And so, here we are! The second chapter of the story! As you can see from the title, this chapter functions as a second prologue to properly introduce the Mario world and its characters. It's also a novelization of the intro of Super Mario RPG, so don't expect anything new, although I will add some new things to make this section not too similar from the original. Basically, don't expect any "crossover stuff" to happen until the next chapter, where things will truly kick into high gear.
So, without further ado, let's get started!
(06/02/2024) Chapter updated! Better descriptions, fixed grammatical errors and other minor fixes. The changes were all done by the new beta reader of this story; PhantoMaster! Once again, a huge thanks to them.
Prologue 2
The Arrival of the Smithy Gang
Mario wasn't sure how long it had been, but it was clear that he had been flying for at least a while now.
And yes, he meant flying in the literal sense. It tends to happen when something gigantic arrives from high in the sky and crushes on the ground you were standing on and propels you in the sky at high speed against your will.
He had no idea how much longer this was going to go. I mean, he had to land at some point, right?
But until that happened, Mario could do nothing but continue to rethink on the events that transpired just a while ago. The events that landed him in this situation in the first place. So many question were floating in his head in that moment, but there was one that was particularly pertinent and kept bugging him.
"How did this happen?"
And to think, it looked like a simple day like any other…
It was another typical day following the same old routine.
Bowser had once again kidnapped Princess Peach. Earlier, Peach had been enjoying the tranquility of a flower garden, surrounded by lush greenery and a few clouds in the blue sky. She picked up a tulip flower, sniffed it, and interacted with the butterflies nearby to savor the peaceful scenery.
Then, the idyllic moment dissipated when Bowser, descending in his Koopa Clown Car, snatched Peach, put her in his vehicle, and flew away.
It was up to Mario to stop him and rescue the princess. Fortunately, he observed the kidnapping without being noticed. Lucky for him! Armed with this advantage, the red plumber followed Bowser to see where the Koopa King was taking the princess.
Predictably, Bowser chose the cliché option of bringing her to his castle on a dark and stormy night against an eerie backdrop. Not the most original choice there on Bowser's part, huh?
But Mario wasn't going to object to this. Upon reaching the castle entrance, he witnessed the wooden doors opening themselves. Glancing up to get a good front view of Bowser's Keep, thunder roared in the sky above it, emphasizing his stronghold's ominous presence. The lightning and the opened entrance seemed to be daring Mario to enter.
The plumber clenched his fists. He definitely will for Peach. Wasting no time and without a hint of fear, Mario sprinted inside the castle.
There were no collectibles, fetch quests, and hours of traversing the kingdom. The only obstacles between himself and the princess were Bowser and his castle.
The interior of Bowser's Keep retained the egotism Mario had expected.
Bowser's emblem adorned everything—from the tapestries and carpets to the walls and doors. Even the castle entrance bore a sizable emblem of Bowser above it. Two imposing statues of the villain, crafted from pure silver, stood against the walls.
Surprisingly enough, the room didn't only have Bowser's image. Alongside the monumental statues were numerous smaller ones resembling Bowser's honor guards, the Terrapin, all also crafted from pure silver. Who knew Bowser held his troops in such high regard?
Brushing that aside, Mario quickly made his way in the next room.
There, the Terrapins awaited him, wielding hammers. Six stood before him, with two closest, and the remaining four guarded the door.
Mario should have been worried… but he really wasn't.
"End of the line Mario! This is as far as you will go!" shouted one Terrapin, gripping his weapon tightly.
"If you really think we will just let you waltz straight to Lord Bowser, then you must be even more foolish than we thought!" Another Terrapin said confidently. "Do you even know who we are!? We are the Terrapin, Lord Bowser's honor guards! And we will not fall to someone like you!" He said as he readied his weapon. "We shall end you once and for all!"
"FOR LORD BOWSER!" echoed the battle cry as the initial two Terrapins charged at Mario.
If it was anyone else in this kind of situation, they might have been afraid. But Mario remained unfazed. Having faced and defeated Bowser and his troops alongside various other enemies and monsters countless times, this seemed trivial to him.
"If I had a nickel for every time someone was convinced they were going to be the one to finally end me, Luigi wouldn't have needed to hunt all those ghost to get the money to buy that Mansion." He said unimpressed as he stretched his fingers and got in a fighting position. "Alright. Let's get this over with quickly."
