-Chapter 3-
The Power of Bowser
Toad Town
As soon as Bowser hit the dirt, the effect was instantaneous. Toads all over were screaming and running around in circles, utterly terrified. Toad and Toadsworth stood, completely frozen in terror, as Peach stood, putting a hand on their shoulders in an attempt to keep him calm…or perhaps to keep herself calm. Luigi hid behind Mario, intimidated by the sight.
"T-that's Bowser?" he stammered. "He's huge!"
"Doesn't look so tough to me," Mario said, visibly shaken but trying to hide it.
"Princess Peach!" Bowser greeted cordially. "Long time no see! Haven't seen you since the go-karting tournament! Remember?"
"You mean the one you weren't invited to?" Peach shot back.
Bowser waved a hand, dismissing it. "A mistake on your part. It's okay, I forgive you."
"What are you doing here, Bowser?" Peach demanded.
"I've heard tell we have a hero in our fair kingdom, so I just thought I'd stop by. See how everyone's doin', do some shopping, grab a bite to eat... Oh! And find the dead duck who beat up my men!" Bowser scowled. "You know how I feel about 'heroes', Peach."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Peach insisted.
"Don't mess with me!" Bowser roared. "One of your toadies beat up my Koopas! You know what happens when you mess with Koopa Troop business!"
"None of my Toads hurt your Koopas," Peach informed him. "I speak the truth."
"Well, if it wasn't them, then who did it?!"
It didn't take long for Mario to make his decision. He stepped forward, facing down the Koopa king.
"I did," he declared.
Bowser blinked. "Huh?"
"So, you're the big, bad boss in charge of those shell brains from the pier?" Mario asked. "Gotta say, you're even uglier than I thought you'd be."
Bowser just stared for a minute, before snickering. Before long, it became full-on belly laughter.
"Oh, my ribs! My gut!" He cackled before wiping his eyes. "Oh, that's a good one."
Mario raised an eyebrow. "Am I missing something here?"
"You're kidding, right?" Bowser said, unimpressed. "You honestly expect me to believe some nobody, blue-collar goofball sent my Koopas packing?"
"Uh, boss?" another Koopa piped up, getting Bowser's attention. "That is him. The fat guy in red we mentioned."
"Hey!" Mario objected. "I'm not that fat! I only weigh 198!"
A moment of silence passed as Bowser took that in.
"Are you serious?" he demanded. "You, my highly trained and superior soldiers, were beaten by that?!"
"He's tougher than he looks!" another Koopa defended.
"Shut up, Frank!" Bowser snapped. "Alright, enough messing around! Hey! Mr. Hero! Get your butt out here!"
"Bring it on, turtle boy!" Mario declared.
"Mario, are you nuts?!" Luigi demanded.
"Shut yer trap, Yeti-Lip! Nobody asked you!" Bowser snapped.
"Seriously!" Mario shouted, annoyed. "Your men even confirmed I'm the one who beat them up! When Peach said you were strong and petty, she forgot to mention you were stupid!"
Bowser scowled before reigning in his temper. "Fine... if you're not gonna come out yourself, I'll just have to make you. Kamek! Kammy!"
"Yes, Lord Bowser?" the two Magikoopas declared.
"Brick 'em."
"Yes, sir!"
Kamek and Kammy raised their wands, and as they did, several Toads fled.
"Oh, no…" Peach gasped. "All of you, run!"
Kamen and Kammy cast the spell, unleashing a wave of magic energy and geometric shapes. Despite their best efforts to get away, several Toads were hit, screaming as they were forcibly converted into blocks composed of dark red bricks. Everyone looked on in horror as they were transformed, except for Bowser, who had an evil grin.
"My God…" Luigi let out.
"Ha!" Bowser declared. "See that, Mr. Hero!? This is what happens to those who defy me!" He turned to his men. "Troops! Round up the bricks and get them onto the ships! And send word to the building crews! We got a new shipment of materials for them."
Mario scowled in rage at Bowser's cruelty, taking a few steps back.
