Mario and Luigi

The Shaman of Shadows

World S: The Underland

S-1: Follow the Shadow!

*?*

King Boo lamented in pitch darkness, "Ah, perhaps I was a tad hasty in revealing my plan to the Mario Brothers. I need to take the time to analyze Mario's abilities some more. Before I do that, however, I need to drop this crystal ball off with someone who can refashion it into a crown jewel for me," he pondered. He grumbled as he puzzled and pondered. "I wonder how Merloom is doing with that pesky Princess hot on his heels? Oh well, not my problem anyways..."

*The Underland*

The Underland is a place where all go who get a 'Game Over', as it is said softly by the denizens there within. It is filled to the brim with undead creatures called 'Shaydes' who clatter around and suffer for all time under the rule of Queen Jaydes, due to boredom and dullness. Princess Peach wandered around asking these Shaydes if they had seen a particular wizard pass by. Peach quickly grew bored of the Shaydes completely ignoring her questions just to tell her how they got Game Over's.

Peach sighed in boredom as she sat down on a rock, "Oh my, this place is so dull!" she moaned.

Then suddenly, a Shayde approached her, "Hey lady, are you the one asking about a Wizard?"

Peach perked up, "Yes!" she said as she clasped her hands together hopefully.

"I saw that guy not too long ago. He was grumbling quite a bit and he was sneaking around a lot. He was headed to a Warp Zone that was hidden in the darker edges of this level of the Underland. He seemed to be looking for someone or something...," explained the Shayde.

"Thank you so much!" Peach said joyfully. "Um, which direction was he headed?"

"Hard to say since there are no true directions here, but he was headed anywhere 'away' from Jaydes Castle. Just keep moving away from her castle and you'll likely bump into him. You'll know you're in the right place because none of us will be around," explained the Shayde further.

"Thank you!" Peach said with a curtsey as she turned and began heading in any direction away from the dark gloomy castle that could be seen in the distance.

Eventually, the castle vanished from sight and Peach found herself in a very dark place that seemed like a grove of some kind. She came to a ledge, "Hmm, this must be it. I don't see anymore Shaydes or much of anything really. If he's headed to a Warp Zone, then there must be a Warp Pipe around here someplace!" she said as she jumped down from the ledge. Her feet collided with someone as she inadvertently stomped on them. Peach landed and quickly turned around to see who she hit, and sure enough, it was Merloom.

He rose to his feet angrily as his eyes beamed with an icy blue radiance, "Seriously, if I get stomped on one more time-! Wait, you're that strange woman from that squalid fungus-ridden hovel," he said with disgust.

Peach's expression grew serious as she clenched her fists, "Yes and no, my kingdom is by no means filthy! At least it wasn't until you came by and wronged my people!"

Merloom seemed bored listening to her, "Oh, so sorry my dear! I thought I would clean up all the 'mold'. Besides, I had a deal to complete! Wait a second! How are you down here anyway? You don't appear to have had a Game Over."

Peach broke out into a cold sweat, "I had to make a choice! I chose to follow you and prevent you from finding this Urn while the Mario Brothers take down King Boo!"

Merloom sighed, "...Mario Brothers this, Mario Brothers that... Even Boo mentioned these two! Who are they, and why is so much importance placed on them?!"

"Don't worry about it! I'll make sure you stay here!" Peach claimed strongly as she clenched her fist. "Now what did you do to my people?!"

"I needed to fill my Black Pearl Crystal Ball with enough souls and make a trade with King Boo for a very rare and valuable item! Only the rat tricked me! It is in pieces down here! So if you don't mind, pink one, I need to continue my search!" Merloom exclaimed strongly.

"What do you intend to do with this 'very rare item' anyway? And why was it worth my people's souls?!" Peach said growing more frustrated.

Merloom began growing impatient, "If you must know, you pest, the Urn of Underland Valley Shadows will amplify my power one hundredfold! I will rule over Mage Land for all eternity!"

