The Mushroom Kingdom (Phase 58)

PHASE 24

PHASE 24
Desert Travel

(The heat is incredible. It is burning Cel’s skin. Sweat is everywhere. Cel suddenly realizes that she is still in the Dry Dry Desert…she is still on an insane mission…she is still hiding from her own kingdom and government…she is still-)

Kan: She’s…she’s opened her eyes! Get over here you stupid turtle!

Wes: (Glares for a second, but quickly runs over) Cel…Cel? Cellllll!

Celistar: Get off! (She gets up; sweat continually pouring down her face.) How…How long have I been asleep?

Kan: Princess…it must’ve been…been four hours now…hasn’t it?

Wes: Yeah. Not too long. Otherwise, we would’ve abandoned you. (Kan glares) It’s called a joke!

Kan: This is no time for joking…we have to continue towards that infernal Koopa Kastle.

Celistar: How close are we now, Wes?

Wes: Too close for comfort. …Well, about another three miles.

Celistar: WHAT? We’re that close?

Wes: Well, actually, that’ll get us to the Barren Lands…and then about another day’s travel to Koopa Kastle.

Celistar: Oh. Well, we better start now, then.

Wes: Yes…

(They start walking in silence. The hot sun slowly starts to lower.)

Celistar: (Sweating furiously now.)

Wes: Um, I’ve got to tell you, I’ve traveled this route, and as long as we continue in this direction…we’ll hit an oasis.

Celistar: You’ve traveled this way before?

Wes: Yeah… (Wes looks down, so Cel stops talking.)

(More Silence.)

Wes: Hey…Cel.

Celistar: What.

Wes: What…are you going to do after all of this is over?

Celistar: Over?

Wes: Yeah. Let’s say everything actually works. You break into Bowser’s Castle, save Toadbert, maybe deplete the amount of soldiers there…and escape. Safely. What then?

Celistar: Oh…um…I guess I’ll get Toadbert back to the castle…and then…they’ll know I’m back…I…maybe I’ll just stay quiet for awhile, until Bowser attacks. (Or maybe find Penter?)

Kan: What! Princess! You can’t! It’s too dangerous to fight Bowser! It’s-

Cel: I have Mario’s blood in me. I am his daughter. And-

(Cel looks at Wes. She thinks of being a MOD. She thinks of Wes being a MOD as well. She knows that there is more in store for her then simply saving Toadbert. But can she tell Wes yet? His destiny?)

(Kan and Wes watch Cel)

Wes: Yes?

(Cel quickly looks down.)

Celistar: Never mind.

(Wes stares for awhile.)

Wes: Cel…do…do you remember what happened right before you…collapsed?

Cel: Yes. You wouldn’t stop arguing, and it just must have been the sun…I couldn’t stand the heat. Why?

Wes: Well…you…um…never mind.

(Cel glowers for a bit, but the walk simply continues, until they spot the oasis in the distance. Switch to Mushroom City. Two Toads’ are walking side by side through a dark alley. They are looking for Koopa’s that are hiding, to capture them, and get a reward from the government. However, something much different is lurking there. The Toad on the right suddenly screams, as a dark figure leaps on him, and a long, sticky tongue shoots out…right into the victim’s mouth. The other Toad stumbles back. His face whiter then the cap on his head.)

Toad: No…oh spirits…no…it’s…it’s a YOSHI. (The Toad nearly trips back, but turns and runs. The sound of organs being ripped out through the mouth sounds through the alleyway. The Toad runs to the Castle…he has to tell the Royal Guard…quickly…but the claws of insanity scratch at his head…)

TO BE CONTINUED…
 
PHASE 25

PHASE 25
Dungeon Duo

(Bowser’s messenger scurries through Mushroom City, the night hiding him in dark shadows along the walls. He leaps into Toad Town, and continues to hide around corners, making sure not to get caught by the Toads crawling around the village. He has heard the rumors from rouge Koopa’s. He has to get to Peach’s Castle-and leave a written message. He’s almost there. He runs forward, prepared to climb the walls, when he’s knocked back. A Toad Guard steps out from the shadows. The messenger is surrounded by Toad Guards.)

Toad Guard: You’re surrounded, Koopa. Follow us…or we’ll kill you now.

Messenger: No! Wait! I have a…message for the que-

Toad Guard: Don’t speak her name, filth! (The Toad Guard stabs at the messenger, knocking him down) Now come with us…

(The Toad Guards behind him kick at his legs, forcing him forward, into the dark, gloomy, castle. Switch to the desert oasis. It is morning. Cel and the rest are getting ready to go.)

Celistar: How many of those coconuts have we filled up now?

Kan: About 15…it should be enough…

Wes: It will. The Barren Lands aren’t hot…they’re simply barren and lifeless…no one really knows why…

Cel: Hm. Well, according to your estimate, if we start walking now…

Wes: We’ll reach the Lava Ring by night. I have no idea how you think you’re going to get over that.

