Chapter 1: Mushroom Kingdom Trouble
Super Mario & Friends 64
"Dear, Mario: Please come to the castle. I've baked a cake for you. Yours truly—Princess Toadstool, Peach."
Outside the castle of the Mushroom Kingdom, a Lakitu with a camera floated around the general area. Just then, a pipe emerged from the ground and out from it, popped out Mario. "Yahoo! Haha! Mushroom Kingdom! It's good to be back." Mario said. Just then, 5 more pipes emerged out of the ground. And out of each of them popped Luigi, Mario's brother, Yoshi, Mario's dinosaur-like friend, Donkey Kong, Mario's former Kong rival-turned-friend, Mallow, Mario's friend and prince of the Nimbus Kingdom, and Geno, a warrior of the Star Road inhabiting a wooden doll.
"Let's a-go, everybody! Cake awaits us!" Mario cheered as he headed towards Peach's castle. "Wait up, Mario!" Luigi called as he and the others followed Mario. Just then, as they reached the bridge, the Lakitu flew up to them. "Good afternoon. The Lakitu Bros., here, reporting live from just outside Princess Peach's castle. Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Mallow and Geno have just arrived on the scene, and we'll be filming the action live as they enter the castle in pursue of the missing Power Stars." Lakitu explained as he filmed them. "Missing Power Stars? What are you talking about?" Mario asked. "Something strange has happened to the Power Stars around the Mushroom Kingdom. We arrived on the scene before you did. As seasoned camera men, we'll be shooting everything from the recommended angle, but you can change the camera angle by pressing the C buttons. If we can't adjust the view any further, we'll buzz. To take a look at the surroundings, stop and press C^. Press A to resume play. Switch camera modes with the R button. Signs along the way will review these instructions. For now, reporting live, this has been the Lakitu Bros. Good luck, heroes." Lakitu explained as he flew away.
"What do you guys think?" Luigi asked with concern. "If the Power Stars are missing, that means something must be wrong. Just like he said." Geno said. "Well, if something is wrong, then we're going in to figure out what it is." Mario said. "I'm with you, Mario." Luigi said. "Yoshi!" Yoshi agreed. "If it's a fight they want, then I'll help you give them one, Mario." Donkey Kong said. "Me too, Mario." Mallow agreed. "Me too. If there's evil afoot, then I'll gladly assist you, Mario." Geno said. "Let's a-go." Mario said as they crossed the bridge and entered the castle.
As they walked into the castle, a voice boomed into the air. "Welcome. No one's home. Now scram…and don't come back! Gwa-ha-ha!" The voice echoed before it disappeared. "That voice. Only one creature I know that voice from. Bowser!" Mario said. "Oh no!" Luigi cried with worry. "Bowser! What's that giant turtle monster up to now?" Mallow asked. "I don't know. But whatever it is, we're gonna stop him." Mario said. "Alright! But…how do we do that?" Donkey Kong asked. "Look! There's a Toad. Let's ask him what's going on." Mario said, spotting a Toad by the walls. They ran over to the Toad, who was looking scared. But he became rejoiced when he saw the 6 heroes running up to him. "Mario! Guys! Am I glad to see you all!" He cheered. "Toad, what's going on?" Mario asked. "The Princess…and I…and, well, everybody…we're all trapped inside the castle walls." Toad said. "Trapped in the walls? How is that possible?" Donkey Kong asked. "Bowser has stolen the castle's Power Stars, and he's using their power to create his own world in the paintings and walls." Toad explained. "What?!" Everyone asked in shock. Yoshi's tongue fell out in shock. "Please recover the Power Stars! As you find them, you can use their power to open the doors that Bowser has sealed." Toad explained. "Where do we start?" Geno asked as Mallow helped Yoshi retract his tongue. "There are 4 rooms on the first floor. Start in the one with the painting of Bob-omb inside. It's the only room that Bowser hasn't sealed. When you collect 8 stars, you'll be able to open the door with the big star. The Princess must be inside!" Toad explained.
Mario and his friends headed towards the one unsealed door. "This must be it." Luigi said. "Do we just go inside?" Geno asked. "What choice do we have? We have to get the Power Stars, stop Bower and free the Mushroom Kingdom." Mario said. They walked through the door and approached the large painting of the Bob-ombs. "Look at that. You think we can find any Power Stars in that portrait?" Mallow asked. "Let's hope so. We need to find those Power Stars and free Peach. I'm going in. See you on the other side." Mario said. He ran up to the portrait and jumped right in. "It is on like Donkey Kong!" Donkey Kong shouted as he followed Mario into the portrait. "Yoshi!" Yoshi shouted as he, Mallow and Geno followed too. Luigi hesitated for a second before following them. "Well, here goes nothing." He said as he leapt into the portait.
