-Chapter 10-
A Tyrant Falls
Mario's group headed through the Pipe Maze, Parakarry leading the way.
"Not too much farther now," the Paratroopa told them. "The pipe to Neo Bowser City is just ahead."
"You just said that an hour ago, Karry," Toad grumbled.
"But it's only been fifteen minutes." David pointed out.
"Just a right here, and…" Parakarry rounded the corner, everyone stopping to see a transparent Warp Pipe leading up.
"Whoa…" Mario let out.
"Oooh!" E. Gadd exclaimed. "A Clear Pipe!"
"I'm guessing those are special?" Mario asked.
"Indeed! You can see through them!" A dead silence followed. "Also, they can take you places up to ten times faster than the average Colored Pipe."
"Why didn't you start with that?" Mario deadpanned.
"Let's just go," Plum cut in.
"I'll go first," David walked over to the pipe, which just sucked him in. "Wheeee…."
"Never thought I'd be happy to go down this thing," Parakarry mused before heading down the pipe himself.
"Well, ladies first," E. Gadd told Plum.
Plum scoffed. "Age before beauty."
E. Gadd blushed, chuckling. "How kind of you, my dear."
Plum threw up her hands in exasperation before grabbing E. Gadd by the collar.
"Hey!" E. Gadd exclaimed as Plum dragged him over.
"That means after you, you senile, old bat!" she declared before shoving him into the pipe and following.
"This is it," Toad remarked. "The final stretch. The last world. Here, we decide the fates of millions..." A moment of silence passed before he grinned. "Last one down pays for the afterparty!"
He charged forward, giving a thumbs up before leaping in head-first.
"Okay…" Mario took a deep breath. "Let's-a go."
He stepped forward. Luigi trembled with fear, his teeth chattering.
"Oh!" he exclaimed. "I just remembered, Mario. I, uh... think I left the water running in the bathtub at home. I better go take care of it."
As he turned to go, Mario gave him a deadpan look.
"Luigi, we're literally right here. C'mon, bro."
Luigi just stood there, shaking like a leaf. Mario rolled his eyes.
"Alright, just wait here for us. But I'd hate to be in this spooky, dark place all alone when Bowser's minions come knocking."
With that, Mario jumped inside the pipe. Luigi waited for all of three seconds before running after him.
"Mario! WAIT FOR ME!"
The brothers were sucked into the pipe, traveling down the inside at high speeds and screaming in fear and exhilaration.
Neo Bowser City
Finally, on the other side, they were spat out, Luigi nauseous and tumbling head-over-heels like a ragdoll. The others turned to face them.
"Gentlemen and Plum, welcome to Neo Bowser City, the capital of the Koopa Kingdom," Parakarry said. "Though 'welcome' is a bit of a strong word."
The group took in the sight of a technologically advanced city, the exact opposite of the humble little abodes of Toad Town. Neon lights and signs lit up the area, even more so with the perpetual dark clouds overhead, and images and pictures of Bowser himself and the emblem of the Koopa Troop covered the city. There were police blimps, spotlights, monitors, and posters with the phrase Big Bowser is Watching' everywhere they looked. All in all, it was a grim sight to behold.
"Wow…" Mario let out. "Just… wow."
"It's like we stepped into 1984 …" Luigi managed.
"Why? What happened in 1984?" Plum asked.
"Never mind that!" Toad cut in. "Look!"
The mushroom man pointed to a set of posters stuck to a wall. As they approached, they saw they were all wanted posters of the group, advertising a bounty for them dead or alive. Mario's face took up most of them, advertising a ten thousand Coin reward with the words "Preferably Dead" scrawled under the "Dead or Alive" header.
"Hot dang, guys, we're fugitives!" Toad exclaimed.
"Well, not all of us," Plum said.
"Whaddya mean?" Toad asked.
"Doesn't look like you or Luigi have one," David remarked.
"Oh, thank God…" Luigi sighed.
Toad was less than pleased. "Are you kidding me!? I'm tagging along with public enemy number one and I don't even get my own poster!? What a rip!"
"It means they won't be looking for us or trying to kill us."
"Guys, guys!" Mario cut in. "We can argue about how much the Koopa Troop hates our guts later. We need to focus."
At that moment, they heard music playing. Perking, they followed the sound to find a simple Koopa Troopa with a yellow shell playing a guitar, a few people stopping to drop a coin in his hat. Several creatures crowded around, looking downtrodden; they resembled small brown mushrooms with two feet and no visible arms or legs, two little fangs protruding from their bottom jaws.
"What are those guys?" Luigi asked.
"Goombas," Toad replied. "They used to be allied with Princess Peach and the Mushroom Kingdom... until Bowser made them an offer they couldn't refuse."
"They couldn't refuse because it was so good, or they couldn't refuse without being bricked?" Mario asked.
"Does it matter?" Toad spat, a bit of venom in his tone. "It doesn't matter what the circumstances were, Mario. The Goombas were our allies, our friends ... and the minute the Koopa Troop came knocking, they repaid all of the princess' kindness with a hammer to the back of the head."
The conversation was cut off as they heard the Koopa musician speak up.
"Hey, cheer up, guys! Could always be worse," He began to play rapidly on his guitar, singing a tune that immediately had the Goombas sporting looks of dread. " Ain't got no water anywhere / Food's bad, so's the air! / Got no resources, in a great big stupor / All because of the evil King Koopa! "
The Goombas and the crowd began backing away slowly.
"Oh boy…" Toad gasped.
"Oh boy?" Mario asked. "Why oh boy?"
On cue, a group of Magikoopas swooped in, glaring the musician down.
"The Magikoopa Mob…" Parakarry managed. "Oh no."
"You know the law, Koop!" the lead Magikoopa yelled. "That's strike three!"
"You just don't wanna face the facts that I'm right!" Koop shot back. "The kingdom's gone to shiitake ever since Bowser took over! He sucks as a ruler, plain and simple!"
They raised their wands. Mario's jaw dropped, realizing what was about to happen.
"No…" he let out. "They're seriously going to brick him just for singing a song?"