Cel: Have to try…

(They start walking. As they finally see the beginning of the Barren Lands, a Pokey spins out of the ground. All three jump back. Kan draws out his lance.)

Kan: Aha! Some practice for my lance!

(Before Wes interrupts with a smart comment, or before Cel can insist she tries it, Kan leaps at the Pokey, and stabs at it. However, it deflects right off the Pokey. The Lance lands a few feet away.)

Kan: What! You-!

Cel: Wait…I want to try something. Wes…get into your shell.

Wes: What?

Cel: I said, get into your shell.

Wes: Um, why?

Cel: Just do it! I want to try something!

Wes: I don’t-

(But Wes starts to get into the shell, but as he’s doing it, Cel picks it up, and flings it at the Pokey. It knocks it apart, and some loose guts land on the ground. Wes jumps up.)

Wes: WHAT THE HELL. I…that was…

Celistar: Oh, stop whining.

Wes: We…we could’ve just walked around, but-but-and that thing…what if it had been harder than my shell…

Celistar: But it hadn’t…just barely enough…how lucky…

Wes: Yeah, how lucky! If it-

Kan: Come on, let’s go. (Kan has got his lance again.) We want to get to the Lava Ring as quickly as possible, right?

Wes: Yeah…yeah… (Wes looks at the ground, sighs deeply, and looks up, to see the Cel and Kan walking several feet away.) Wait!

(Wes runs after them and the scene switches, to Peach’s Castle. The crazed Toad who had seen Yoshi pounds at the massive door, screaming at the top of his lungs. Finally, the door slams open, and an angry Toad Guard frowns at him.)

Toad Guard: What the hell are you screaming about?

Toad: I know…I KNOW! Who…who…

Toad Guard 2: What’s going on Larry?

Toad Guard (Larry): This crazy idiot has been screaming out here for who knows how long.

Toad: HE KILLED MY FRIEND RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. I KNOW-

Toad Guard 2: Eh, better throw him in the dungeon?

Toad Guard (Larry): Yeah. Come with us.

Toad: IT’S A YOSHI…YOSHI! YOSHI! YOSHI!

Toad Guard 2: Shut up! (Stabs him forward)

Toad Guard (Larry): As if we didn’t have a problem enough with Koopas, we have to deal with nut jobs like you. (He stuffs a gag into the crazed Toad’s mouth.)

(The loud shrieking becomes a muffled moaning. The Toad is kicked into the darkness of the castle.)
 
PHASE 26

PHASE 26
Castle Infiltration

(Bowser’s Castle. Bowser is high on a balcony looking out at the dreary landscape. A massive moat of lave encircles the Castle, and beyond that, a seemingly endless landscape of dead ground. Somewhere in the misty distance, a mysterious light glows out of the darkness. It is Koopa City. But that is not what Bowser is looking for. He looks out at the south, waiting for a certain group to appear. But-)

Koopa Soldier: King Bowser sir!

Bowser: (Swings around) What now?

Koopa Soldier: Well…your son, Iggy…he was found dea-

Bowser: GRAGGH! I HAVEN’T EVEN STARTED THE BLOODY FUNERALS FOR THE FIRST TWO. IT’S ALL A WASTE OF MONEY AND TIME.

Koopa Soldier: Um, yes, well-

Bowser: IS THAT ALL YOU’VE COME FOR? GET OUT!

(Bowser practically kicks the Koopa back through a door, a loud crash is heard.)

Bowser: I don’t have time for this…they’ll be arriving any moment now…

(Bowser continues to look out from the balcony, into the mists…however futile it seems. Another Koopa Soldier appears from behind. He whispers something to Bowser, and Bowser almost jumps. He quickly follows the Koopa Soldier, and the scene turns back to the mists, and it moves forward quickly into it. Cel, Wes, and Kan are critically near the castle. From out of the mists, Koopa Kastle emerges, along with the monstrous lava moat.)

Celistar: We did it. We’re here! We’re finally here!

Wes: …

Kan: You’re still thinking of going in there, princess?

Cel: Yes! It’s my fault Toadbert was captured.

Wes: (Sigh) so, now you have to tell us your brilliant plan on getting in…and over…the Lava Ring.

Kan: Well, yes, I am rather curious myself, now.

Cel: Um…well…

(Cel looks over the other side. A long drawbridge is upright…controlled by a nearby system. The Guard is sleeping…)

Cel: (Takes a deep breath) I…have to jump over the ring…

Kan: What?

Celistar: I have to jump over the Lava Ring…and lower the drawbridge for you two…if you are coming?

Wes: Wuh, well, wait, what? You can’t jump over the Lava Ring, and-

Kan: Well, princess, if it was possible, I’d come with you, but-

Cel: It’s time to go.