Peach's expression became sad as her face grew into a blank slate. "So... do you intend to do this to everyone? What you have done to my people?"

Merloom laughed heartily, "Oh no, woman, I intend much WORSE!"

"Then I am glad I caught up to you," she said lifting her head, her expression now furious. "I will punish you for your wicked crime and END YOU!"

Merloom laughed much louder, "YOU?! Stop me?! You have quite the sense of humor! But a paltry human girl such as yourself could never hope to stand up to a wizard of my caliber even if you know how to use magic!" he said as he vanished into the shadows and began moving between the shady forest trees. "However, if you insist on pursuing me and hindering my efforts, you are welcome to try! Perhaps this will be fun after all!"

Peach thought quietly as she lightly bit her bottom lip, "We shall see about that! I for one, refuse to be bullied by someone like you!"

Peach then pursued the formless moving shadows of the wizard until something emerged from the darkness. A Warp Pipe, grey and old. Merloom had already entered. A wooden sign nearby read, "Underland Valley, beware any who enter the unknown!" she recited. Peach swallowed hard and entered the Warp Pipe. She closed her eyes tightly as she did so...

*Mushroom Kingdom*

A certain reptilian king flew over the skies of the Mushroom Kingdom in a strange contraption. "Nice work on polishing the Koopa Klown Kar Kamek, it needed it! Now to kidnap the Princess and put my new plan into motion!" said the reptile with a hearty laugh.

Kamek, a Koopa Wizard dressed in blue robes, adjusted his thick glasses and fought to stay on his magic broom. "Yes, your nastiness, whoa, it sure is windy today! We should land now, Lord Bowser, Peach's Castle looks deserted! This may be a good opportunity!"

Bowser and Kamek landed in the abandoned courtyards of Peach's Castle and a foul wind blew through. They immediately realized that something was amiss. Bowser spoke, "Hey, does something feel 'off' to you?"

"Yes, your grotesque-ness, it seems a little too quiet," Kamek said as he felt coldness overtake his reptilian scales. "Something's not right at all. What is this feeling of dread I'm getting? I'm chilled to the bone!"

Before Bowser could say anything or inspect anything, the moans and giggles of many could be heard approaching slowly. "Shh, what's that noise?!" Bowser asked curiously.

Kamek felt a very negative presence. Then, the wizard cultists, acolytes of Merloom, poured in to meet them both. Kamek instinctively reached for his magic scepter, "What is this? Who are these strange wizards?"

Bowser merely grunted in irritation, "I don't know I've never seen one dressed in purple before. They don't look too happy though...," he said as he moved in front of Kamek to address them. "HEY, who are all of you people? Where is Princess Peach?"

The wizards spoke so much that only a few sentences could be made out among them. "You're too late..."

"...This place is ours now..."

"...All belongs to the great Merloom, The Shaman of Shadows...!"

Kamek heard the name drop and he nearly drew into his shell to hide, "What, did I hear the name, Merloom...?"

Bowser turned to Kamek with a puzzled expression, "Who's Merloom and why should I care?"

Kamek still had a blank fearful stare, "...Because he may have the Princess, sire..."

"WHAT?! NOBODY KIDNAPS PEACH BUT ME!" Bowser said as he nearly strangled Kamek. "Where is this Merloom at Kamek?!"

"Let's just... get out of here first, Sire!" Kamek said as he quickly flew upwards on his broomstick. Bowser quickly and angrily boarded his Klown Kar and followed his fear-stricken subject.

"Okay, now Kamek, tell me who this Merloom guy thinks he is?!" Bowser demanded.

"He's a very nasty wizard that is mentioned in old magic books and if he has Peach, it's for certain the Mario Brothers are already hot on his heels. Come, Sire, I'll explain on the way," Kamek said with a growing feeling of dread.

"On the way...? To where Kamek?!" Bowser growled.

Kamek swallowed, "Well, if Merloom has returned, then so should the homeland of the wizards. Just follow me, Sire, it's going to be quite a ride..."

*End of Chapter*