"Not just any song," David clarified. "An anti-Bowser song."
"OMAZIUGEL REPPOH SNIKSOH!" the Magikoopas recited before the leader fired a shape blast at Koop. Even as he was surrounded by multicolored shapes, he continued to rant and rave defiantly.
"Bowser's goin' down someday! And I'll be watching and laughing from the Underwhere! Mark my words!"
The Magikoopa scoffed before waving his wand one last time. In a puff of smoke, the musician disappeared, and in his place stood a Brick Block.
"And that makes 1993," the leader remarked.
"Good."
Everyone turned to see a massive crab with a scarred shell and cold, gray eyes approaching. He was hauling a huge basket full of bricks on his back, and everybody gave him a wide berth as he scuttled along.
"It's Clawgrip!"
"Hot crud, it's Clawgrip!"
"What's he doing here?!"
"Nothing good, I reckon."
"Shhh! You wanna get in that basket too!?"
Clawgrip scuttled over to the bricked musician, picking him up in his claws. "A shame. You really should have learned your lesson the last two times you caused a public disturbance and slandered Lord Bowser."
With that, he began squeezing the block in his claws. Everyone around him watched in shock and horror as the bricked Koopa crumbled to pieces, falling to the ground.
"Even as brickwork, you threaten the stability of the Kingdom," he spat in disdain. "I wouldn't even build an outhouse with you."
"Clawgrip, you overgrown seafood platter!" the lead Magikoopa yelled. "Do you realize what you've just done?!"
"I do. But go ahead and tell me anyway."
"You pointlessly destroyed a protester, in front of countless witnesses! His threat ended the minute we bricked him! The uprisings and riots that will ensue because of this are on your head!"
"Oh, please," Clawgrip scoffed. "They can riot and try to rebel all they want. It'll just result in the same outcome as all the other times. Lord Bowser will never lose."
"Even still, you can't-!" The Magikoopa was cut off when Clawgrip grabbed him by the throat.
"I can. And I will. And do you know why?" Clawgrip looked him in the eye. "Because I am strong enough to get away with it. Lord Bowser is strong enough to get away with it. Do you consider the thoughts and feelings of ants or blades of grass as you trample them under your feet? No. Because they're so tiny, weak, and insignificant, even their most vicious bites are nothing more than a minor annoyance. And the tiniest motion from you..." He tightened his grip. "Can crush. Them. Flat."
"Y-Yes sir!" the Magikoopa stammered. "You've made your point quite clear!"
"Good." Clawgrip dropped the Magikoopa. "I'm taking these back to the warehouse. His Greatness has plans for a new fortress in Marrymore. Also, keep an eye out. The Red 'Stache and his pals should be here any time now."
He scuttled off, the crowd slowly dispersing. From their hiding place, Mario clenched his fist, rage barely concealed on his face at what he just saw.
"That… I can't believe he just did that!" the red plumber exclaimed. "I-I've seen this almost a dozen times now, and it still makes my blood boil! And to his own subjects too?! How can anyone be so... so… heartless?!"
"That's what happens when you've been number one for so long," Parakarry remarked. "You're so used to winning, you start to think you can get away with anything."
"Well, Bowser's winning streak will be broken by dawn. And that's a plumber's guarantee." Mario stood up. "Which way to his castle?"
"Well…" Plum pointed ahead, where Bowser's Castle sat in plain sight. In contrast to Peach's, it was absolutely gargantuan and much more ostentatious.
"Wow, he has a spike obsession," Mario deadpanned. "And I can't even act surprised that the front door and drawbridge are on a rock carving of his face."
"Quite full of himself, isn't he?" E. Gadd remarked.
"The bigger the ego, the louder the fall," Mario insisted.
"That's still no excuse to not take him seriously," Plum said. "Bowser got his ego because he's good at his job, and his job is conquest. Underestimate him, even for a second, and it's Game Over."
"Right…" Mario nodded. "So, how are we going to do this? Something tells me just kicking his butt and getting Peach out isn't going to cut it."
"You would be right," E. Gadd agreed. "In addition to rescuing the princess and stopping the villain, it's imperative that we secure Clawgrip's warehouse."
"It's where he keeps all the bricked victims," David added. "He uses them as leverage against the people."
"Step out of line or even think something bad... CRUNCH!" Parakarry stamped his foot for emphasis. "Your friends and family are your new gravel driveway."
"Right then," Mario nodded. "The warehouse is our first stop."
"Just follow the scuttle lines," Parakarry said. "Clawgrip is not subtle."
They headed off, following the scuttle lines, but Luigi stood there, frozen in fear. Mario turned to him.
"Luigi?"
"Dude, come on!" Toad said. "We gotta get moving!"
"I… I…" Luigi began breathing heavily. "I can't do this..."
"What do you mean?"
At that, Luigi exploded. "Exactly what I said, Mario! This is suicide! We're plumbers, not soldiers! If we do this, we'll just end up as another brick in the wall! Or worse!"
"So what?" Mario demanded. "We're just supposed to let Bowser win? Rule over everything?!"
"You saw what that giant crab did! He crushed that poor Koopa like an egg! He'll do the same to us!"
Mario stood firm. "Too many people are counting on us, Luigi! We've come too far to give up now!"
Luigi threw up his hands in exasperation. "Oh, I don't know why I even bother! You've never listened to me before, so why would you start now?!"
Mario spun around, his temper flaring. "And you wanna know why I never listen?"
"Why?"
Mario stormed over to him. "Because I have no respect for you! Wasting your life in that stupid plumbing workshop!" He shook his head in discontent. "It's tragic."
Luigi was flabbergasted. "Y-you think I didn't have other things I wanted to do with my life? That I didn't have ambitions of my own?! Someone had to keep Scapelli from taking over after Pops got hurt, but did you care? No! All you cared about was your DOA sports career! I'm trying to keep the only person I have left in this crazy world from getting himself killed, and you're willing to throw your life away for-!"
"The Princess," Mario cut in. "Our friend. Yeah, it was when we were babies, but she's still our friend. And Bowser took her because I did something stupid!"
