Mario and Luigi

The Shaman of Shadows

Area S: The Underland

S-2: Merloom's Search

*Somewhere in the Underland*

Princess Peach trailed the shady Merloom as best she could. The Underland's atmosphere was heavy, and the air was thick. It made even the simplest movements draining. The ground was terribly uneven and covered in sharp gravel of all shapes and sizes. Peach was careful not to twist her ankle and used her floating magic to ease the trek. Merloom was unhindered as he frantically searched for something.

After quietly trailing him across the gravelly wasteland for a tense time, Merloom seemed to find what he was looking for. He scaled a mound of sharp gravel that was marked by weathered effigies. He then began using his shadow to scoop the gravel away, as it wouldn't have been safe to dig into it with his hands. Peach took cover behind another hill and was careful where she distributed her weight. She could see that the hem of her dress and high heels were already quite damaged from the gravel.

"So this is the Underland? What a horrible place...," Peach thought quietly.

Merloom dug and dug and checked hill after hill until, finally, he found something buried in the gravel. Before he knelt to acquire the object, he turned to look around, "I know you are still there, pink Sage!" He said, referring to Peach. However, as he looked around, he couldn't locate her. "Hmm, now where did she run off to-!" he murmured as Peach fell from the sky, stomping on his head. He grunted as he recoiled.

Peach got a good look at the object he had dug up, "It's a piece of an urn? Is this what you were looking for?" she asked mischievously. As Merloom recovered, Peach transformed her parasol into a golf club and struck the piece, sending it hurdling over the horizon.

"WHY YOU INSOLENT-!" Merloom shouted angrily with a loss for words.

Peach giggled as she floated away and trailed the piece of the urn as fast as she could. Merloom's anger had been provoked and he gave chase. Peach was determined, "I have to keep him busy as long as I can!"

*Elsewhere*

Bowser followed Kamek through the skies of the Mushroom World, but he was growing impatient with him. "All right, Kamek! Where is this, Mage Land?" he asked disgruntled.

Kamek was also growing frustrated, "Bah, I knew this would happen! We can't get to Mage Land like this! Even the Warp Zones won't take us there! We need a spell to gain access!"

"Well then, hop to it!" Bowser commanded.

"Yes, your nastiness!" Kamek said as he opened an ancient tome.

He flipped through the index and found what he believed he needed. He then waved his wand, and at first, nothing seemed to happen. Bowser raised a brow in suspicion. Then, a reaction. Bowser and Kamek were pulled through a special Warp Zone.

*Mage Land, Feasting Swamp*

Bowser and Kamek were pulled down to Mage Land through the cursed gloom. They crash-landed on a riverbank near the filthy swamp. When they came too, they heard a voice nearby, "Well, were you two the ones who tried to pry their way into Mage Land just now?" asked the Ferryman.

The duo approached boastfully, "And you are?" Bowser grunted.

"Just a simple Ferryman," he replied aloofly. "What brings you to Mage Land?"

Bowser approached and placed one foot into the Ferryman's boat with intimidation. The Ferryman was unfazed, "Two words boatman, 'Princess Peach'! Ever heard of her?" Bowser asked with a snort.

The Ferryman remained aloof, "Hmm, no, I can not say I have..."

Kamek stepped forward, empowered by Bowser's presence, "Now see here, spirit! Two brothers and a princess came here very recently! We don't care about the two bungling brothers, just the Princess! Surely, a spirit guide such as you has at least heard of them!"

The Ferryman shrugged, "Oh, you mean the red and green garbed gentlemen. Yes, those two have used my services a few times already. Nice fellows!"

"But what about the Princess?!" Bowser snapped.

"Ah, you mean a tall young human woman with blonde hair and a pink dress?" said the Ferryman.

"YES!" Bowser and Kamek said in unison.

"Never met her," replied the Ferryman nonchalantly. Bowser and Kamek fell back comically. "...However, I do know where she is. I could take you to her... if you want...," said the Ferryman.

Kamek aimed his magic scepter at the Ferryman, who was unalarmed, "Yes, I believe you will!"

Bowser and Kamek boarded the Ferryman's boat, and it was cramped. Kamek rode upon Bowser's shoulder while still aiming his scepter at the Ferryman. The Ferryman chuckled, "Very well, but be forewarned, it could easily be... a one-way trip..."

"I'll just fly, thank you!" Kamek snarled.

The Ferryman laughed, "I would reconsider if I were you..."

"Oh, and why is...!" Kamek said as he was cut off. A ghostly hand grabbed at his broom and he managed to pull up in time to avoid it. Kamek dispelled his broom and hastily climbed onto Bowser's shoulder.

"The spirits in these waters will grab at anyone, not in my boat," the Ferryman warned.

"Just shut it and take us to her!" Bowser said impatiently.

The Ferryman paused for a little while but then decided to speak, "Hmm, it has been so long since I saw a Magic Wand. How did your people come across such things?"

Kamek seemed intrigued, "Heh, such a tale is lost to history spirit..."

"Is that so? I remember when your people lived on the beaches, laying their eggs. Those eggs made great ingredients!" The Ferryman said with fondness.

"Watch your insolent tone, Ferryman! Do you know who this is?" Kamek said, referring to Bowser.

The Ferryman paused, "Not at all..."

"This is King Bowser, King of the Koopas!" Kamek said strongly.

"A King? How very interesting! Your people have advanced enough to even get into politics, have they?" the Ferryman humored.

Bowser growled angrily, while Kamek aimed his Koopa Scepter at the Ferryman, "I get the feeling you're not giving us the respect we deserve! Shall I show you what we are capable of?!"

The Ferryman paused again, then shrugged, "And what do you intend to do with that child's training tool...?"

Kamek recoiled, "Huh?! What do you mean, 'child's training tool'?!"

"Magic Wands are held by children here. Your wand is no threat to me..." said the Ferryman aloofly.

"No threat, why you-!" Kamek said as he slipped off Bowser's shoulder and into the swamp. He made a splash, but when he surfaced, he had changed form. Now this caught the Ferryman's attention. Bowser quickly pulled Kamek, now in the form of a sheep, from the water.

Bowser was bewildered, "Stupid old fool!" he scolded.

The Ferryman dipped his fingertips into the water and found a reflective substance to be mixed in with the pollution. "Hmm, an elixir. Now that's troubling... Did 'she' have a potion spill?" he said quietly to himself. "Well, gentlemen, I have a schedule to keep, so let us complete this little trip," he said as he guided the boat into a dark cave.

*The Underland*

The dark tunnel the Ferryman took was a Warp Zone of some kind, or at least it felt like it to Bowser and Kamek. The Ferryman pulled over to a riverbank that was littered with sharp gravel. "Welcome, here is our stop. You will find your Princess here," he informed.

Bowser got off the boat, and Kamek returned himself to his original form. "You better be right Ferryman, or I'll come for you!" Bowser growled.

"Well then, you better make haste, as your Princess is in grave danger here...," said the Ferryman.

Bowser's eyes lit up in distress, "What?! Come on, Kamek! We have to find her!"

The two sped off through the gravel, Bowser was seemingly unharmed by it, and Kamek, after returning himself to his normal form, flew on his broom to avoid it. The Ferryman seemed worried as he was momentarily lost in thought, "Hmm, potion pollution. There is only one person I know who is that careless..."

*End of Chapter*