Wes: But, but, Cel! You can’t jump over that lava moat! It must be twice the length of that one river...and you know how that turned out…

(Flashback of Cel barely touching the other side, and barely getting up {With some “help”})

Wes: And besides, THIS will KILL YOU. Your skin will MELT OFF. You will die screaming-

Celistar: Oh, shut up. I’m doing this.

Kan: No, princess! I beg you, you must-

(Cel stands back and prepares to jump. Wes turns away, and shakes his head. Kan watches in futility. And she jumps…over the Lava Ring…and lands on the dust on the other side.)

Kan: What…you…

Wes: I-(Wes turns around, and almost falls over.)-You…survived…I-

Cel: Yes…

(Without warning, a large wall of fire bursts out of the lava ring, going twenty feet in the air. It falls back in, with a splash. Kan chokes.)

Kan: If I had finished my sentence earlier…and you had waited…and jumped…and…

Cel: Eh, it probably would’ve happened five seconds after that too…it’s all luck.

Kan: What-but-

(Cel sneaks over to the guard, and tries to punch him in the back of the head. It hurts her arm, but the guard falls over, unconscious. Cel and shrugs, and, without caution, pulls down the drawbridge with a switch. Wes and Kan run over, Wes with a slight hesitation. They enter the dark castle, Kan drawing out his lance. Switch to Bowser’s Castle, dining hall. The table is covered with massive amounts of food. Bowser sits down, grabs a meaty leg of something, and rips a juicy bite out. From the doorway, four of five of Bowser’s surviving children enter, Larry, Morton, Roy, and Lemmy, and also sit down. Following are a few of Bowser’s captains.)

Bowser: (Looks around.) Where…is Ludwig?

Morton: He was in his room, King Dad. Talking to himself.

Bowser: GRAGH! Get him in here! For today, we must celebrate…Maeras?

(Maeras is a Lakitu Captain, Captain of the Air Fleets.)

Maeras: Yes?

Bowser: You have ordered all your troops into the Back Fields, correct?

Maeras: Yes, sir. And Hamro has also put them there. And of course, Be-

Bowser: Quiet. I know the other ones have fulfilled my desires. It’s just…you, Maeras…you seem…

(The door slams open, and Ludwig runs in, carrying a large tray of tea. He grins sheepishly.)

Ludwig: Sorry, King Dad…I wanted to make something…special, for the invention of our new weapon…

(Scene switch, to another part of Bowser’s Castle, earlier. Cel, Kan, and Wes are walking through a hallway.)

Celistar: Wes, you’ve-

Wes: Shh, quieter! Yes?

Celistar: Ahem, Wes, you’ve been here before, right?

Wes: Yes, once…

Celistar: Do you know where the dungeons, are?

Wes: Yes, this hallway… (They turn into a darker hallway.)

Kan: You know, you would think there would be more…guards…around here?

Wes: Yes, it is rather strange…oh, here we are…

(They arrive at a dark door. Everyone-even Kan, takes a deep breath.)

Cel: This…may be the end of our journey…perhaps…

Wes: Move!

(Wes shoves Cel and Kan in, and closes the door. Outside, the shuffling of quick feet and the sound of clinking tea cups sound. Wes breathes a sigh of relief.)

Wes: Okay…

(All of them turn towards the cold, stone stairs, which turn endlessly downwards, into the darkness…)

(Scene switch. Peach’s Castle. Outside. The dark monstrous figure, Yoshi, creeps across the yard, towards the massive doors. Inside, it can smell flesh similar to the one who rode him long ago…a female…Yoshi clambers towards the door, the smell of meat urging him on…)

TO BE CONTINUED…
 
PHASE 26 AND Phase 27

Here's a big heaping of story before I go to my wi-fi-less(I KNOW THAT'S NOT A REAL WORD!!!) Summer House...

PHASE 26
Castle Infiltration

(Bowser’s Castle. Bowser is high on a balcony looking out at the dreary landscape. A massive moat of lave encircles the Castle, and beyond that, a seemingly endless landscape of dead ground. Somewhere in the misty distance, a mysterious light glows out of the darkness. It is Koopa City. But that is not what Bowser is looking for. He looks out at the south, waiting for a certain group to appear. But-)

Koopa Soldier: King Bowser sir!

Bowser: (Swings around) What now?

Koopa Soldier: Well…your son, Iggy…he was found dea-

Bowser: GRAGGH! I HAVEN’T EVEN STARTED THE BLOODY FUNERALS FOR THE FIRST TWO. IT’S ALL A WASTE OF MONEY AND TIME.

Koopa Soldier: Um, yes, well-

Bowser: IS THAT ALL YOU’VE COME FOR? GET OUT!

(Bowser practically kicks the Koopa back through a door, a loud crash is heard.)