"And I tried to stop you then too! If you hadn't decided to be a big-shot hero, none of this would've happened! All you had to do was listen to me just once, but you didn't, did you? And it's just been one misery after another ever since! We almost got blown up, eaten by a giant snake, thrown into the ocean, blown up again, frozen, and burnt to a crisp, all in the same week, only surviving through sheer. Dumb. Luck!" He looked up, seeing Mario was turning around and going to follow the scuttle lines. With that, something in Luigi snapped. "YOU'RE STILL NOT LISTENING?! "
With a scream of pure fury, Luigi charged at Mario, tackling him to the ground. The two tussled on the ground, Mario trying to shove him off.
"Great Grambi!" E. Gadd exclaimed.
"Guys, stop!" Toad exclaimed. "You're brothers! Don't do-!"
"STAY OUT OF IT, TOAD!" Mario and Luigi both snapped simultaneously.
"Both of you, knock it off!" Plum cried. "You're making a scene!"
Ignoring her, Mario and Luigi rolled around on the ground, trading blows before Mario got Luigi down by the shoulders, pinning him.
"I've had ENOUGH!" Luigi planted his feet in Mario's belly, kicking him off. "I've tried and tried to get you to stop, but I'm done trying to convince you, Mario! If you wanna get yourself killed over some princess, be my guest, but I'm going home!"
"FINE!" Mario exploded, sitting up. "Go home, you coward! Who needs you?!"
Luigi stared at Mario for a few moments, heartbreak visible in his eyes, then turned away and walked off.
"Luigi…" Plum stepped forward. "Are you really gonna do this? Can you really just ignore everyone else suffering and dying under Bowser? Please... we need you."
Luigi's expression softened, and he looked visibly conflicted before squeezing his eyes shut.
"I just can't do it… I'm sorry." With that, Luigi walked off, head hung in shame.
"Luigi, wait!" Plum cried.
"Let him go," Plum," E. Gadd said somberly. "Luigi made his decision. And though we disagree with it, it's his to make."
"C'mon…" Mario sighed. "We've got work to do."
He turned to follow the scuttle tracks once more. As they went, Mario's anger slowly faded and he let a bitter tear fall.
"Damn it... why did it have to be this way, Bro…"
Meanwhile...
Back in Bowser's Castle, the Koopa King made his way through the halls. He whistled casually as he entered the painting where Peach's cage was held.
"Oh Princess!"
Peach sat there with her back turned to him, not even acknowledging his call. Bowser glowered, clearing his throat.
"Princess!"
She still ignored him. Bowser growled, smoke coming out his nostrils.
"Hey!" he shouted. "I'm talking to you, Pinky!"
Peach turned her head only slightly. "Isn't there someone else you can annoy? Friends? Family? A ravenous pack of Putrid Piranhas?"
"Why you..." Bowser took a deep breath, composing himself. "Unfortunately for you, milady, I have business with you. I'm letting you go."
Peach perked. "What?"
"I am letting. You go," Bowser said slowly. "You're free. Get outta here."
Peach raised an eyebrow. "You're letting me go, just like that?"
"What, do you want a complementary sendoff party? Flowers? Fireworks? Balloons? An all-you-can-eat dessert buffet slash foot rub?"
Peach's eyes narrowed. "What are you up to?"
"I don't know what you mean."
"I may be a 'pretty, pink princess', Bowser, but I'm not stupid. You've been looking for an excuse to make me your prisoner for years. Now, you finally have me and you're just letting me go, no strings attached?" Peach shook her head.
"Alright, you got me," Bowser conceded. "There's one condition for your release... that is if you have the heart for it!"
He grinned, pulling out the gemstone heart and holding it aloft. Immediately, it began pulsating and glowing, emitting the sound of a heartbeat. Peach's eyes widened in shock.
"Is that…?"
"Oh yeah. A Heart Container. This sparky, little valentine can hold any kind of fancy, lifeful, heartful, whatever-ful magic whozeewhatsits in the whole stinking world. Including your Heart Power, the one thing in the world that can undo my Bricking Curse. So, how about you just transfer your power into the container, and then you can walk out the front door?"
"And if I refuse?"
Bowser grinned. "You remember Clawgrip, don't you? One of my Elites? My Royal Architect? The guy who runs my Masonry Warehouse?"
Peach gasped in horror. "You wouldn't…"
"Would I?"
"You… you're sick !"
Bowser shrugged. "I've been called worse. Now, enough jibber-jabber. Give me your Heart Power, or I'll call Clawgrip and have him break every brick we have. The choice is yours, Peachy. What's it gonna be?"
Peach thought for a minute as Bowser recited a "tick-tock" sound impatiently, before reciting a rapid, upbeat tune (1).
"Alright!" Peach snapped. "Alright… you win."
Bowser chuckled. "I knew you'd see reason."
Peach closed her eyes and held out her hands, a mass of pink light in the shape of a heart forming between them. As the heart formed, Bowser raised the Heart Container. The Container's beating began to accelerate, disrupting the energy heart, which began to dissolve into wispy trails of energy. With each beat, the energy was pulled into the Heart Container, which beat faster and faster. Finally, as the last of the energy heart was drained, the beating stopped. Bowser grinned as he eyed the Heart Container, which now glowed reddish-pink with mystical power.
"There," Peach spat, looking more than a little exhausted, "It's yours. Now, release me."
Instead, Bowser chuckled darkly for a moment, before walking off.
"Wait!" Peach called. "Where are you going!? You said you'd let me go!"
"Yeah, about that…" Bowser turned and grinned. "I lied! But don't worry, I won't smash your people. I've got a castle building planned in Marrymore this summer."
Peach scowled. "You miserable, lying SNAKE!"
"Hey, turtle, not snake. Get your reptiles right before you insult me, eh? Now, if you'll excuse me… I got a world to conquer." He started laughing as he left. "It's all over, Peachy! You lose!"
As soon as he was gone, Peach grinned to herself. "No Bowser... you lose."
