[mario maniac man]

Mario and The Seven Element Wands

Prologue

Long after the Mario Brothers, Mario and Luigi, settled down after a day of goomba-thrashing and para-troopa stomping. The night air was cold, but it wasn’t so cold that a certain princess, Peach, couldn’t take a midnight stroll. The Chancellor hadn’t authorized the excursion, but Peach thought forgiveness would be easier to come by than permission. Besides, the Bowser kidnappings were few and far between since the Smithy invasion. The only problems were a few minor goomba attacks that did little more than give the pudgy Mario some much needed exercise. The next reason Peach was kidnapped less was about to be put to the test. After a few crashing of leaves, a large goomba game barreling out of the nearest bush. Peach, without hesitating, smacked it unconscious with her cast iron skillet. Bowser had definitely been more cautious with Peach than ever before.

Deep in an adjacent bush, a deep black-clothed figure chuckled softly. “How foolish the pink one is. Enigma will be quite pleased. He He He He!!” He disappeared into another bush that was closer to the princess.

Princess Peach thought it to be strange that the nice had suddenly stopped. Her thought was answered when, after a short piercing scream, she fell into unconsciousness. The black figure slipped silently into the night carrying Peach over his shoulder.


The scream reached Mario’s pipe house a silent whisper. The sound did little more than produce a soft-spoken “Mamma mia” out of Mario, before he rolled over and slept some more.



Chapter One: Mamma Mia! Not Another Journey


Mario was woken up the next morning by the sweet saucy smell of spaghetti and meatballs, Luigi’s specialty. He hoped out of bed, slipped in to his famous blue overalls and red shirt, and scarfed down the Italian delight. “Ummm, Perfecto Luigi.”

Luigi turned around, “As always, my hungry brother.”


Mario said thank-you again before going outside to check if any mail had come. After closely inspecting the mailbox he sighed and sat down when it was found to be empty. It seemed the Toad Mail Service hadn’t arrived yet. He never worried though, because he knew the service was headed by Raz, his close pal that had recently been married to Rani. His head shot up when a menacing figure came into view. It was covered in black armor, so its face couldn’t be seen. It held a lance, a spiked-shield, and had a metal helmet. He almost went in to fetch Luigi, but decided against it.

When the creature came into view, it spoke harshly, “Where’s the Mushroom Kingdom, lazy one.”

Mario remained silent.

The figure growled, “Well, maybe I can puncture it out of you.”

The figure lurched forward, holding its huge lance vertical towards Mario’s head.

Mario jumped up, aiming his strong feet towards the creature’s head, but decided against it when he saw that its helmet had spikes all over it. Instead he performed a flip and landed behind it. When he hit the dusty ground, he rolled out of the way just as the creature’s lance came down where he was.

The figure threw down his lance and unwrapped a steel chain with a spiked-ball on the end, similar to one of Bowser’s weapons. He expertly charged it by swinging it above his head.

Mario rolled to the lance and picked it up just in time to catch the flying chain with it. He skillfully flung it in the opposite direction. As the creature charged, he slid to the side. During his evasion, he noticed a fire flower ready to pick. It was just what he needed. He blew as hard as he could into the flower causing a ball of fire to toast the baddie. It fell to the ground smoking.

Luigi ran outside and saw the smoking remains. “Whatsa that Mario?”

Mario shrugged, “Don’t know. It attacked me, so I defended.”

He nodded. “I can see the fire flower I planted last week came in handy.”

Mario laughed, “You think of everything.”

Just as they were talking, the Toad Mail Service Truck came into view.

Marina Toad was worried. After all, it was her first day on the job, and she was late to deliver some mail. To make matters worse she was late to deliver mail to Mario, her role model since the age of 1. Her name partly came from his, and she had been taking karate lessons from the martial arts master Jynx for quite some time now. In fact, she was said to be the best Toad warrior in all off Mushroom kingdom. The main reason she took this job was to see Mario. She was dying for a chance to show him her skills. She knew though, she could never match up to him. He had even out-fought her master, Sensei Jynx. She sighed in relief as she spotted the legendary green pipe house of Mario and his brother Luigi.

“Hmm, looks like a new mail carrier,” Mario said as he spotted the little purple toad head barely rising above the steering wheel of the mail truck.

Luigi nodded before running back in the house after he spotted a small goomba munching on the spaghetti leftovers.

Marina stopped the truck, almost running over Mario in the process. She jumped out of the truck and cautiously approached Mario, before handing him the mail. “H…Hello Mario. My name’s Marina Toad. I’m one of your biggest fans.”

Mario smiled, “Aren’t you going to be late for your next drop-off.”

She laughed, “I made sure I came here last so I could talk to you.”

Mario looked at his plumbing watch and laughed, “I can see that.

“Oh, I’m sorry about being late too…..Yikes! What’s that.”

Mario followed her frightened gaze over to the remains of the strange warrior who had attacked him earlier. “I don’t know what that was. In fact, I’ve never even seen one of those before.”