Bowser: I don’t have time for this…they’ll be arriving any moment now…

(Bowser continues to look out from the balcony, into the mists…however futile it seems. Another Koopa Soldier appears from behind. He whispers something to Bowser, and Bowser almost jumps. He quickly follows the Koopa Soldier, and the scene turns back to the mists, and it moves forward quickly into it. Cel, Wes, and Kan are critically near the castle. From out of the mists, Koopa Kastle emerges, along with the monstrous lava moat.)

Celistar: We did it. We’re here! We’re finally here!

Wes: …

Kan: You’re still thinking of going in there, princess?

Cel: Yes! It’s my fault Toadbert was captured.

Wes: (Sigh) so, now you have to tell us your brilliant plan on getting in…and over…the Lava Ring.

Kan: Well, yes, I am rather curious myself, now.

Cel: Um…well…

(Cel looks over the other side. A long drawbridge is upright…controlled by a nearby system. The Guard is sleeping…)

Cel: (Takes a deep breath) I…have to jump over the ring…

Kan: What?

Celistar: I have to jump over the Lava Ring…and lower the drawbridge for you two…if you are coming?

Wes: Wuh, well, wait, what? You can’t jump over the Lava Ring, and-

Kan: Well, princess, if it was possible, I’d come with you, but-

Cel: It’s time to go.

Wes: But, but, Cel! You can’t jump over that lava moat! It must be twice the length of that one river...and you know how that turned out…

(Flashback of Cel barely touching the other side, and barely getting up {With some “help”})

Wes: And besides, THIS will KILL YOU. Your skin will MELT OFF. You will die screaming-

Celistar: Oh, shut up. I’m doing this.

Kan: No, princess! I beg you, you must-

(Cel stands back and prepares to jump. Wes turns away, and shakes his head. Kan watches in futility. And she jumps…over the Lava Ring…and lands on the dust on the other side.)

Kan: What…you…

Wes: I-(Wes turns around, and almost falls over.)-You…survived…I-

Cel: Yes…

(Without warning, a large wall of fire bursts out of the lava ring, going twenty feet in the air. It falls back in, with a splash. Kan chokes.)

Kan: If I had finished my sentence earlier…and you had waited…and jumped…and…

Cel: Eh, it probably would’ve happened five seconds after that too…it’s all luck.

Kan: What-but-

(Cel sneaks over to the guard, and tries to punch him in the back of the head. It hurts her arm, but the guard falls over, unconscious. Cel and shrugs, and, without caution, pulls down the drawbridge with a switch. Wes and Kan run over, Wes with a slight hesitation. They enter the dark castle, Kan drawing out his lance. Switch to Bowser’s Castle, dining hall. The table is covered with massive amounts of food. Bowser sits down, grabs a meaty leg of something, and rips a juicy bite out. From the doorway, four of five of Bowser’s surviving children enter, Larry, Morton, Roy, and Lemmy, and also sit down. Following are a few of Bowser’s captains.)

Bowser: (Looks around.) Where…is Ludwig?

Morton: He was in his room, King Dad. Talking to himself.

Bowser: GRAGH! Get him in here! For today, we must celebrate…Maeras?

(Maeras is a Lakitu Captain, Captain of the Air Fleets.)

Maeras: Yes?

Bowser: You have ordered all your troops into the Back Fields, correct?

Maeras: Yes, sir. And Hamro has also put them there. And of course, Be-

Bowser: Quiet. I know the other ones have fulfilled my desires. It’s just…you, Maeras…you seem…

(The door slams open, and Ludwig runs in, carrying a large tray of tea. He grins sheepishly.)

Ludwig: Sorry, King Dad…I wanted to make something…special, for the invention of our new weapon…

(Scene switch, to another part of Bowser’s Castle, earlier. Cel, Kan, and Wes are walking through a hallway.)

Celistar: Wes, you’ve-

Wes: Shh, quieter! Yes?

Celistar: Ahem, Wes, you’ve been here before, right?

Wes: Yes, once…

Celistar: Do you know where the dungeons, are?

Wes: Yes, this hallway… (They turn into a darker hallway.)

Kan: You know, you would think there would be more…guards…around here?

Wes: Yes, it is rather strange…oh, here we are…

(They arrive at a dark door. Everyone-even Kan, takes a deep breath.)

Cel: This…may be the end of our journey…perhaps…

Wes: Move!

(Wes shoves Cel and Kan in, and closes the door. Outside, the shuffling of quick feet and the sound of clinking tea cups sound. Wes breathes a sigh of relief.)

Wes: Okay…

(All of them turn towards the cold, stone stairs, which turn endlessly downwards, into the darkness…)

(Scene switch. Peach’s Castle. Outside. The dark monstrous figure, Yoshi, creeps across the yard, towards the massive doors. Inside, it can smell flesh similar to the one who rode him long ago…a female…Yoshi clambers towards the door, the smell of meat urging him on…)

TO BE CONTINUED…


PHASE 27
Castle Escape

(Bowser’s Castle. Dining Hall. Everyone is eating. Bowser ignores the fact that Hamro, his Hammer Bro Land Captain, is still missing. Bowser, thirsty after a large chunk of meat, sloshes down the drink Ludwig concocted.)