Meanwhile…
"Okay, so this Clawgrip guy, anything I should know about him?" Mario asked.
"Not much to say, really," Parakarry replied. "Super strong, super tough… Pinches really hard. He's basically your standard giant, enemy crab."
"He's not kidding about the pinching part," David remarked. "I've still got the scar to prove it. Wanna see?"
He turned around, about to drop his pants and making it crystal clear where the scar was.
"No, no!" Mario cut in. "That's fine, David. I'm good. No need to show us."
David shrugged, turning back around.
"Seriously Dave, if you don't want people seeing what your face looks like, we don't wanna know what your butt looks like." Toad deadpanned.
"Hmmm?" Plum perked, looking up and to the side. "Oh no… guys, look!"
She pointed up at a tall tower, where pink light glowed from the window.
"Gadzooks!" E. Gadd exclaimed. "I recognize that pretty, pink light anywhere! That's Princess Peach's Heart Power!"
"No…" Mario realized. "Don't tell me…"
"Whatever's going on in there must be bad if she's using it!" Toad remarked.
"Wh-What do we do?" David asked.
Mario glared. "I'm going in!"
He took off.
"Wait!" Plum exclaimed. "Mario!"
"What about the brick warehouse?!" E. Gadd cried.
"If I get the Princess out of there, she can just break the curse!" Mario called back. "You just focus on claiming the place! I'll be back!"
And with that, he was gone.
"He's out of his mind!" David exclaimed. "Storming Bowser's Castle, alone ?!"
"It's for the best," Parakarry remarked. "We'd only slow him down. Besides, I think he's got this."
"I hope so…"
"C'mon!" Plum said, "We have a job to do!"
Meanwhile…
Luigi was walking down the street, looking absolutely defeated as Mario and Plum's words echoed in his head.
"So what? We're just supposed to let Bowser win? Rule over everything?! Too many people are counting on us, Luigi! We've come too far to give up now!"
"Luigi… Are you really gonna do this? Can you really just ignore everyone else suffering and dying under Bowser? Please... we need you."
Luigi winced as Mario's last words hit him.
"FINE! Go home, you coward! Who needs you?!"
"Why did this have to happen?" Luigi sighed, looking around at the city and taking in all the decay and hopelessness. All over, Bowser's subjects had their heads down, looking utterly downtrodden and essentially giving up on life.
"Bowser only has as much power as you let him!"
Luigi looked, seeing several Koopatrols harassing a man. He grimaced before shaking his head and walking off.
"No…" he said to himself. "There's nothing you can do. You'll just get yourself killed."
Little did Luigi know he was being followed.
"Now, where is that darn Clear Pipe?" He perked as he heard a soft scuttling noise. "Huh?" Then he heard a clicking noise. "Hello?" He looked around nervously. "Mario? Mario, is that–?"
Suddenly, something hit Luigi in the back of the head, knocking him out.
-X-
A few moments later…
Luigi came to, his head throbbing.
"Hey, he's waking up!" came a voice.
"Good, good," came Clawgrip's voice. "For a moment, I thought I hit him too hard."
"Huh…" Luigi raised his head to see himself in a room full of bricks, with Clawgrip standing in front of him. He gasped. "I-it's you! That Clawgrip guy!"
"Ah, so you've heard of me. That saves me an intro. Let's cut to the chase, Green 'Stache. I'm looking for a human in red, with a mustache just like yours," he grabbed one of Luigi's mustache hairs in his pincers. "Tell me where he is, and I might let you live."
Luigi let out a pained yelp as Clawgrip kept tugging, speaking faster and faster.
"Do you think I know every human being with a mustache wearing an identical outfit with a hat with the letter of his first name on it?! ...Because I don't!"
With a comically furious expression on his face, Clawgrip yanked the hair in his claws out by the roots, getting a pained scream out of Luigi.
"I think we understand each other. Now, depending on how cooperative you are from here on out, you may or may not walk out of here clean-shaven... and bald." Clawgrip clacked his pincers together menacingly.
"Mario…" Luigi thought, "Where are you!?"
Meanwhile…
Mario made his way to the castle, running over to the drawbridge.
"Bowser!" he screamed. "It's a-me, Mario! I'm calling you out!"
From the balcony, Kammy and Kamek looked down, seeing Mario.
"Your Rottenness!" Kammy called. "He's here!"
Bowser grinned at the news.
"Just running up to the front gate and calling you out for a fight," Kamek mused. "The Red 'Stache is either very brave... or incredibly stupid."
"You want us to brick him, Your Repugnantness?" Kammy asked.
"No," Bowser rose from his throne. "I'll deal with him myself. Lower the bridge."
"Are you sure, my Lord?" Kamek questioned.
"Either the tricks and traps in the castle take care of him, or he makes it to me. Either way, he's going down."
"As you wish, my Lord."
Outside, Mario watched as the drawbridge was lowered.
"Well, if it isn't the drawbridge lowering, right there for me to just waltz right in. Yeah... trap." He caught a flash of pink out of the corner of his eye, seeing it glowing in the window. At that, he steeled his resolve and ran off. "Hang in there just a little longer, Peach. I'm coming for you."
Clawgrip plucked another hair from Luigi's mustache, getting another scream.
"Blast you, Green Man… Your fortitude is as admirable as it is frustrating. But I'm gonna make you talk one way or another."
He started plucking more hairs. Luigi stood firm even as tears of pain welled up in his eyes.
"If you think- OW!- I'm gonna- OUCH!- sell my brother out to you- EEP!- you're crazy!"
"Trust me, everyone has a breaking point," Clawgrip plucked another hair. "And I've reached mine with this. So…" He walked off. "How about we try a different approach?"
Luigi watched as Clawgrip grabbed a brick from the shelf.
"For every time you refuse to talk, from here on out, I grind one of these bricks to dust. And yeah, even Princess Peach's Heart Power can't fix a bricked sap who's been smashed. They're dead. Game Over." Luigi watched fearfully as he went on. "Tell me, Green Man, would you be able to live with the guilt? Knowing that it was your fault an innocent life was snuffed out? Each of these bricks is somebody's parent. Friend. Lover. Child." His claw scratched across the brick. "Sibling. A life literally held in my big, meaty claws. All I have to do... is squeeze." Clawgrip began to slowly squeeze the brick.