"Are you mad?!" Toadsworth demanded. "You can't stop him! He's too big!"
"Well, you know what they say," Mario began, stretching his arms. "The bigger they are…"
Mario took off at a sprint before launching into a flying drop kick with both feet outstretched, connecting solidly with Bowser's chest. The Koopa king barely batted an eye, while Mario hit the ground, a chorus of sympathetic groans and oohs sounding from the others as he clutched his throbbing feet.
"The more bones they break..." Luigi deadpanned.
"Idiot…" Bowser scoffed as he picked him up by the back of the neck, raising him to his eye level. Mario grinned sheepishly.
"So…" he began, "Did that hurt at all?"
"Well, it itches a little. How about you?"
"It… only hurts when I laugh."
"How about now?"
Before Mario could say more than "What?", he was suddenly sent hurtling through the air, only stopping when he slammed into the wall of Peach's Castle back first. The wall shattered on impact, and Mario slowly slid down, slumping over.
"Owww…" he wheezed out.
"Mario!" Luigi screamed.
"No!" Peach tried to run over to him, only for Kammy to fire a magic blast from her wand at her feet, stopping her in her tracks.
"Ah-ah-ah," Kammy taunted, wagging a finger. "None of that, Princess."
"Please, enough is enough!" Peach pleaded. "Mario's badly hurt! You've already won!"
"Shoulda thought of that when he decided to play hero," Bowser scoffed. "It's not over until his game is ended, and his stupid, red hat is hanging on my wall."
As he stomped toward the downed Mario, Peach quickly stepped in his way.
"Bowser, stop!" she shouted. "Take me instead!"
Bowser paused at that. "Excuse me?"
"Peach... no…" Mario let out, wincing.
"I'll go with you willingly. only if you let me heal him and pull out your troops," Peach told him.
"She makes a good point, my lord," Kamek mused.
"Indeed," said Kammy. "Princess Peach's magic is one of the few forces that can counter our own. Take that…"
"And there's nothing that can stand in my way," Bowser realized with a chuckle. "Alright, Peachy. You got yourself a deal. You have two minutes."
Peach nodded before heading over to Mario, kneeling to his level before holding her hands out over him. The image of a pink heart appeared in front of her and her palms glowed blue, the power spreading to Mario, who immediately felt the pain and fatigue fade as it happened. Everyone watched as Peach healed Mario, Luigi, and Toad awestruck.
"What in the world…?" Luigi managed.
"Princess Peach's Heart Magic," Toad realized. "It has the power to heal any injury and break any curse! I've heard stories about it, but I never thought I'd actually get to see it!"
Mario looked up at Peach as she did her work.
"P-Princess…" he wheezed.
"Shh…" Peach shushed. "Don't speak. You're not fully healed." She managed a smile. "Mario, I'm sorry for all of this. But I want you to know that it was nice to finally see you again."
"Don't… do this," Mario managed. "You shouldn't have to... take the fall for my stupid mistake."
Peach shook her head. "It's okay. You're my friend...and I-"
"Okay, time's up!" Bowser cut in. "He's healed enough!"
He snatched up Peach.
"No!" Toadsworth cried. "Princess!"
Bowser ignored him, beginning to bark out orders. "Koopa Troop! Round up the bricks and prepare the holding cell! We're goin' home! And Squad A!"
"Yes, Lord Bowser!" several Koopas piped up.
Bowser grinned evilly. "Finish the job."
"What?!" Peach shrieked. "I surrendered! We had a deal!"
Bowser rolled his eyes. "And you're what, shocked and disappointed? I'm an evil, egg-sucking son of a snake!"
He stomped off, Peach kicking and screaming all the while. Bowser just kept going, pressing a button in his hand and calling in a bizarre, helicopter-like vehicle with a large clown face on the front.
"Hasta la bye-bye!" he taunted as he stuffed Peach inside, boarding it himself.
"No!" Peach screamed. "Put me down! Let me go! MARIOOOOOOOOO!"