Bowser: (Looks up.) Come on! It’s time we celebrated! The weapons are complete! And this drink…what do you call it, Lud?

Ludwig: Veritamort.

Bowser: Yes indeed! Everyone, have a drink!

(Trying not to hesitate, everyone in the room takes a drink. A silence follows, everyone looking around nervously. Ludwig backs away, near the door. Nobody seems to notice, a strange dreamy feeling hitting them all. But then…)

Bowser: Ludwig…you…you did something…to this drink…urgh…

Ludwig: Yes, father. Yes. All of you…heh heh…you’ve all drunk a strong poison.

(Everyone’s neck snaps up. Iggy starts violently coughing, along with a few captains. Bowser gets up.)

Bowser: LUD…wig…what have you done to…to...this…DRINK?

Ludwig: Ha…ha…hezzz…Dad…I’ve told you…I’ve poisoned it. And-

(Bowser starts to stomp towards him, but Ludwig draws out a gun…the only gun made…in fact, the one that killed Mario. Bowser freezes.)

Ludwig: My simple, short plan worked. None of the guns are finished father. All the troops have stopped working on it right now, to be in the Back Area…instead of guarding you, because YOU ordered it, because YOU thought the guns were finished…you thought the troops had them, ready to attack the Mushroom Kingdom.

Bowser: But…but… that Koopa…he told me…

Ludwig: HA! A lie…he worked for me. In fact, everyone on my side is not in this room…I have only poisoned those that would oppose me…

Bowser: But why did you kill Bowser Jr. and Wendy and Iggy first?

Ludwig: Because…I knew Bowser Jr. was the toughest of us…he fought Mario the most…I knew the poison wouldn’t kill him…and Wendy…she was the first to BJ’s crime scene…she knew that he had been stabbed to death…and she later accidently wandered into my room, and saw a knife…so I had to kill her later.

Bowser: And…Iggy?

Ludwig: I…wanted to kill something…watch it’s blood spill…

Bowser: GRAGGH YOU-(Ludwig points up the gun.)

Ludwig: Don’t. Move.

Bowser: What’s the point? I’m going to die anyway!

Ludwig: But…I have an antidote. (Ludwig holds up a vial full of purple liquid.) I may save you…if you promise to let me rule…and be my slave. Of course, I will make sure you won’t be able to kill me…a few drops of the antidote will save you, but make you weak.

Bowser: GRAGH! Never…I won’t let you…rule…I am-

Ludwig: Fine. I’m sick of listening to your voice, anyway.

(With a flick of his wrist, he fires the gun, straight at Bowser’s face. A flood of blood splashes out of the hole in his head. He falls to the ground, the blood spilling all over his body. Larry chokes.)

Ludwig: Now then…anyone else wish to serve me?

(Surprisingly, everyone stays quiet, but then Lemmy walks forward, head down. Ludwig smiles.)

Ludwig: I always knew you were my smartest brother.

(He taps a few drops of the liquid into Lemmy’s mouth, and a large amount into himself, enough to kill the poison completely. He turns.)

Ludwig: Anyone else wish to live?

(Nobody looks up. Roy growls.)

Ludwig: Okay. (Ludwig shoots the five generals present. And then turns to his brothers.) For all the misery you gave me, I will let you die a slow painful death, from the poison. Enjoy your last moments of life.

(Ludwig shuts the door, let’s Lemmy out, and locks the door. The Koopalings fall to the ground, and wither in misery and pain, except for Roy, who stands up defiantly.)

(Cut to the Castle Dungeon, about when Ludwig enters the Dining Room. Cel, Wes, and Kan have reached the bottom of the steps.)

Celistar: Okay…so-

Wes: Just follow me.

Celistar: Okay, but…why were you even in Koopa Kastle the first time?

Wes: Because I’m a Koopa. And-

Toadbert: HELP. OH SPIRITS. HELP. HELP! CELISTAR!

Celistar: Toadbert! He’s…he’s alive…I knew it. Come…C’mon!

(Cel runs ahead. Wes quickly follows. But Kan stops.)

Kan: Wait…how does he know you’re here?

(But he also quickly runs after Cel and Wes, coming right around the corner. In the middle of a large chamber, Toadbert is tied around the waist. Cel runs to him, and starts to untie the ropes. Wes stops right inside the room.)

Wes: Wait! Cel! Something’s wrong…something’s…

(A wall of fire bursts out of the ground, right behind of Wes, he falls forward, just as Kan arrives. Kan is blocked from Cel and Wes. Inside the room, the wall of fire circles the entire room. Cel continues to untie Toadbert, but now more desperately. Finally she finishes…but a figure drops from the ceiling…it’s Hamro.)