"No!" Luigi screamed. "Don't!"
"Then tell me what I want to know. Where... is... the Red Man?"
"I… I…" Luigi was visibly conflicted, biting his lower lip. Clawgrip scoffed.
"I thought as much. Fine then…" He began squeezing the brick harder. "Remember, I gave you a chance. This is on your head."
"No…"
Meanwhile, Mario ran through the castle.
"Ah, Red 'Stache!" Bowser's voice suddenly came over a loudspeaker. "So glad you could join me. Welcome to my humble abode. Tell me, did you enjoy your trip to my glorious city? "
"It'd be much more glorious, not to mention better to look at, if your face didn't cover the city like a bad rash!" Mario shot back.
"Excuse you!? I'll have you know, my face makes anything look 200% more awesome!"
"You go right on believing that. Now how about you stop hiding behind your mooks and traps, and get out here and fight me like a man!"
"Now, where would the fun in that be?"
Mario heard a fwoosh sound, looking up to see a rotating bar of fire swing down toward him.
"Whoa!" he exclaimed, leaping back a split second before being hit. No sooner did he land did he look down to see a shadow under his feet, one that was rapidly growing darker. He looked up, jumping to the side just as a rectangular, spike-encrusted stone with an angry facial expression came slamming down with a loud grunt.
"I'm waiting for you in the throne room," Bowser went on. "All you have to do to get the privilege of facing me is get through my castle alive. Good luck, Red Stache! You're gonna need it."
Mario heard the sound of something hanging up before Bowser rapidly picked up the intercom again.
"Oh, I apologize. I forgot to properly set the mood. Maestro, if you please…"
A dramatic orchestrated 4/4 tempo in D minor began playing over the speakers (2). Mario rolled his eyes.
"Parakarry was right. This guy has way too much time on his hands."
Nonetheless, Mario ran ahead, narrowly skidding to a stop before he ran into a pit of lava.
"Of course. Wouldn't be a supervillain lair without boiling pits of lava, would it?"
"'Course!" Bowser declared. "Lava's awesome! Think you can get past it?"
Mario looked to the side, seeing two elevator lifts going up and down. "Well, when in Rome…"
He watched them go up and down, waiting for the right moment before hopping on one.
"Oh!" Bowser chimed in. "And watch out for the Lava Bubbles. They like to jump up and surprise people."
"The what now?" Bowser was spared the effort of an answer when a fireball with beady black eyes sprang out at Mario. He narrowly ducked.
"Those guys."
"Why do they have eyes?"
"What?"
"The Lava Bubble things. They have eyes."
"Well duh! How do you expect them to see where they're going? "
Mario blinked. "They're… alive?"
"Yes, brainiac. Where have you been? "
"You have...living fireballs?"
"If I were you, I'd be more worried about the elevator, genius."
"Elevator?"
Right on cue, the elevator dropped into the lava. Mario landed in the pit rump first before springing out, running around and clutching his burning rear.
"My biscuits are burning! Fire in the hole! Holy Macaroni, that smarts!"
Bowser laughed hysterically as Mario dropped to the ground, scooting like a dog with worms before rolling around until the fire went out. A moment passed before he got up.
"Laugh while you can, Bowser! When I get my hands on you, you'll be sorry!"
"Ooh! I'm shaking in my shell! By the way, you got fire on your face."
"What? No I-"
Suddenly, a jet of fire flew at Mario from a distance. He yelped before ducking.
"Why you-!" Mario narrowly jumped over another one.
"C'mon, plumber boy! Dance!"
Mario kept running, jumping, and ducking. "How... many... fire traps... does this... guy... NEED!?"
Eventually, Mario made it to a massive red door. Two statues of Bowser stood before it, spewing fire.
"Yeah… this is the place." Mario shoved the door open. "Alright Bowser, no more games! No more...!"
He perked as he heard a whistling sound. He looked up to see a chandelier falling for him, leaping out of the way. Hearing loud, yapping laughter, he looked up to see a black, metal ball with eyes and teeth hanging from the ceiling by a chain, laughing at him.
"Kinklink" Bowser scolded. "You naughty Chain Chomp!"
Mario turned to see Bowser walking toward him. "I am so sorry. Kinklink likes to play little...pranks on new guests."
Mario just gave him a deadpan look. "Right... so, you done sitting on your tail and hiding behind your traps like a chicken?"
"Chicken?" Bowser snorted smoke from his nose indignantly. "Nobody calls King Bowser a chicken! That's it! It's SHOWTIME!"
Bowser unleashed a jet of flame at Mario as the plumber leaped at him. The final battle had begun.
Meanwhile…
Luigi watched helplessly as Clawgrip continued to squeeze the brick.
"And now… someone dies." He squeezed one last time, but instead of breaking, it turned brown and solid. "Huh?"
Luigi blinked as Clawgrip tried to squeeze it again. "Come on...why isn't it breaking!?" Suddenly, a Super Mushroom popped out of it.
"What the…?" The mushroom slid off the brick, heading toward Luigi. "NO!"
Seeing his chance, Luigi scooped up the Super Mushroom. As soon as he grabbed it, he became flooded with power.
"Mama Mia…" he gasped, looking at his hands. "I feel great!"
"Not for long!" Clawgrip scuttled forward, claws out to snip Luigi in two, only for Luigi to duck. Clawgrip kept snipping at him, only for Luigi to dodge every single one. He swung his claw down like a hammer, but the green plumber jumped out of the way.
"Hold still, will ya?!"
Luigi watched as Clawgrip grabbed a brick, throwing it at him. Instinctively, Luigi reached up and caught the block, stumbling back a bit.
"Phew…" he sighed. "Close one!"
Clawgrip grabbed another block before throwing it. Luigi caught it, setting it down.
"You cheating sleaze!" Luigi cursed. "Fight me yourself!"
