Chapter Eight:
The Assignment from Bowser
In the desolate and molten landscape of Lava Kingdom, far from the lush countryside of the Mushroom Kingdom, and deep within the halls of the sinister Koopa castle, the evil Koopa King Bowser sat upon his steel throne from which he commanded his forces as he carried out his many plans to conquer the world and abduct Princess Peach.
A Goomba and a Koopa, two of Bowser's minions, stood before the mighty Koopa King. The Koopa's name was Hal, the Goomba's name was Jeff.
To call them associates wouldn't technically be accurate, especially as they had issues with one another, but they were partners in Bowser's army and were loyal to him. But make no mistake, they were different from most Koopas and Goombas, especially as Hal and Jeff had wound up in many misadventures over the years.
Despite their failings, despite all of the hijinks they'd wound up in, both Hal and Jeff were still loyal to Bowser and they were more than eager to carry out whatever he told them to do. If Bowser ordered them to go kidnap Princess Peach, Hal and Jeff would do whatever it took to carry out his order.
Rarely did they get the chance to face Mario on the field compared to the other Goombas and Koopas, Jeff and Hal were mostly relegated to the sidelines and given other tasks, be it guard duty or janitorial-related stuff.
But today, despite not seeing much action in ages, they were ready to accept the assignment that Bowser was about to give them.
"Hal! Jeff!" Bowser said in his gruff voice, "Its been several months since the Mario Brothers wrecked my plans, and since then, it's been TOO quiet. So, I want you to investigate the Mushroom Kingdom and see what Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach are up to."
"Yes, sir!" Jeff nodded, "We're on our way to investigate and we promise that we will return to report on what they're planning."
"We'll be back..." Hal saluted, "And we won't let them see us while we're watching, sir!"
"And whatever you do, DON'T SCREW IT UP!" Bowser shouted in a threatening manner, "Otherwise, I WILL GRIND YOU INTO PORK FOR DINNER AND EAT WHATEVER IS LEFT OF YOU, IF YOU FAIL THE ASSIGNMENT!"
"Got it." Jeff nodded, "C'mon, Hal, let's go."
The two minions left the throne room to begin their assignment, even as their footsteps echoed on the marble walls. No sooner than Hal and Jeff had left, Bowser yawned and sat back in his throne. Despite being the commanding big bad king of the Koopas, a guy like him still needed his rest. He closed his eyes, smacking his lips softly, and drifted off into his nap.
Outside the throne room, Hal and Jeff walked through the gates and across the drawbridge towards the spot where Bowser's Koopa Car was currently parked. However, while Jeff was very focused on the task that Bowser had given to him and his associate, Hal's mind was somewhat focused on other things too.
"You getting paid?" The Koopa asked Jeff.
"I haven't gotten shit in months." The Goomba replied, "The only thing I get is Bowser kicking me in the face whenever he gets beaten by Mario."
"Must have sucked getting slammed into the wall." Hal quipped, trying not to laugh.
Jeff glared at him with annoyance as the memory resurfaced in his small Goomba-y mind, but Hal and many other Koopas could sympathize with the Goomba, nobody ever forgot what happened that day after Mario had rescued the princess again…
-Flashback-
Bowser roared with rage, a pillar of fire streaming from his mouth towards the ceiling. He stomped the ground, snarling angrily. Once again, Peach had been "rescued" and Mario had beaten him in battle.
How humiliating...
The Koopa King shrieked at his minions, calling them names such as "useless" and he turned towards a pair of Goombas, with Jeff among them.
Bowser stomped towards the Goomba pack and stomped on one of them, flattening the Goomba, and then, he kicked Jeff hard. Jeff flew several feet and crashed into the wall, he toppled to the floor and watched as Bowser's tantrum continued.
While he was lucky that he wasn't squished, Jeff was annoyed that he was being treated like garbage. At least Hal didn't get kicked around so much.
'Screw my life.' The Goomba thought.
-End Flashback-
"It was the worst moment in my career." Jeff said bitterly.
Hal shrugged and giggled sheepishly as he scratched the side of his head, "Eh, well, at least I don't get treated like dirt as you do. Perhaps I'll get paid when our job is over. I bet Bowser will pay me handsomely if I kidnap Peach."
"Our job is to see what the Mario Brothers and the princess are up to!" Jeff snapped, "He didn't tell us to kidnap her..."
"Right. Heh-heh..." Hal scratched his head with a sheepish smile, "We don't want Bowser to get mad at us nor do we want Mario coming to get us, I don't even remember if he ever ordered us to nab Peach. Say, Jeff? Did you ever take part in one of Bowser's abductions of the princess at some point?"
Jeff chuckled. "No, but that would be damn fun." The Goomba remarked, "But now's not the time to be abductors, we're spies!"
With all discussions over, Jeff and Hal climbed into the Koopa Car, started up the engines, and flew away from Bowser's Castle. They left the Dark World behind, soaring through the dark sky, as the two minions headed to lush green landscape of the Mushroom Kingdom, determined to carry out Bowser's important assignment without fail...