Hamro: So…this is Celistar…daughter of the superstar, Mario…

Celistar: Who…are you?

Toadbert: Cel! He made me call your name, he-YOU!

(Toadbert runs back, towards Wes.)

Hamro: Ah, Wes! You’ve finished your mission…you’ve brought Celistar here, to me. As Bowser rewards me, I will reward you greatly.

Celistar: What? Wes…?

Wes: No…no! I’m Cel’s…friend now, I’m not…

Hamro: Don’t try to make her feel better…

Celistar: You…you lured me here?

Wes: No! I-

Hamro: Yes. You went to that bar…it was lucky that you even met. Wes was starting to chicken out…right before a bar fight started…and Wes was tossed out, and beaten…

Wes: But…I’m on Cel’s side now…I’m...I don’t work for Bowser! We’re…friends! I will not join you, I’ll-

Hamro: Oh no…poor Wes he must be sick. You need some SLEEP… (Hamro throws an expertly tossed hammer, and it hits Wes on the head. He falls back, and faints. Toadbert jumps back.)

Cel: You…I…Wes…Toadbert… (Cel looks back. She doesn’t know what to think right now. It looks like Wes was a spy at first…but he…

(Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Hamro pull back an arm, and she barely falls out of the way, to the ground. The hammer goes flying into the fire, where it explodes. Hamro laughs.)

Hamro: Once I kill you, nothing can stop the great Koopa Kingdom! Not even-

(Cel spins with her leg out, knocking Hamro to the ground. She jumps up, as Hamro throws a Hammer upwards. It hits her left knee cap. However, she gets a kick in, kicking Hamro square in the face. However, he grabs her leg, and pulls her down, as he gets up. He throws a hammer down, right at Cel’s face. She rolls out of the way. He jams a foot down right where her gut was. She rolls backwards, and leaps up, punching Hamro right in the face. He flies back, right into the stone wall. He crumples to the ground, his legs broken. Cel walks up.)

Celistar: I don’t know where Wes stands, but I know…you deserve to die.

(Hamro grins crookedly.)

Hamro: Fine. Kill me. But I’ll be a martyr. I almost stopped the great Cel from...

(But Cel isn’t listening. She turns back. The fire wall has died down. Kan rushes out, but Cel stops him.)

Celistar: Don’t kill him. He will live the rest of his life with broken legs. Let him lay there, until he is rescued.

(Kan stares, but nods. He saw the fight. Now he understands. Cel helps Toadbert up. She turns to Wes. He is still unconscious.)

Celistar: Kan. Take Wes. We need to get out of here.

Kan: But-

Celistar: JUST TAKE HIM. JUST…

(Cel pauses, and starts up the stairs, helping Toadbert. They get to the top, Kan carrying Wes. They get to the massive Front Door, and are about to exit when-)

Ludwig: Stop.

(Cel turns slowly, Kan turns as well. Ludwig is pointing a gun at Cel’s forehead.)

Ludwig: So. Cel…her amazing…hehhzzz…rescue mission, coming to an end…but she didn’t count on…an actual ENCOUNTER.

Celistar: Actually, I just fought someone called Hamro.

Ludwig: Haha! But you were lucky! All the troops are in the back. If it was like it actually is…with the troops all over the castle…you wouldn’t have even gotten past the Lava Ring.

Celistar: …

Ludwig: Now then, with one press of my finger, the final threat to my new kingdom will be gone, and nothing will stop me. The world will be mine. The Mushroom Kingdom. THE MUSHROOM KINGDOM WILL BE MINE. Goodbye, daughter of Mari-

(THUNK. It is a dry, punching sound. Ludwig stares dreamily, and then falls. Behind him, Roy stands, his hand balled into a fist. He grins, and falls over dead. Ludwig is not dead, however. Cel stares, and backs away.)

Celistar: Let’s…let’s get out of here.

(Cel, Kan, and Toadbert run out, breathing heavily. They cross the drawbridge. They start walking across the dreary landscape. Kan is about to ask what they are going to do, when the sounds of a helicopter sound from the sky. The group looks up fearfully. But it is a Mushroom Copter. It lands, and a few Toad’s rush out, as well as Toadiko. She rushes to Cel.)

Toadiko: Princess! You…you are alive! Thank goodness…we were…looking everywhere…we-

Celistar: How did you know we were here? How-

(A gruff voice sounds from the copter)

Toad: Get them in here. It’s time to go. That Koopa and Toad need to be treated.

Toad 2: But a Koopa-

Toad: I don’t care what she says. That Koopa needs help…besides…we aren’t in the Mushroom Kingdom, right now.

(Toadiko smiles, and helps Toadbert in. Kan drops Wes in, and climbs into the copter. Cel stares behind her thoughtfully, and then gets into copter. It rises into the sky, and then silently heads to the east, into the rising sun.)