"Hey, cheating is a legitimate strategy." Clawgrip grabbed several blocks at once. "Let's see how you handle these!"
He threw them at Luigi. The green plumber tried his best but was only able to grab a few, the rest breaking on impact against the wall.
"No…" Luigi cursed. "You monster! How could you do that?!"
"Natural selection, Green 'Stache!" Clawgrip declared. "The strong flourish, the weak perish! And there's nobody in the world stronger than Lord Bowser and those who follow him!"
"Sir, the materials!" a Koopatrol objected. "The hostages!"
"So what if a few bricks break!? We'll just make more! There are a billion other maggots in the Mushroom World! Nobody will miss a few."
Luigi clenched his fists in anger. "You… You won't get away with this!"
"Fool," Clawgrip scoffed. "We've been getting away with this for years!" He grabbed more bricks.
"No…" Luigi let out. "He can't do this… But… What can I do? I…"
He noticed another solid block, running over to it. He picked it up, and a Fire Flower popped out.
"A Fire Flower…" he realized. "I can blast him, just like we did with Fryguy!"
He plucked it, aiming it at Clawgrip.
"Hold it!" he shouted, Clawgrip stopping. "Put the bricks down, or I'll boil you up and serve you with melted butter!" For emphasis, he tugged on the end of the Fire Flower as if cocking a shotgun.
"You idiot…" Clawgrip spat. "Do you really think that little poppy is going to hurt me? Can you even fire it?"
Luigi swallowed, Clawgrip grinning. "That's what I thought."
"NO!" Luigi screamed as Clawgrip prepared to throw the bricks. Suddenly, the Fire Flower began to glow, the light coursing through Luigi before flashing brightly.
"What in the world-?!" Clawgrip dropped the bricks, which fortunately didn't break. When the light faded, Luigi's shirt and hat were white, his overalls green. He looked down at himself, realizing what happened. With a small grin, he raised a hand, a green fireball appearing in his palm. Seeing this, Clawgrip hesitated... before taking a step backward.
"Oh no," Luigi said calmly. "You're not going anywhere."
"What… How? What...What is this!?"
"Your karma."
Luigi threw the fireball, the projectile hitting Clawgrip in the face and exploding on impact. The crab screamed in agony, clutching his burning face before scowling and running at Luigi. The green plumber dodged around his frenzied attacks, continuously pelting him with fireballs.
"You… you think you'll get away with this?! Even if by some miracle you beat me, you'll never stand a chance against Lord Bowser! Do you hear me!? The Koopa Troop is unstoppable!"
"We'll just see about that, Crabby."
Clawgrip attempted to crush Luigi under his claw once more, but Luigi dodged. Almost instinctively, Luigi pulled his arm back, his fist enveloped in green fire.
"Oh, no…" Clawgrip managed.
With a mighty yell, Luigi delivered a flaming uppercut right into Clawgrip. Time seemed to slow down as the plumber's fist connected with the crab's mandibles, and burning pain erupted through his body. Finally, Clawgrip was launched off the ground and sent flying through the ceiling with a loud crash. His attending Koopatrols looked on in shock. Their gaze then turned to Luigi, who held his pose for a few more seconds, before turning to them, his eyes burning with emerald fire. A split second passed before they turned and ran, screaming. Once they were gone, Luigi's eyes widened in shock.
"Holy rigatoni…" he managed. "Did… did I do that?"
He was pulled out of his stupor by a flash of light. Looking to the side, he noticed one of the bricks produced another Fire Flower.
"That could be useful," he said as he grabbed the glowing plant and stuffed it in his pocket. As he prepared to leave, he took one last look at the hoard of bricks. "Don't worry, you'll all be back to normal soon." And with that, he left.
-X-
Meanwhile…
Toad and the others had arrived outside a warehouse.
"This is the place." Parakarry reported. "The Royal Koopa Masonry Warehouse, where Bowser keeps his 'spare building materials'."
"And judging from the scuttle marks, Clawgrip is already here." Plum mused.
"So, how do we get inside?" Toad questioned.
"Not sure," David replied. "I've never been here before."
At that moment, they heard a loud crashing sound.
"What the hey!?" Toad exclaimed.
"Look!" E. Gadd pointed. "Up in the sky!"
Everyone looked up to see something wreathed in green fire explode out of the roof, flying upward.
"Is it a bird?" David asked.
"No, it's a plane!" Parakarry declared.
"No!" Plum said. "It's…"
The object crashed down before them, revealing…
"Gadzooks!" E. Gadd exclaimed. "It's Clawgrip!"
Indeed, it was Clawgrip. The crab was just laying there on the ground covered in scorch marks and gurgling in pain, his pupils replaced with comical X's and colorful stars spinning around his head.
"Someone worked him over. But who? We just got here, and Mario's at the castle, so…" Toad perked. "You don't think…?"
At that moment, they heard screaming.
"Run for your lives!"
"The Green Man's gone crazy! The Green Man's gone crazy!"
A slew of Koopatrols came barreling out of the warehouse door, running as if the hounds of the Underwhere were at their heels.
"What the…?!" Plum exclaimed.
"Guys, look!" Toad pointed just as someone else ran out of the warehouse. It was Luigi.
"Oh, man…" he let out, panicking. "Oh, man!"
"Luigi?!" they shouted.
"Wah!" Luigi stumbled for a moment, waving his arms around in surprise. Once he'd regained his composure (and balance), he realized who he'd almost run into.
"Oh, h-hey guys," he said sheepishly.
Plum took a moment to look over Luigi, taking in his changed outfit, looking between him and the downed Clawgrip. "Luigi, did... did you do that?"
"Yeah…" Luigi admitted. "I… I don't know what happened. One minute I'm walking around trying to find the pipe out of here. Then something whacks me on the head and I wake up in there and Clawgrip's there wanting to know where Mario is. Then he starts breaking all the bricked people and threatens to keep doing it until I tell him where Mario went, and then we're fighting, and a Super Mushroom comes out of one of them! Then a Fire Flower! And next thing I know, I'm shooting green fire out of my hands and kicking Clawgrip's butt! It was crazy!"