"Peach!" Mario shouted as the car took off. He got up, trying to run after her, only to be hit with a Koopa shell. He turned to see the same Koopas from before, only with backup.
"Not so tough now, are ya, Fatso?" Frank taunted.
"Mama Mia…" Mario let out before getting jumped, the Koopas beating on him. Toad, Toadsworth, and Luigi could only watch in horror.
"Mario!" Luigi shouted. "Stop! Leave him alone!"
"Luigi, do something!" Toad yelled.
"Huh!?" Luigi gasped. "M-Me!?"
"They're beating the snot outta him! You're his brother! You gotta save him!"
"Yeah, string bean." One of the Koopas smiled at him evilly. "Save him. See what happens."
Luigi began to sweat.
"C'mon!" Toad urged. "You're just gonna let your brother get beaten to death?!"
"I… I'm…"
"Oh, for the love of Pete…" Toad reached into his tool belt and pulled out a red mushroom with white spots. "Mario! Catch!"
He threw the mushroom to Mario, who caught it.
"Now eat it!" he ordered.
"What?!" Mario demanded.
"Just do it! They're gearing up to finish you off!"
Mario looked at the mushroom for a moment, then took a bite. Immediately, he felt a surge of power and vigor, his wounds healing. He quickly began scarfing the whole thing just as the Koopas all jumped and dogpiled him. A tense moment passed before they were suddenly sent flying back, Mario standing tall, having grown to Peach's size.
"Aw, crud…" one of them muttered.
"Now that's more like it," Mario declared. "Let's-a go!"
The Koopas charged at Mario, but he zipped around past them, evading their blows with ease. He ducked a few punches, suddenly finding everything moving in seeming slow motion (1). As he watched the Koopa's surprised expression, Mario quickly lashed out with a one-two punch that sent him flying into a nearby wall. The Koopas all gaped in shock, Mario, in particular, looking at his hand in wonder.
Another Koopa recovered quickly, charging at Mario, only for the plumber to sweep-kick his legs out from under him and kick him in the shell, knocking him into a wall. A third Koopa came charging right at him, only for Mario to uppercut him, launching him into the air. He then leaped up and punched him again, causing him to hit the ground hard. A fourth Koopa tried attacking him from behind, but Mario heard him coming, causing him to backflip over the Koopa. Once he landed behind it, he kicked it in the back of the shell, knocking it to the ground.
Having stayed back, the fifth Koopa was shaking in fear at what he just saw, prompting him to start running away.
"Oh no you don't," Mario swore, taking off after him.
He then leaped into the air, landing on the Koopa's shell and causing him to fall to the ground. The impact caused the Koopa to retreat into his shell, giving Mario an idea. He jumped off the shell and kicked it toward the other four Koopas, knocking them all away with one blow. With that, realizing they were outmatched, the Koopas immediately got to their feet and took off running.
"Run away! Run away!"
"Ahhhhhhh!"
"Mommy!"
"You'll pay for this, Fatso! You hear me! You'll PAAAAY!"
"Guys wait! I lost my shell again! GUUUUUYS!"
"And don't come back!" Mario shouted just as the boost wore off. "Whew…"
"Mario!" Luigi cried. "Are you alright?"
"I'm good," Mario assured. "What the heck was that?"
"Super Mushroom," Toad explained. "Magic mushrooms that heal injuries when you eat them. They also give you a big boost of power."
"Wow…" Mario mused. "That's handy… Woulda helped a ton back in New Donk City."
"This is terrible!"
They all turned to see Toadsworth approach, rage and sorrow plain on his face.
"So many innocent Toads bricked, and the princess stolen away by that vile Bowser!" He glared at Mario. "All because of you! If you hadn't interfered in the Koopa Troop's business, none of this would be happening!"
Mario winced at that, but Toad stepped in. "Hey, back off! So what if he stood up to those jerks? It's about freaking time SOMEBODY did!"
"And that's exactly what got us in this mess in the first place!" Toadsworth snapped.
"Hey, I didn't know!" Mario defended. "And even if I did, what was I supposed to do? Let him keep terrorizing people?!"