A Terrapin charged at him with a hammer attack, but Mario skillfully dodged and responded with a swift punch, rendering his assailant unconscious. Sensing the second enemy coming his way, Mario evaded another attempted strike. He jumped and stomped on his head to knock him out as well.
The four Terrapins near the door were displeased as they observed the spectacle. One of them furiously exclaimed, "You miserable—! You are not going to make a mockery out of us!" He then looked at his comrades and rallied them up. "TERRAPINS! CHARGE!"
As the Terrapin gave his order, he charged with the two soldiers by his side. One stayed behind to guard the door as the last stand. The trio surrounded Mario strategically, standing face-to-face with him.
One determined Terrapin took the opportunity to express his anticipation. "Well, well, if it isn't THE Super Mario. At long last. I have been waiting my whole life for this moment. Now, not just Bowser and the Koopa Troop, but everyone in the world will now what Jagger is truly capable of! They will all see my true potential! Now, witness the true power of my fury! HYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAA!" The soldier screamed as he charged at Mario. He may have not been as strong as other soldiers in the Koopa Troop, or even as other Terrapin, but his heart was full of might!
…Only for Mario to swiftly extinguish that passion with a single punch to the face, knocking Jagger to the ground. The Terrapin uttered a resigned "Ow" before falling unconscious.
The pair of soldiers, still surrounding the plumber, refused to be disheartened by the failed display. They pounced at him simultaneously while readying their weapons. With good reflexes, Mario jumped out of their way, allowing the Terrapins to collide with each other head-first and get knocked out instantly. In the fleeting moment before darkness enveloped the guards, they pondered, 'How did Mario counter that...?'
With those two out of commission, only a lone Terrapin remained, resembling a deer caught in headlights after witnessing what some might call a 'mook horror show. It was in that moment he realized that there was only one sensible choice left for him.
"… Nope!" It's all he said as he dropped his weapon and high tailed it out of there faster than a yoshi, having chosen cowardice over grievous body harm.
Mario chuckled at that display. "Wise choice buddy." Patting his clothes to keep them dust-free, Mario considered the short distraction over and carried on with his mission. He opened the doors and ran to enter the third room, only to be greeted by another surprise.
"WHOA!" Mario exclaimed in surprise as he stopped in his tracks.
In front of him lay a wooden bridge that led directly to the next door. It might not have been perilous under usual circumstances, but having a gigantic lava pit below added a daunting twist, complete with Lava Bubbles leaping out of it. On top of that, the bridge lacked any railings, leaving nothing to grasp onto.
Even though there were risks, Mario steeled himself and cautiously advanced along the bridge. Each step was deliberate, his gaze fixed on his feet throughout. Mario also remained vigilant against the unpredictable antics of the Lava Bubbles, ensuring they wouldn't launch a surprise attack—a tactic all too familiar from his past adventures that nearly plunged him into lava countless times.
Mamma Mia, how the red plumber hated those creatures.
Undeterred, Mario kept his nerves and continued, successfully crossing the bridge and reaching the exit door. Right on cue, as he stepped off the bridge, a rumble echoed through the room, and the bridge collapsed into the lava pit.
It looks like there's no turning back now; it was a win-or-lose situation.
Determined, Mario swung open the doors and headed into the fourth room.
Upon entering, Mario noticed the abundance of spikes on the floor and walls, below and above the windows. They were probably there for decorative purposes—emphasis on the word 'probably.' The ceiling boasted two massive fancy golden chandeliers that held candles and hung many crystals, illuminating the room like a full moon. Interestingly, they were suspended not by ropes but by two Chain Chomps, showcasing Bowser's unique creativity. One could say that these decorations were 'Chaindeliers.'
A long red carpet, adorned with double gold stripes on the edges (one thinner on the inner and the other thicker on the outer), stretched from the doorway to the far side of the room. That's where Mario saw a regal throne on a double-layered, staired, carpeted concrete platform. The throne had red leather complemented by solid gold stripes, set against the backdrop of rich brown wood. Its seat handles featured embedded large green gems as decorative spikes protruded outward below them and at the top of the backrest.
There was no doubt that Mario was in Bowser's throne room.
Despite the grandeur, the King of the Koopas and the princess were nowhere to be found. Looking around and pondering their whereabouts, Mario was interrupted by a familiar cry for help.
"MAAARRRIIIIOOOOOO!"
Instinctively recognizing it, he looked upward and spotted something hovering above him. Or rather, someone in a pink dress dangling their feet in pointed-toe red shoes. To the plumber's surprise, it was Princess Peach. She dangled high in the air, tied in a rope, beyond the reach of even Mario's jumps.