"By Jove…" E. Gadd gasped. "Luigi, do you realize what you just did?! You defeated the last of Bowser's Elites! H-his most elite Elite!"
"Yeah…" Luigi nodded. "It's still sinking in for me." His eyes widened. "Wait… where's Mario?"
"He saw a flash of Peach's Heart Power and went to storm the castle," Plum replied.
"Alone?! I can't believe he would…" Luigi hesitated before sighing. "Actually, I can believe it." A moment passed before he perked, his expression becoming one of fear as he tensed up. "He's in trouble…"
"How can you tell?" Toad asked. "You have some kinda super-secret twin connection or something?" Luigi just gave him a look. "Oh my gosh, you do. (3)"
"Yeah, and right now, it's telling me that my brother needs me. C'mon, let's go!"
They turned on their heels, taking off for Bowser's Castle.
Back at the castle, Mario and Bowser's fight had spilled out onto the drawbridge, the magma moat bubbling ominously below. Thus far, the two had found themselves at a stalemate; while Mario could easily outmaneuver Bowser, the Koopa King's raw strength outclassed his own, and his shell was able to take his best hits with minimal damage.
"Gotta say, I'm starting to see how you were able to take down four of my Elites!" Bowser remarked. "But I'm a whole different game from them!"
Mario barely managed to dodge another fire breath attack but was unable to see Bowser's claw reaching for him. Bowser grabbed him by the collar, leaping up into the air and belly-flopping on top of Mario (4). He pulled back as Mario lay on the ground, winded and cringing.
"Do you know what that sound is, Red?" he taunted, holding a hand up to his 'ear'. "Listen closely... is it fear? Hope? The slow inevitability of your game ending? No. It's me. Winning. And I always win."
"Not this time…" Mario pulled himself up, clutching his shoulder and stumbling before standing tall. "All the pain you've caused, Bowser, the people you've hurt... it ends tonight. If it's the last thing I ever do, evil's game ends tonight!"
Bowser casually swatted Mario aside. "Oh, really? 'Cause I could stand to go another ten rounds while you can barely stand, period. Tell you what though… You've been the first real challenge I've had in a long time. I mean it. These past few years have been nothing but curb stomp after curb stomp. Gets real boring. So… I'll let you live. And all you have to do is swear your undying loyalty to me."
"Never," Mario spat, slowly getting back up. "I'll never bow to you."
"Now, now, you haven't heard of the perks and fringe benefits. Evil powers. Health insurance. Free Koopa-Kola. We could rule the world side-by-side. And why stop there? First the Mushroom World, then the galaxy, then the universe, and the multiverse... it'd all be ours! You could have anything you want! Nobody could touch us! Nothing would be out of your grasp!" Bowser held out his hand. "So… what do you say?"
"I've already got everything I want, so no thanks," Mario scoffed. "Besides, I've seen the way people like Clawgrip and your wizards treat your subjects. Not much job security."
Bowser blinked. "Say what?"
"One of your Koopa Troopas was bricked for singing a song that badmouthed you, and Clawgrip crushed him. You didn't know?"
Bowser sighed, rubbing his eyes in annoyance. "That overgrown Sidestepper... I told him a thousand times not to go around smashing things and killing people just for fun. Waste of good bricks. Next time I see him, he's dinner."
"You take over peoples' homes. Force them to give you all their money and goods. Turn them into bricks if they so much as look at you the wrong way. And if anybody speaks up about it, you stomp them into the ground. I'll never bow to a black-hearted, slimy reptile like you, Bowser."
Bowser shrugged. "Fine, you had your chance."
He took a deep breath, his mouth glowing with flame.
"HEY!" came a new voice. "Lizard Face!"
Bowser perked as a green fireball flew into his mouth, disrupting his attack. He reeled back, coughing and releasing smoke as Mario spun around, seeing the others running up with Luigi in the lead.
"Luigi…" Mario managed in shock. "You... you came back…"
"What the…?" Bowser let out.
"Mario! Catch!" Luigi threw Mario the Fire Flower he picked up from the warehouse.
Mario reached up and caught it, the flower glowing in his hands. It was absorbed into him, his outfit shifting before he spun around to face Bowser.
"Alright, Bowser, you've had your fun. You ready for round two?"
Bowser looked confused for a moment before smirking. "So you got some new threads, big whoop! You still don't stand a chance against me! Now die!"
He inhaled deeply, his mouth glowing with fire.
"Not this time!" Mario declared before turning to his brother. "Luigi! With me!"
"Right! Let's-a go!"
Both of them hold out their hands, green and red flames mixing together to form a shield that blocked Bowser's attack.
"What?!" Bowser roared.
"Holy…" Toad managed.
"Professor, what's going on!?" Plum demanded.
"I…" E. Gadd rubbed his eyes. "I don't know…"
The two charged forward. They leaped up and uppercutted Bowser, knocking him back. Bowser recovered himself, unleashing a stream of fire at them. Luigi easily ducked under the blast as Mario leaped over it, firing several fireballs at Bowser in rapid succession. He flinched with every blow before Luigi jumped up and kicked him in the stomach, sending him skidding back. Bowser tried bringing his fists down, but Luigi rolled out of the way as Mario ran up, jumping off of Luigi's back so he could punch Bowser across the face. Bowser tried swiping at him, but he easily sidestepped the blow, allowing Luigi to blast him in the face. Bit by bit, Mario and Luigi continued beating Bowser back. Eventually, the Koopa King lay defeated, utterly shocked.
"You...This isn't possible…" he insisted. "I am Lord Bowser! I am INVINCIBLE! Who are you people?!"
"It's-a me, Mario!"
"And a-me, Luigi!"
"And together, they're the bane of your existence, Bowser!" Toad chimed in. "The Super Mario Bros.!"
"You…" Bowser scowled. "Don't think for a second that you've won!" He pulled out the Heart Container. "You know what this is?! Princess Peach's Heart Power is right here, in the palm of my hand! It's MINE!"