She looked back up at him, “That’s pretty hard to believe, considering you’ve been all over these lands. From Rose Town to Nimbus Land, I’ve followed all of your adventures. Oh wait! I’ve been taking karate from Sensei Jynx for some time now.” She performed some of her newer moves on a goomba, chasing it away.

Mario said, “Wow, you’ve gotten pretty good. I’m sure Sensei Jynx is proud.”

She beamed at the encouragement.

Mario’s face grew dim, “I’m worried though. The warrior I just fought was extremely good for a common soldier, if he was one. Much better than one of Bowser’s koopa troopas. The real question asks which army it belongs to if it is a soldier.”

Luigi was listening from afar, “Maybe you could let our young toad friend help you solve this mystery.”

She jumped up in excitement.

Mario, though had already found a clue. “Look! It’s a note I found in his armor.” It reads: My seven magical wands were lost when we were testing our new transport system. One has been rumored to have landed in Mushroom Kingdom. Do not disappoint me, Enigma.”

Luigi and Marina were silent.

Mario sighed, “I have a bad feeling about this.”

Luigi looked up from the mail he had been reading, “This won’t help much. Princess Peach has been captured.”

Marina yelled, “Just like Bowser to strike at the most inconvenient time!”

Luigi shook his head, “It’s not Bowser. Her footprints stopped in an area then another set of footprints led in a different direction. Then they disappeared.”

Mario and Luigi spoke at the same time, “Mamma mia.”

The Mushroom Kingdom Castle was a sight to behold. Its stone towers reached to the fluffy clouds that hung in the sky over the peaceful town. It acted as the entire government and protection center of the prosperous town. True, its protection abilities lacked a great deal of might, but who needed protection when the heroic Mario Brothers were always around? All the short toad chancellor had to do was send one of the royal messengers to fetch them. Unfortunately, the royal toad messenger was on a special diplomatic mission to the harbor town of Seaside. Instead, the worried chancellor was forced to send his plea via the Toad Mail Service. He completely trusted the employees of his good friend Raz, but he became ever more worried as the usual responsive time of Mario came and then went farther into the day. “What could be keeping them, Toad,” he said to the kingdoms most loyal member and Peach’s personal friend.”

The short toad spoke up in a squeaky voice, “You shouldn’t worry, sir. Mario has never failed us before. I’m sure he’ll bust through the throne room door any minute now.” Toad’s voice concealed the fact that he too was worried. After all, the princess’s disappearance was very strange. Not even the town’s best investigators could solve the quizzical quandary.

The chancellor didn’t respond. In fact, with his years of experience with his close friend, he could tell that he was also concerned. The chancellor and Toad’s fears were laid to rest, though, as Mario, Luigi, and Marina came bursting through the door. “Oh, I’m so glad you made it. As you must know, the Princess is missing, and we don’t have a clue where to look for her.”

Mario looked enthusiastic. “I think we do, sir. A strange figure attacked me earlier today.” The chancellor stepped backwards at the horrible news. “He was well trained in the art of fighting. Much, much better than any troopa I’ve ever faced. I’m afraid, if he belongs to an organized army, that they may have something to do with the disappearance of the princess.”

The chancellor sat down, “This is absolutely terrible. What are we going to do?”

Mario looked back at his brother Luigi and turned back to the chancellor, “My brother and I will get to the bottom of this. Can you contact Mallow? We might need his help too.”

“Certainly. I will…..wait. My royal messenger has already left.”

Mario didn’t look disappointed as the chancellor suspected he would. “Don’t worry. I have an idea. I’ll call Sergeant Flutter.” Before he could whistle, the Flutter team came fluttering through the door. They all looked upset. Mario knew they weren’t mind readers, so he figured something was wrong.

The sergeant saluted, “Mario, I’ve come to report that Monstro town is gone. It disappeared during the night.”

Mario was the only one who could speak, “It has to be related to last night’s other incident. Did you check if anyone was out of town. They might could give us some information.”

The sergeant looked embarrassed. “I’ll check immediately.”

Mario stopped him suddenly, “No. I need you to bring Mallow here. You can then proceed with the search.”

“Will do.”

The motley group of troopas scattered out of the room.

Mario turned to the chancellor. “That’s me, Luigi, and Mallow. I wish Geno was still here.”

Marina spoke up, “I’ll go with you.”

Mario turned to her, “This mission might be too dangerous.”

The chancellor spoke in her defense, “If any toad can do it, she can.”

Mario was silent for awhile. “Sure, you can come.”

Marina could barely contain herself. She, Marina Toad, was going on one of Mario’s famous adventures. It was, perhaps, the happiest day of her life.

Far away, the mysterious figure known as Enigma watched out of his gigantic ship’s view port. His unique sixth sense that had been acquired by a means only he remembered told him his servant, Nightstriker, was behind him.

“Sir, I have retrieved Peach.”

Enigma did not show his face, “Excellent! This and our testing on Monstro Town should lure Mario to his doom.” He touched his scarred face. Revenge was going to be sweet.

In Chapter 2: Mallow returns. The heroic team ventures to Rose Town to find clues on a resident of Monstro Town that might have escaped the devastating event. Also, more of the mysterious new enemy, Enigma.