It wasn't long before Peach got pulled up until she was above the Chaindeliers.
And guess who else was up there?
"BWAHAHAHAHA!"
Yep, none other than Bowser himself. The "King of Awesome" stood on the Chaindelier near his throne, laughing victoriously.
But as the old saying goes, 'Don't count your chickens before they hatch.'
Mario skillfully made his way up top, utilizing the hung items on the walls as jumping platforms. Eventually, he arrived at the elevated spot where Peach and Bowser were situated, landing on the Chaindelier across from the other one, much to the villain's shock.
Whoa. Only at this moment did Mario realize that he was very high up. Falling from that height would hurt a lot. Disregarding this concern, the red plumber redirected his attention to his arch-nemesis, who glared at him viciously.
"MARIO! I knew you would come! You just can't resist thwarting my plans every single time, can't you!?" Bowser roared furiously.
"It's not like I do this because I enjoy thwarting your plans Bowsers, it's just that I'm not exactly a fan of the all "kidnapping the princess and dominating the world" thing." Mario admitted to him, a bit of annoyance in his tone.
Bowser chuckled in response. "Not many people are." He then suddenly grew quiet as he then took a more pensive tone "Tell me, how long have we been doing this old song and dance?" He asked his nemesis.
"Believe me, too long." Mario replied to him.
"I actually agree with you, for once. Don't you think it's about time we put an end to it? And don't you worry, I have got the perfect solution in mind. It goes kind of like this…" After staying quiet for a few second, he then suddenly sported a twisted grin on his face as he looked at Mario with ill intention. "I END YOU! AND THEN I CONQUER THE MUSHROOM KINGDOM! AND THEN THE ALL WORLD!" Bowser then laughed maniacally as if he just said the funniest thing in the world. "How those that sound!?"
"Yeah, no. It ain't gonna happen pal." Mario said angrily as he got in a battle stance.
"Oh well, can't blame a guy for trying, right? Now then…" Bowser said calmly as he unsheathed his claws and got in a fighting position as well. "PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THE GREAT BEYOND!"
"DON'T LET BOWSER BRUISE YOU MARIO!" Peach yelled panicked as she struggled against the rope.
The fight started.
Bowser lunged at Mario, attempting to strike him with his razor-sharp claws. The plumber dodged it and countered with a powerful punch to Bowser's chest. Though slightly startled by that counterattack, Bowser quickly retaliated with two more claw slashes. Mario dodged each one without any problem, responding with a well-aimed uppercut to the chin that launched him back to his Chaindelier.
Being persistent, Bowser took a different strategy, revealing his spiked green shell by turning his back on Mario. Without much time to analyze, one of the spikes from the shell shot toward Mario, forcing him to evade with increased difficulty. Bowser continued the assault by launching two more spikes, but Mario agilely avoided them with a high jump. Seizing the opportunity, the plumber leaped onto Bowser's head, getting another successful hit and retreating to his Chaindelier by landing.
With bloodshot eyes, Bowser grew increasingly furious about getting hit again by Mario and how the battle was going. If there's one thing Bowser knew, he was one of the toughest Koopas in the history of the Mushroom Kingdom. He would NOT be easily beaten, especially not by some pesky plumber!
"COME ON! PUT SOME MUSCLES INTO IT!" Bowser bellowed as he lunged at Mario the second time with insane speed. The red hero flinched at seeing his fury and sudden change of fighting. Mario could tell that his frustrated arch-nemesis no longer cared about finesse. He just wanted to beat him senseless by wildly flailing his claws at him. All brawn and no brain, as they say.
Amidst the frenzy swatting, the mustachioed hero tried to predict and dodge the relentless onslaught. But Bowser had become too fast and unpredictable in his movement. Despite Mario's valiant efforts, he eventually received a hard blow to his left shoulder.
"ARGH!" cried the plumber in pain. He didn't have the time to properly register the wound when Bowser socked him in the face, sending him to the edge of the Chaindelier and almost knocking him off at that spot.
Peach gasped with worry for her rescuer. "Mario, get up quickly! You can do it!"
