colliding with rocks and rough terrain before coming to a halt. Mario's patience was running thin; Wart's forces were unlike Bowser's troops, who had a degree of honor and respect.
"Alright, how do we cross this water?" Mario asked, as one of Birdo's eggs narrowly missed his face, splashing into the turbulent waves.
Karyme playfully mimed a pair of guns with both her fingers, winking to convey, "Bingo." The others quickly grasped her plan, except for Birdo, who continued firing a barrage of eggs in their direction. They each hopped onto an egg, using them as makeshift watercraft to navigate the icy expanse. Karyme followed by flying alongside them.
"Thank you, Karyme," Toad expressed his gratitude.
"Anything for you guys," Karyme responded, though her voice briefly shifted from feminine to a deep, manly tone and then back to its original pitch. Luigi raised an eyebrow, asking, "Are you okay?"
Blushing, Karyme stammered, "I'm fine!" Peach noticed the oddity but didn't comment. Their attention quickly turned to three large brick buildings looming ahead.
A wide red brick pathway clung to the side of the first building. Three figures stood on it—two riding Autobombs and one hovering creature. Another brick pathway connected the second and third buildings, suggesting Subcon was constructing these roads to link the buildings with the landmass from which the group had come.
"Those are my friends!" Karyme exclaimed excitedly.
"At this point, any help is welcome," Toad remarked.
"Perhaps we can take a break and set up camp in one of those buildings," Luigi suggested. "Maybe whip up a nice lasagna?" Mario added with a smirk.
"Something feels off here, Mario," Peach voiced her unease.
Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Princess Peach disembarked from their flying eggs, descending onto the road below. Karyme's shadow continued to hover, never touching the ground. They gradually realized they had company.
The first figure was a Tweeter, who reached down to operate a lever, turning their Autobomb to face the group. The second figure revealed herself as a Porcupo, following suit with her Autobomb. These Autobombs had been modified, equipped with steering wheels, levers, and seats.
The third entity hovered above the two Autobomb operators and introduced himself as a Beezo. "Mario Brothers," Beezo addressed the group, his medallion displaying "Beezo; Job Class: Ranger; Rank: Sergeant."
"You've deceived us..." Peach stated angrily, glaring at Karyme, who stood behind the Beezo and Autobombs. Unexpectedly, Wart materialized behind Karyme, placing his hands on her shoulders.
"Evidently, I underestimated the four of you," Wart admitted, his voice carrying both stress and authority. His soldiers remained motionless when he spoke, including Karyme.
"We're making our way to your castle. Be patient," Luigi responded calmly.
"Luigi, please," Toad chuckled, suppressing his laughter.
"We won't stop," Mario affirmed, staring up at Wart. "The closer we get to your castle, the tougher my soldiers will become," Wart explained. "I offer you the chance to join us. The Dream Machine can grant any desire you have."
"But I have a job in Brooklyn," Luigi retorted in a deliberately humorous and silly tone. Peach and Toad burst into laughter. Mario briefly closed his eyes, then spoke, "Wart, we have no intention of working for you. Even your own people don't want to work for you; you just haven't realized it yet."
Wart pivoted and opened a doorway, a portal of brilliant colors flashing within. "Have it your way, Mario Brothers," he said, stepping through and vanishing. Beezo and the Autobomb operators relaxed and returned to their normal stances.
"It's time, Mario Brothers," Beezo declared, holding a tall, forked weapon upside down. Tweeter and Porcupo swiveled their Autobomb barrels toward the group. Karyme sprinted down the roadway toward the door of the first building. "Peach, don't let her escape; we'll handle the mid-boss!" Mario shouted.
"Will you?" Beezo planted his forked weapon into the pavement, the skies darkening with crackling lightning. "Direct!" Peach leaped over her comrades and gave chase to Karyme through the doorway. "Listen up, everyone! They're masters of ranged attacks! Dodge and close in for an assault! Get ready!" Mario's voice echoed. A diamond-shaped piece materialized over the front of Beezo's weapon as he emitted a golden aura. "This doesn't bode well," Toad raised an eyebrow. Both Autobomb engines revved, enveloping the area in thick clouds of smoke. "Mario, I should have pursued her," Luigi expressed his frustration.
The diamond-shaped piece on Beezo's weapon opened, revealing four globular pieces within. "Peach can handle herself; I need your full attention!" Mario responded. Beezo prepared his One-Shot Kill Move, bellowing, "VOLTEKKA!" The globular pieces unleashed a ray beam of light toward the party of three, while both Autobombs fired in unison.
Peach scaled three icy platforms, gracefully dodging Flurries, and paused to catch her breath on the fourth. She narrowly avoided another charging Flurry, then looked at her Exhaled Breath Condensate, realizing the chilling temperature of the building. "Giving up already?" Karyme's voice echoed from above. " Is this building filled with chains and spikes too? Is that some weird obsession you all share in these parts?" Peach quipped. "Oh, I forgot, you were probably hoping for lava and a drawbridge, right, Princess?" Karyme retorted. Peach continued climbing the icy blocks, snagging a Flurry in her path. Despite being captured, it continued to skate on, as if a dog dreaming of chasing a cat. As Peach approached Karyme's platform, she tossed the Flurry at the malevolent Subcon, sending her crashing into the wall with a pained cry. "That's what you get," Peach remarked, reaching Karyme's platform, but the Subcon nimbly fluttered above her. "Your momma is so poor, ducks throw bread at her!" Karyme taunted.