"At least he would've left the citizens alone! At least they wouldn't have been turned into bricks for his new castles and fortresses! At least Princess Peach would have been safe…" Toadsworth closed his eyes in sorrow. "But because of your recklessness, he's stolen her away and taken her Heart Power as his own! Now nobody can stop him! And it's all your fault! Every bit of it!"
Mario could only look back at the old man's face. His anger, his sadness, his resignation…
"You're right…" he admitted. "It is my fault."
"Mario…" Luigi began.
Mario's fists clenched. "Which is why I'm going to make things right."
Luigi blinked. "Eh?"
"Say what?" Toad asked.
Toadsworth looked up at him. "Excuse me?"
"I'm going to save Peach," Mario declared.
"Wait, what?!" Luigi shrieked.
"I'm going after Bowser, and I'm going to bring her back."
"Mario, are-" Luigi began.
"Are you mad?!" Toadsworth demanded.
"That big, spiky turtle creep hurt innocent people and kidnapped one of my friends. Yes, I'm mad."
"Mario... Th-Think about what you're saying!" Luigi pleaded. "That Bowser guy just beat you to a pulp in one hit! You couldn't even lay a scratch on him! Now you're thinking about just waltzing into his kingdom, alone, for... for what?!"
"Why do you think?" Mario asked. "To save the princess and put Bowser in his place. Someone has to do it... and since I'm the one who ticked him off in the first place, it looks like it's gotta be me."
"She's not our friend!" Luigi shouted. "We barely know her! This isn't our home! This doesn't have anything to do with us!"
"This is our home, Luigi," Mario pointed out. "Or it was once upon a time. The Princess knew us, knows our past. Besides, this isn't our first time facing off against a big, scary bad guy."
"This isn't like what happened with the Kongs, Mario!" Luigi insisted. "This guy's a KING! With his own kingdom! And army! And AIRSHIPS!"
That got Mario to pause for a minute.
"Okay, so it'll take a little more work," he said nervously, but he regained his nerves just as quickly. "But I'm still going through with this."
"Mama Mia…" Luigi sighed.
"Y-you're insane!" Toadsworth screamed. "Y-You can't seriously mean to take on the Koopa Troop by yourself! I-It's impossible!"
"Nothing's impossible," Mario insisted. "Improbable, maybe, but never impossible."
"Well... if Mario's going... then I'm going too!" Toad decided.
"Wait, what?!" Mario let out.
"As I said, it's about time somebody stood up to Bowser," said Toad. "And I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm sick and tired of him and his stupid Koopas walking all over me and everyone else! Besides, you helped me when his goons ransacked my store. You scratch my back, Mario, I scratch yours."
"Toad…"
"Plus... if you're gonna take on the Koopa Troop, you're gonna need the right tools for the job." Toad patted his belt. "And I've got plenty of tools to go around. Special hero discount."
Mario nodded, seeing the logic there. With that, he turned to Luigi.
"There's no way I can talk you outta this, is there?" Luigi asked.
"Luigi, that's a stupid question, and you know that."
"You're both crazy! Insane!" Luigi exclaimed before sighing. "Alright, I'm in. Let's do this!"
"Ready for adventure!" Toad declared.
As Mario took off, Toadsworth removed his glasses to rub his eyes.
"They're insane. Utterly mad…" After a minute, he perked. "And yet… I don't know why, but... I feel as if they can actually do this."
Mario suddenly stopped before walking back. "So...how do we get there?"
Luigi facepalmed, slumping over. "We're doomed."
"Hang on, I've got an atlas at the shop," Toad said. "Let's swing by there real quick."
As they headed for the shop, Toadsworth winced. "Or perhaps I'm the one who's going mad."
Author's Note:
(1): Zone Speed from Mario Tennis Aces. One thing this series will do is flesh out power-ups and moves that have only appeared in spin-offs and have way more potential than, say, just using bullet time to hit tennis balls.
The adventure begins! Can the Mario Bros. and Toad save the day? Stay tuned...
Please R&R. Until next time!