Regaining his balance, Mario winced as he held his wounded shoulder, realizing the fight had shifted. To make matters worse, the plumber lacked any healing items for recovery. Great, if only he had brought them along earlier. Perhaps Mario should've taken his time to pack the necessities instead of rushing out of his house and immediately pursuing Bowser…
The stakes heightened as the villain, fueled by his desire to destroy his enemy, continued his incessant thrashing. Ignoring his shoulder pain, Mario did his best to fight back while struggling to defend himself. He managed to avoid some swings but wasn't quick enough since he got more heavy hits on his body. It didn't help that landing a few lucky punches or stomps on Bowser made him angrily stronger and faster.
The Koopa villain finished his assault by elbowing Mario in the chest as payback for gut-punching him earlier. The force of the blow sent the plumber reeling, causing him to drop to his knees and clutch his aching stomach. While wincing at how painful it felt, the hero contemplated his next move, aware that he couldn't let the fight drag on much longer. Mario needed a solution to turn the tide in his favor, or he would surely lose.
The reptilian king grinned in satisfaction. "What's the matter, Mario? Can't fight back any longer?" taunted Bowser as he returned to his Chaindelier with a backward leap. "Good, because it looks like your luck has run out. Say your prayers, you mushroom-munching loser!" Readying his finishing move, Bowser inhaled for a fire-breathing attack to defeat his opponent.
Mario felt beads of sweat forming on his face. 'Darn it! This is bad. If he hits me with that it's game over!' He thought worryingly. 'I need to find a way to end this battle quickly! But How?'
"MARIO! THE CHAIN!"
His thoughts were interrupted when he heard the princess's urgent cry to him. The confused plumber turned his attention to Peach, who reiterated, "ATTACK THE CHAIN!"
Momentarily processing her advice, Mario glanced at the chain of the Chaindelier that Bowser stood on. A sudden realization struck him, and with a metaphorical light bulb above his head, he knew what to do.
"So long, Mario!" Bowser shouted as he unleashed colossal flames bursting at Mario. Without missing a beat, the plumber hero used all his strength to jump towards his target while dodging above the blazes and delivering a powerful punch to the chain. And it looked like that was more than enough as a sound reverberated from the Chaindelier. Not wanting to stick around for what'll happen soon, Mario immediately sprung back to his initial spot.
"Eh? What was that sound?" Bowser asked himself confused.
He got his answer as he saw that the Chain Chomp holding the chandelier was starting to struggle, much to his horror. "N-NO! IT'S A CHAIN REACTION! HANG IN THERE CHAINDELIER!" Bowser frantically screamed at the Chain Chomp, hopping around as he desperately tried to maintain control. "I'M HOLDING ON BY THE SKIN OF YOUR TEETH! WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T LET GO!"
Unfortunately for him, his prayers would go unanswered as the Chain Chomp let go, causing the chandelier to fall, and him along with it.
"EYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Bowser's terrified scream echoed through the fall.
Observing this, Mario sighed in relief and doffed his hat in victory. Even though he had a close call in the fight, the mustachioed plumber won the battle and saved the day again.
Or so he thought. Bowser, known for his tenacity, wasn't one to give up easily.
"COMING MARIO!?"
Obstinate as ever, the turtle villain threw a hammer at the chain holding the Chain Chomp of Mario's Chaindelier, causing it to tremble. If Bowser (literally) had to go down, he'd take Mario along with him!
"MAMMA MIA!" Mario screamed in panic, jumping everywhere as he hectically attempted to prevent the Chain Chomp from letting go, ironacly mirroring his enemy's earlier actions.
"FIGHT MARIO! FIGHT!" Peach yelled at him as an "encouragement."
"NOT HELPING PRINCESS!" Mario yelled back.
Unfortunately, his attempt would prove for naught as Bowser had not done with him. "THIS SHOULD FINISH YOU!" He screamed as he threw another hammer at the chain.
And this time, it did the trick as the Chain Chomp let go.
"WAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Mario screamed at the top of his lungs as he fell into the abyss.
He fell for a few second before he reached were Bowser was falling. The latter which seemed less bothered by the situation and more satisfied that he got Mario in it as well.
"MWAHAHA! Did you really think I was just going to give her to you!?" Bowser laughed at the red plumber. Despite enjoying his moment of reprisal, he was still ticked off by how Mario outmaneuvered him, and he was still unbelievably pissed off. "You are ALWAYS in my way! And I had enough of it!" He then unsheathed his claws again as he prepared himself to have another go at him. "THIS IS IT! I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU OUT RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW MARIO!"
With that said, the two adversaries clashed against one another to continue their epic clash.
… Or at least, that's what Bowser thought was going to happen.