END OF TOADBERT SAGA
TO BE CONTINUED…?
 
Re: The Mushroom Kingdom (At Phase 4)

This story is absurdly dark for a Mario fanfic.
 
PHASE 28

PHASE 28
A Sickening Tongue Twister



(The Sun is rising in the sky, over a lone castle on a hill. Beneath lays Toad Town, and beyond that is Mushroom City. Even farther away is the Forever Forest. The land seems to lie in a state of gentle beauty. But-)

Toad Guard: Run! No! No-ARGHHHHH!

(Screams echo through Peach’s Castle. What looks like a gentle landscape on the outside, on the inside is a grisly bloodbath. Peach’s Castle is under attack. But not by Koopas. Nor Shy Guys. No, instead, a green monster roams through, killing his victims in a most disturbing fashion…ripping the lungs, heart, and stomach through the mouth. What beast could commit such horrid crimes? What could possibly-?)

Toad Guard 2: YOSHI! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? WHY IS-

(A scream interrupts his question. His friend has become Yoshi’s latest victim. His friend dies a painful death, of internal bleeding, a loss of a heart, and drowning in his own blood. Toad Guard 2 cries out, and falls to the floor, in pure terror. From a balcony overlooking the main foyer, a Toad watches. It has become apparent to the Toad that this is the same being that killed the Yoshi Chief. The pieces were starting to come together. Could this Yoshi have killed Mario-? No. The pieces are still shattered. Mario was killed by a strange weapon…not by a tongue. The Toad shakes his head…and gaining common sense again, runs away in fear. Three floors above, in her own room, Queen Peach is oblivious to the chaos going on in her own castle. She starts laughing to herself for no apparent reason. The Toad Guards near her throne have started to hear the strange screaming noises going on below…but the Queens orders are not to move. They sigh, and look down, waiting for Bowser to come and steal the Queen again, while they pointlessly try to protect her. I mean, who else could it be…?)

(Far away, flying over the Forever Forest is a lone Helicopter. Inside is a strange group. The famous Toad intellect, Toadbert lays on a collapsible bed, breathing desperately as he tries to tell the princess of the Mushroom Kingdom, Princess Celistar what happened in Koopa Kastle. Nearby, a Squeek named Kan leans against the wall, watching Cel, while also keeping an eye on a Koopa, Wes, who is unconscious from a hit to the head by a hammer. A worried Toad, Toadiko, sits in the corner, watching Toadbert to make sure he is okay, while Toad Doctors rush around, trying to help Wes and Toadbert.)

Celistar: Wait…so you told them the only way into the castle?

Toadbert: No! No! It was…I was…I pretend I was insane. A torturer tried to give me something to fix my insanity, to tell the truth…but I wasn’t insane anyway…what I told them was a lie…the passage I told them of was blocked as well…heh heh.

Celistar: Then…but why did they keep you alive?

Toadbert: Actually…I don’t know…

Toadiko: What’s important is that you’re safe!

Toad 2: Hey, uh, what are we going to do with this Koopa when we get to the Castle? I mean…now that…

Toadiko: Well…we can keep him in here. Then drop him off in Tropix City. I doubt he’d want to go back to the Koopa Kingdom…

Toad: Maybe we should turn him into Peach’s Castle…

Toadiko: No! That-

Toad Pilot: Ey’! Make up yer minds! We’re almost to the Castle!

Celistar: Wow. It took us almost two weeks…

Toadiko: What were you even doing out there, Princess? It’s so dangerous…

Celistar: I already told you. I had to rescue Toadbert…

Toad: Eh, you should’ve left it to the Toad Guard.

Celistar: The Toad Guard! They can’t do anything!

Toad 2: We found you, didn’t we?

Celistar: How did you do that anyway? Hire another Shy Guy? (Sarcastic)

Wes: (Croaking) they are Heihos…

Kan: You! You dirty fiend! Awake! Tricking the princess…!

Wes: No…really, it wasn’t…

Kan: I should kill you now! I-

Cel: Be quiet Kan. Wes just tell me your side of this.

Toadbert: No, princess! The Squeek is right! That Koopa-

Cel: Just…shut up. Just say what you have to say Wes. This might be your only chance.