Peach retorted, "Your momma is so lazy; she has a stay-at-home job and is still late to work!" Karyme spiraled towards the ceiling, firing back with, "Your momma is so dumb; she sold her car to get gasoline money!" Peach responded, "What's a car?" Karyme hesitated, attempting to reply, but Peach hurled a Flurry at her, knocking her off the platform below. Peach continued her ascent, saying, "Two hits? You're quite resilient." Karyme slowly rose, brushed off her shoulders, and charged at Peach. "I'm not the one who got captured by a turtle and needed a man to save me!" Karyme taunted. She threw a punch, striking Peach's cheek, who staggered and retreated upwards, dodging a Flurry. Karyme pursued her.
Beezo spun his forked weapon and flew backward as the trio advanced. They were battered, bruised, and scorched. Tweeter adjusted his damaged Autobomb, launching a fireball that narrowly missed Toad. Mario moved forward, throwing a flurry of punches at Beezo, each one inching closer to its target. Luigi sidestepped Porcupo's Autobomb, delivering a powerful kick that sent metal gears and sprockets flying. Beneath them, the brick pavement began to crumble. "You're a formidable fighter!" the Sergeant noted as he retreated into the air, just beyond the trio's reach. "We're not finished here!" Mario declared, looking up at Beezo. "You're correct. One way or another, one of us won't make it," Beezo stated, positioning his forked weapon in front of him. Bricks and pavement dislodged from the bridge below and soared into the air. The diamond shape reappeared on the weapon's front, opening its panels to reveal glassy, globular components. Beezo glowed a brilliant yellow, preparing to fire his One-Shot Kill Move.
Peach burst through a door that led to the building's rooftop. The sky was illuminated with lightning, and thunder reverberated. A brick road connected this building to the second one, with a door on the other side. Peach peered over the building's edge, witnessing the ongoing battle below. Karyme soon arrived on the rooftop, more composed. "I thought you were the one being pursued, not the other way around! What are you doing up here?" Karyme questioned. Suddenly, her voice shifted, sounding as if ten men were speaking each word. She struggled to regain her composure. Peach turned to face her, inquiring, "What are you?" Karyme remained silent, visibly troubled. She responded slowly, with alternating words seeming to be spoken by a crowd of men: "If you want me, you'll have to catch me." Karyme soared through the air and crashed through the next doorway. Peach followed, even as the door hung askew from its hinge, with explosions resounding below as the battle raged on.
Peach's momentum propelled her off the icy platform, sending her plummeting through the building's lower levels. She rapidly descended alongside Karyme. "Let's see how strong you really are!" Karyme executed a somersault in mid-air, grabbing a passing Starman. Her attire immediately began to sparkle and exude the familiar aura known to the group. Peach's eyes widened in disbelief. Suddenly, a broken and digitized voice spoke to her telepathically, "ThThaat wass ssupposed to be for yooou." Peach had never heard this voice before and looked around, trying to locate the source. Karyme reached out, attempting to embrace Peach with hands crackling with Starman's electricity. "What are you looking for? I'm right here, Princess," Karyme said, her voice fluctuating once more. The two landed on an icy platform with a door. Karyme charged toward Peach, but the Princess evaded and entered the doorway.
Beezo breathed heavily, on one knee, wings spread, still clutching his forked weapon. Both Autobombs lay overturned and ablaze, their operators absent. Mario, Luigi, and Toad surrounded Beezo. The Sergeant caught his breath and slowly rose, his robes billowing in the stormy weather. None of the three had managed to so much as scratch him, but they had worn him down.
"I won't go down without a fight," Beezo mumbled, raising the forked weapon in front of him once more. The diamond-shaped piece materialized into place. "You fought valiantly, Sergeant, but it's over. I don't think you have the energy to use that ray beam of yours anymore," Mario calmly stated.
Mario was right. Beezo's One-Shot Kill Move had drained his life force. The forked weapon slipped from his grasp, and he collapsed onto the pavement. Sparkles ascended from his robes and wings, drifting into the air. "My time is almost up," Beezo said as a familiar wind rushed in. The party knelt beside him. "Can I help you up, Sergeant?" Mario asked. "No... I'll just stay here," Beezo replied, exhausted. He slowly turned his face towards Mario and said, "Your friend is in grave danger."
Peach found herself in a long, icy hallway and stopped to catch her breath. Karyme stood ahead, grounded, blocking her path to the Hawkmouth at the other end. "Peach, I haven't had this much fun in a while," Karyme smiled brightly. At that moment, the broken and digitized voice spoke to Peach again, "Are you listening to me?" A lightning bolt flashed across Karyme's eyes as she realized something was wrong. "Who are you?" Peach asked softly, unsure whom to address. "I am the Dream Machine," the voice responded, each word having inappropriate pitches and tones.