In truth, while he did launch himself towards him, Mario instead took that chance to jump on his head. The plumber used the momentum to propel himself in the air, heading back to where Peach was, thus leaving a horrified Bowser in the dust. Or, in this case, plummeting down to his throne room.
"FOOOOIIILLEEEDD AGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIN!" He screamed at the top of his lungs as he fell into the abyss again… And this time for good.
Like a speeding bullet shot from a cannon, Mario was flying at high speed up toward his destination. Eventually, he reached the princess again, grabbing onto one of the hanging Chain Chomps to not fall.
"Oh Mario! You had me so worried." She told him, relief in her voice in seeing him safe and sound.
"Yeah, well, what can I say? All in a day's work, right?" He said jokingly to her, trying to use humor to not think about the fact that he was literally hanging for dear life. After taking a few heavy breaths, he climbed the chain of the Chain Chomp so that he could reach the princess and the rope that was holding her.
"Thank you Mario. Now let's get out of here." Peach expressed her gratitude to Mario, who managed to get close enough and extended his hand to grab her.
The princess smiled as the mustachioed hero was inches away from freeing her. Nobody could blame Peach for feeling grateful that the ordeal was finally over.
…
…
That looked like another day unfolded in its usual pattern. Mario once again thwarted Bowser's plans, rescued Princess Peach, and returned to the castle together to celebrate with the whole kingdom. It seemed like a routine day—nothing more, nothing less.
Little did Mario know, that very day, at that precise moment…
Everything would take a drastic turn for the worse.
Before Mario could untie the princess, a MASSIVE rumble shook the castle, forcing him to halt his rescue and cling to the hanging chain.
"Eek! Mario! The whole castle's shaking!" screamed Peach, alarmed by the intensifying tremors.
Night had fallen outside Bowser's Keep, and the sky, full of shiny bright stars, appeared peaceful as always. Among them was a massive star that glowed with translucent rainbow patterns.
And then, it happened.
A portal opened high in the sky, tainted by a sinister mixture of red and black, emitting an aura of pure malice. From within emerged a gigantic sword, its long, sharp blade pointing straight down malevolently. The hilt area featured a cross guard made out of solid gold, extending its vibrant color to the rain-guard below, and black zig-zag stripes embellishing the red grip. A skull served as the pommel, displaying a set of bull horns, double pairs of fangs protruding upward and downward, and empty eye sockets exuding hostility.
Remarkably, the sword bore a monstrous face on the cross guard, featuring a pair of angry eyes and a mouth with two protruding fangs on its lower jaw. Its three-digit clawed hands adorned both ends of the individual bars.
After exiting the portal, the immense weapon descended rapidly like a harbinger of doom, poised to bring judgment, destruction, and death.
The giant star, unfortunately, lay in its path. The menacing entity destroyed it by the point/tip with unstoppable force. Crashing into the sizable star caused a brief flash of bright light as the sword shattered it into seven fragments, scattering them across individual regions of the Mushroom Kingdom.
Ultimately, the massive weapon embedded itself in the castle, unleashing a blinding light that engulfed the entire place. During this, three figures were launched out of the fortress, propelling into the sky and flying in separate directions. The flash settled a second later to reveal what became of the stronghold.
There it stood, unmoving and unflinching—a colossal sword impaled Bowser's Keep, its threatening presence meaning only one thing:
A sinister omen for the future of the Mushroom Kingdom and its citizens.
…
…
But as the saying goes, "there is a light at the end of the tunnel."
Concurrently, it emerged in the middle of the forest. Another blinding light appeared, illuminating the area momentarily before vanishing.
A beacon of hope for not just the Mushroom kingdom, but the whole world.
…
And this my friend was only the beginning.
The beginning of an adventure that no one was ever going to forget.
Super Mario RPG: The Seven Stars and the Calamity Box.
And it's DONE! FINALLY!
First off, I want to apologize. I'm really sorry that this chapter took a while to come out, especially when it was pretty short compared to the previous one. The truth is, even thou it was shorter, I still had to deal with some writers block. Couple that with anxiety and you get a really unholy combination.
But despite that, I still managed to finish it. SO I'm still counting it as a win.
I promise that I will try to use a more stable release plan from now on. For your sake and for mine.
Anyway, with this, the prologue is now truly done. Next time, we are FINALLY going to tackle the meat of this story, with the crossover elements starting for real. And what better way to start then with the protagonists meeting each other. It's going to be fun!
SEE YOU NEXT TIME!