Chapter Two: The Shadow Thief

"C'mon, Vivian," Mario started, getting up. "Luigi needs us."

"What's going on?" Vivian asked, before proceeding to also get up and glide to his side.

"I'll tell you on the way."

Mario grabbed his hat, and stepped outside.

"There's a warp pipe right to Peach's Castle in our yard, luckily for us."

Then a thought crept across Mario's mind. Luigi said somebody was trying to take over the Mushroom Kingdom, so clearly they were a threat. What if Vivian got hurt? Or worse? Of course, she was very capable, and could take care of herself, but still, he didn't want to risk it.

"Wait right here. I just want to make sure the pipe works real quick."

Mario jumped through the pipe, and instead of seeing a monstrous foe or a world-ending catastrophe...

He got kicked out and ejected from the system. It took him a moment to catch his bearings, but then he hopped back up.

"Well, the pipe doesn't seem to be working. I guess we're taking the long way." Mario started, taking Vivian's hand and started for Toad Town.

They were in a hurry, so the couple didn't have much of a chance to sightsee. Eventually they were stopped by a pretty large crowd. Not knowing what to do, Mario started to push through the crowd before Vivian pulled him back.

"What are you doing?"

"Um, shadows, remember?" Vivian said, a little snarkier than usual.

Oh, right, Mario thought to himself. She can use the shadows.

Vivian held Mario and dropped down into the shadows. There, she could move anywhere, at her own pace. She quickly made her way past the crowd all the way to the castle itself, eventually reaching the throne room.

"All right, you think this is a good place to resurface?" Vivian asked Mario.

"Seems good. Let's do this."

With that, they resurfaced into the middle of an intense battle.

"COME OUT AND SHOW YOURSELF, COWARD!" the Koopa King roared.

Luigi, deciding it was finally time to act, emerged into the throne room. Bowser, not realizing it was only the younger Mario Brother, started spewing flames at him. After realizing who it was, he stopped and looked annoyedly at Luigi.

"Jeez, warn somebody before you come out! There's an intruder around!"

"Well, I know that, which is why I'm here!" was Luigi's response.

"I guess it's time to reveal myself, see?" the mysterious voice echoed throughout the castle.

Suddenly, the figure walked into the room. He had a gray hat with a tuft of hair sticking out of it, a purple mask, a dark blue and purple striped sweater, and baggy black pants. He looked up at everyone in the room with a devious smile on his face.

"I'm the infamous Shadow Thief, Popple!"

Luigi recognized Popple. He and Mario had to deal with this guy a while back, in the Beanbean Kingdom. He was an amateur thief who continuously failed to steal anything. Luigi thought the thief would be no challenge at all, and so he leaped into battle.

Luigi leapt into the air, he landed on the Shadow Thief's head. Popple recoiled, stepping back. He was clearly in pain.

"Well, oof, ugh, you're tougher than you look," the thief huffed. "Guess I'll just have to use this, see!?"

He pulled something out of his pocket, and while Luigi couldn't get a clear view of it, it looked like a wand. Popple raised the wand, and before Luigi knew it, lightning struck him, sending him flying back into the wall. Bowser then decided to finally step in, roaring and releasing a fierce flame from the back of his throat.

However, it did nothing. The Shadow Thief stood after the flames dried out, untouched and smirking. He had a rainbow glow to him, as if he had a Power Star, but it was different. Then Bowser got a good look at Popple's wand.

"That's the damn Star Rod!" the Koopa King roared.

Mario had told Luigi about the Star Rod. It was used in Star Haven to grant wishes, and Bowser himself had stolen it once to kidnap Peach. Whoever held it had... endless bounds of power.

"See, with this thing, I can do whatever I want! Just look at me now!" Popple screeched, raising the Star Rod.

He grew in size, changing to a hulking beast with massive muscles, and he slapped Bowser right towards Luigi. Luckily, he was able to jump out of the way before Bowser crushed him.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the floor. It was Vivian and Mario.

"Is that-" Mario started, recognizing the petty thief.

Popple simply groaned upon seeing the two.

"Ugh, there's more of you? It's time to finish things, see?"

He raised the Star Rod, but before he could do anything...

Mario, Luigi, Vivian, and Bowser were gone.

"Eh, I didn't need them anyway," was the Shadow Thief's response. "Now, princess, let's get to work."

He raised the Star Rod again, for devastating results.

Sorry these are short so far. It's gonna get good, I swear.