Wes: Yes…thank you…well…part of what Hamro said was true…I was supposed to lure you to the Castle…and trap you. But…I got too scared in the end. I didn’t want to do it. I thought you’d figure me out…kill me…I was supposed to meet you in Peach’s Castle…and convince you to save Toadbert…but instead, by an insane chance, I ended up going to a bar…getting thrown out and beaten…right when you and Penter were passing by. I could’ve gotten thrown out when you didn’t pass, or maybe you’d have passed at all, or most of all, you’d never even get out of the Castle. But you did…and Penter saved me…and I decided to try again. Get you to the Castle. So we went. But when Penter…disappeared…I wasn’t sure again, and told you I’d leave when we got to the Barren Lands. But…by then…I was starting to…like you. Like friends…so I stayed…and…that’s it…really…-

Toadbert: No! No, it isn’t! You-you were the servant of one of Bowser’s sons, what…what was his name…

Wes: (Sigh) Ludwig. Yes…I was a servant. We weren’t exactly friends…and when I refused to take part in his ridiculous plot…he looked for a way to get rid of me…without too much suspicion…he sent me on this quest…for even if I did manage to survive getting you to the Koopa Kastle, you’d almost certainly kill me when you found out I was a traitor there…

Celistar: …

Wes: Please, forgive me Cel. I didn’t even want to work for Bowser. They force us into the army at ten years old…and the things they show us to make us hate the Mushroom Kingdom…you don’t even know the kind of darkness the Mushroom Kingdom holds.

Celistar: I don’t know…I-

Toad Pilot: We’re here!

(The copter lands and the door opens. Cel steps out, and stretches her hands above her head. A few Toads’ get out, as well as Toadiko. Kan also jumps out.)

Toadiko: Aren’t you at least a little bit happy to be home, Princess?

Cel: Well…y-

(CRASH! High above, the stained glass window of Peach shatters, and a Toad’s head falls to the ground with a disturbing SPLAT, right in front of Toadiko and Cel. Toadiko looks queasy. Cel looks up determinedly.)

Celistar: Here we go.

(Cel runs for the Castle door. Kan runs after. The Toads simply stare in shock. Cel runs in, and up the grand stairs. When she gets to the second floor, she starts to hear the screams…now two floors above…right outside Peach’s room. Cel runs faster, jumping over dead Toad bodies. Kan has to zigzag, as he can’t jump high enough to get over the bodies. Cel runs up another set of stairs, through another room, and another set of stairs…the screams grow steadily louder. More bodies than ever. A set of doors wide open. Running in, and-)

(Peach’s Throne Room. Peach sits on her throne, her fingernails creepily long, and her hands lying over the side of her throne. She grins manically. Below her, two toad bodies lie, their organs lying on top of them. The Toad bodies are right in front of the most shocking part of the entire scene-Yoshi, THE Yoshi, his green skin mixed in a grisly red, dripping down his body. A pool of blood lies all around the scene. Peach looks straight at Cel. Her grin grows even longer.)

Peach: HEE HEE. CEL. YOU’VE RETURNED. HEE HEE.

Cel: Mother…what the hell…

(Behind Cel, Kan rushes in, his lance drawn out. He stops, shocked as well.)

Peach: HEE HEE. IS THAT YOUR FRIEND, MY LITTLE GIRL? HEE HEE.

Cel: Mother…what the hell is wrong with you…what’s going on…why is…?

(Yoshi had set his eyes on Peach, but now he turns to Cel, his blood encrusted mouth opens and closes a few times as if trying to talk. A drop of blood drools out. And then Yoshi starts running. Cel stands shocked, and tries to back away, but she’s frozen. She doesn’t know why…she’s not scared…maybe she is…her mother’s insane…there is no way around it…)

(But as Cel as standing staring in a chaos of emotions, Peach leaps off her throne, in a incredible example of strength.)

Peach: HEE HEE. YOSHI. HEE HEE. THAT’S MY LITTLE GIRL. SHE’S MY MEAL, NOT YOURRRSS…HEE HEEEEEE…

(Peach leaps at Yoshi, and grabs the beast’s neck. Yoshi struggles, and kicks Peach in the stomach. Peach laughs, and tightens her hands, causing Yoshi to struggle further. He twists around, and Peach unleashes a hand…to stab her fingernails into Yoshi’s eyes. Yoshi shrieks out, and unleashes his tongue, right into Peach’s laughing mouth. Peach gags violently, but then grabs Yoshi’s head, and digs her fingernails into his brain. Yoshi screeches, and Peach laughs. Yoshi’s tongue drags out of Peach’s body, bringing out a plethora of organs. Peach violently rips out her fingernails, and falls to the ground, in a new pool of blood-her pool of blood. Yoshi falls to-but struggles and wiggles for a few moments, massive amounts of blood spilling out of his head. He finally dies, his blood merging with Peach’s. Cel stares in sickening horror…and then runs. She runs past the bodies, she jumps through the window, ignoring Kan’s calls of protest. She flies, along with the glass, cutting her. She falls into the moat, one inch farther, and she would have broken her neck on the side of the moat…she doesn’t even think about how lucky this is…instead she swims out…and runs. Down the hill…through Toad Town…past a Goomba, shouting about equal rights, past a Doogan complaining about Shy Guys…into the City…through the streets, into a back alley…and soon, she has no idea where she’s running to…just…somewhere else…

TO BE CONTINUED