Everyone gasped.
"So that's what that light was!" Plum realized.
"That's a Heart Container!" E. Gadd declared before narrowing his eyes. "Hold on. Is that…?"
"What are you planning…?" Mario asked.
"Peach's Heart Power is one of the strongest forms of life and healing magic there is! You like using Power-Ups? Well, here's mine !"
Bowser smashed the Heart Container, the energy flowing around him as he laughed maniacally. However, after a minute, his laughter began to peter out as the energy trickled away, leaving only a glittery mess at his feet.
"Yep, just as I thought," E. Gadd mused. "That Heart Container was-"
"EMPTY?! " Bowser dropped to his hands and knees, looking over the fragments. "No, that ain't right! I saw it take her power! It siphoned it out! I SAW THE WHOLE THING!"
"You only saw what I wanted you to see, Bowser."
"Huh?!"
Everyone perked as Peach stepped out from the parted crowd, smiling victoriously.
"A light show to appeal to your inflated ego. Honestly, it was pathetic, watching you fumble with the container. You weren't even holding it right."
"Peach?" Mario let out. "How did you-?!"
Parakarry smiled as he and David walked out from behind the princess.
"Hi, guyyyys…" David said with a wave.
"Parakarry!? David!?"
"C'mon, you didn't think we just sat here with our thumbs up our noses while you had your big fight, did you?"
David looked at his nub for a hand. "I don't even have thumbs."
Peach placed her hand on their heads. "These two freed me from your painting. After all, I wasn't about to miss this momentous occasion. The ultimate defeat of the Invincible Koopa King."
"I'm not beat yet!" Bowser screamed. "Do you hear me!? I am unstoppable! I am Bowser! I've been chosen by the Stars themselves! You can't beat me!" He made one last charge at Mario. "You will never beat me!"
Mario and Luigi stood side by side, both reaching back with both arms in perfect synchronization, red and green flames glowing in their hands.
"Oh, YEAH!" they both declared before thrusting their arms forward, unleashing a massive, two-streamed blast of red-and-green fire that hit Bowser head on, blowing him off the drawbridge. He slammed into the wall, before sliding off and landing in the magma moat with a heavy splash. He thrashed a bit, roaring in rage and pain before sinking under.
"So long, Bowser," Mario said calmly.
"Holy..." Toad let out.
"Huh... I do believe we've just committed regicide," E. Gadd mused.
Several of Neo Bowser City's citizens had crowded around, taking in the spectacle.
"They… they did it," a Goomba remarked. "They beat Bowser." A smile broke out on his face. "They beat Bowser!"
Nearly all of the citizens began cheering and shouting.
"It's over!"
"He's gone!"
"We're free!"
"We... did it," Mario exclaimed. "We really did it!"
"Mario, we did it!" Luigi high-fived his brother eagerly.
As everyone cheered and applauded the Bros., Peach walked over to Mario, smiling.
"Thank you for coming for me. Now, I think my knight in shining armor deserves a reward."
She knelt down, giving Mario a peck on the cheek. Immediately, Mario's face turned beet-red, smoke/steam practically erupting from under his hat as he swooned, chuckling..
"I can't believe it…" E. Gadd managed. "This is really happening…?"
"Believe it, old man!" Toad exclaimed. "This is all real!"
"Thank heavens!" E. Gadd sighed. "I thought this was another bean juice-induced fever dream!"
They gave him a weird look.
"Do we…?" Luigi began.
"Best not to ask," Plum told him.
David and Parakarry just took in everything.
"The King is dead," David mused. "So... what're we gonna do now?"
"Whatever we want!" Parakarry insisted. "Who's gonna stop us?"
"Oh yeah…" David paused. "So what are we gonna do first?"
Parakarry thought it over. "I...I don't know, I didn't think we'd get this far."
"Attention, citizens of the Koopa Kingdom!" Peach called out. "Today is a glorious day! Bowser Koopa has met his end! You are free of his tyranny and cruelty!"
The citizens let out another cheer, except for one Goomba.
"BOO! We don't want to be free! We love Bowser! All hail the king! All hail the king! All hail the-" That just got him bonked on the head. "Ow."
"Did he seriously just...?" Mario began.
"Best not to dwell on it," Luigi decided.
"For anyone who wishes to leave this place, you are free to seek asylum in the Mushroom Kingdom. For those who wish to remain…" she shook her head in disappointment. "Well, we wish you the best of luck."
More cheers from the crowd sounded as Peach went back to Mario and the others. "Now that that's over, let's go back to Toad Town so I can properly thank all of you," she smiled. "I believe one of my cakes will do quite nicely."
Toad's eyes lit up. "Oh my gosh… The Princess is gonna bake us one of her famous cakes! I hope it's a strawberry shortcake! Pleeeease, let it be strawberry shortcake!"
"First thing's first, Toad," Mario said. "We still gotta unbrick all the people in the warehouse."
"Awww, I forgot…" Toad shrugged. "Okay! We save everyone, get the heck outta here, and then cake!"
Everyone laughed before heading for the warehouse, the citizens slowly dispersing. As everything quieted down and they all turned their backs, no one noticed a charred, scaly claw slowly rise out of the magma moat, clutching onto the rock around it...
Author's Note:
(1): The "time's running out" theme in most games.
(2): Bowser's Road from Galaxy.
(3): Yep, they do. It's how Baby Mario was able to guide the Yoshis to Baby Luigi in the Yoshi's Island games. It's also my headcanon for how they can coordinate Bros. Attacks so well.
(4): The Flying Slam attack from Smash.
And thus, the superstars of the Mushroom Kingdom are born. Next chapter opens with the aftermath of everyone dealing with it and Bowser's defeat... while the Koopa King plots his revenge.
Voice cast for this chapter:
* Clawgrip - Bob Carter (Shao Kahn in Mortal Kombat 9, Bojack in Dragon Ball Z, Balrog in Street Fighter, Sig Curtis in Fullmetal Alchemist, Sibir in Edens Zero)
Please R&R. Until next time!