"WHO ARE YOU TALKING TO?!" Karyme yelled, flustered and paranoid. "Karyme is not what she seems. You will have to fight for your life. I will guide you," the voice spoke once more. Peach nodded. Karyme pulled a black mask from her Subcon robes. The Hawkmouth gradually opened behind her.
Suddenly, Peach's silky gloves were replaced with Kevlar ones; a turnout coat materialized over her torso; boots replaced her heels; an air mask covered her face, and an oxygen bottle fastened to her back; a Cairns 1010 firefighter helmet adorned her head. "Listen closely. I haven't much time," the Dream Machine said. Peach nodded again. Her heart raced, and her adrenaline surged. Each breath was audible. A bead of sweat slid off her cheek inside the mask. Peach watched Karyme closely.
"I'm not myself. I don't want to do this, Peach," tears filled Karyme's eyes. "I'm all messed up. I'm a monster," Karyme added. Small embers and bits of fire began to ascend from her robes. "I know this may be hard for you to understand right now, but you're under a spell," The Princess responded, her voice muffled due to the breathing apparatus. "You're a strong woman, Super Peach," Karyme said before solemnly turned towards the Hawksmouth and disappearing within. Peach followed.
Beyond the Hawk's mouth lay a great drop. Peach and Karyme descended side by side. The two studied each other as they fell several stories. Karyme placed the black mask over her face, and fire instantly engulfed her entire body. Peach's eyes widened in terror. Karyme's figure was no longer discernable; it was overtaken by a large floating entity of red and yellow flames. The temperature quickly shot up to 1,300 degrees, and even with the suit, Peach could still feel the heat.
She touched down in a concrete room with several platforms and Mushroom Blocks. The fiery entity hovered high above her, now the size of Bowser. "I am Fryguy, the General of World Four," Karyme stated, her voice now reaching its full glory, sounding like a group of men speaking each word. The temperature continued to rise, now reaching 1500 degrees.
Peach placed a gloved hand on a melting Mushroom Block but was interrupted by the Dream Machine's telepathic and distorted voice: "Stop fighting, start thinking." Fryguy descended towards Peach as she placed her hand in front of her mask to shield the heat. "I haven't much time," the Dream Machine said. Peach backed away as Fryguy neared her, his heat causing her turnout gear to darken.
"Although Subcon is different from your world, some things are universal. Heat rises. Fire consumes oxygen," the Dream Machine added before going completely silent. Perhaps the machine had crashed, or Wart caught it helping her. At any rate, Peach was on her own now. Fryguy met her face to face, the room's temperature reaching 1700 degrees. The thermal liner of her gear was quickly reaching its limits.
"There is no fighting me," Fryguy stated, each word a painful conglomeration of different men speaking.
"I don't need to fight you to win this battle," Peach said confidently. She lowered to her knees to reach the coolest area of the room, although that temperature was now 1900 degrees. Her suit had just about reached its limit. Fryguy became larger now, blinding her with his magnificent flames. "You're finished. You can't even stand up," Fryguy laughed.
"No, I can't, but there is one difference between the two of us," she said calmly. The leather piece on the front of her helmet burst into flames. "What's that, little one?" Fryguy asked, now hovering into her, his flames licking the reflective rings of her suit.
"Oxygen," Peach said weakly before crying out in agony as the heat scalded and seared her skin under the gruff suit. "Nani?!" Fryguy stopped dead in his tracks. There was an eerie silence that pervaded the room which had sealed when the Hawkmouth closed behind them. Fire did indeed need oxygen to thrive, and, at this point, his hot air persona had now written a check that his body couldn't cash. The once fiery being of brilliant light and and searing heat quickly burnt up and faded out like a match. The temperature plummeted, and Karyme was left in Fryguy's place, levitating in thin air. Her eyes were closed, and her entire Subcon body was charred and burnt. She fell lifelessly to the concrete floor.
A melody played in the distance, with a door suddenly appearing in the room. The Hawkmouth opened above, releasing the heat, and causing the temperature to plummet. Peach's suit disappeared and was replaced by her normal attire. She knelt and picked up Karyme, who was lifeless. Peach began to cry and rubbed Karyme's face against her own, resulting in black soot smearing over her cheeks. "Karyme no…please…don't go," She pleaded. A breeze began to circulate about the room. Peach tightened her hold onto the Subcon fairy, angrily yelling, "No! Just let me hold her. Please!"
Mario, Luigi, and Toad now descended upon the room. "We followed your path of mangled Flurries," said Mario. "We're so glad you're alright," Luigi joined in. "What happened here?" asked Toad. Peach lifted her face off Karyme and watched as she turned into sparkles and went with the wind. "I learned that I am a strong woman," she answered.
Author's Notes: Beezo's weapon was a tribute to Tekkaman Blade.