Super Mario Bros Adventure

[John Tagatchi]

The creature swung off the walls with incredible ease, considering his size. Peach was tucked under one of his thick arms, an all too familiar sight for one of the two men chasing them.

The brothers Mario need no introduction by now. Though twins, Mario is always considered to be the older, and is consequently the more experienced of the two. Despite being a bit wide around the tummy, there's no doubt that Mario Mario is one of the fastest, strongest, and best jumpers in all of the Mushroom Kingdom.

Luigi Mario, on the other hand, is not so fast or strong as his brother, due to years of idleness while he let Mario handle the Mushroom Kingdom's crises. He may seem the more physically fit of the two, but they in fact weigh the same; Luigi's height thins him out slightly. To make up for his shortcomings in comparison to his brother, Luigi's jumps are without equal, and with his added flutter kick, he can stay airborne much longer than anyone this side of Shooting Star Summit.

Toad Guards ran beside the brothers as they struggled to save their princess. As usual, they proved useless. They threw their spears at the fiend only to have them fall short or miss altogether. Their enemy was far ahead now, running into one of the corridors leading from the room. He turned, gave a huge grin, and slammed the door shut.

If you haven't deduced it yet, the creature is a giant ape, often known as a Kong in these parts. Or he looks like a Kong anyway. Close examination would show that he actually looks as if he's made out of water. One could also note the strange blue-and-yellow paintbrush in his hand, meaning only one thing...

Imposter.

Let's call him Shadow Kong.

Princess Peach Toadstool, ruler of the entire Mushroom Kingdom, has been in this position before. She's taken countless lessons in self-defense to prevent it, in fact. But somehow or other, she always ends up kidnapped.

The Kong stopped inside a narrow corridor. She pounded on him again and again with her fists. He ignored the blows and scissored her between his legs, then pressed his palms against the parallel walls. Using uncanny strength, he began to slide himself upwards, toward a window far above and freedom from the chase.

Mario and Luigi burst into the corridor. The green-garbed brother lined himself under Shadow Kong and jumped, catching Peach by her shoes. Moments later he was flat on the floor, holding the red footwear only.

Mario shook his head at his brother and threw himself against the wall. He caught it and slid a second, then pushed off toward the other, repeating until he was far above the Kong and at the window. The frame was wide enough to stand in, so he did so, waiting.

Of course, the Kong had seen him and leapt back down to the floor (squashing Luigi in the process), running for the other door. Mario leapt back down, grabbed Luigi, and was again in pursuit.

***

The corridor ended. Shadow Kong stared at the wall a moment, then turned. Mario was fast approaching. He dropped Luigi and charged. The Kong set Peach down behind him and thrust his paintbrush. Mario dodged, but the paintbrush followed. The Kong thrust it into Mario's face, covering him with a blob of brown goop. The Kong thrust repeatedly until Mario was covered in the stuff.

He turned to grab Peach, but she was gone. He turned again, and Luigi rammed into his gut headfirst. The Kong crumpled over. Luigi snatched for the brush, but a sudden explosion drew his attention, as well as a malignant cackle.

"Eeyaw haw haw! Now is the leaving time!"

Luigi turned and saw a green bomb coming at him from the new hole in the wall. He cried out and started to run, but it hit him anyway and sent him flying. The Kong limped over and jumped out the hole.

Moments later, Toadsworth came running into the corridor, carrying a pail of water. "Master Mario! Do not fear!" He squinted his eyes and threw.

Luigi shook the water off his face and stood. "Nice shot."

Toadsworth grinned sheepishly and ran off again.

Luigi turned around to see Peach walk through the wall. "It's a little trick I had Merlon set up," she said, tossing her shoulders casually at his questioning glance.

"Looks like Bowser's back to his old tricks," he replied, changing the subject. "If that was Bowser Jr., anyway."

"Must've been. I guess he thought Donkey Kong looked a lot stronger than Mario."

"There was that guy who attacked me right before he left, too. Seems like they were in cahoots. Something about him seemed awful familiar... AW-ful familiar..."

Peach narrowed her eyes at him. "What's he doing on Bowser's side?"

"Must be bumming for a job since we cleaned up Cackletta."

For a second, Peach's glare intensified, then cleared back into her usual soft expression.

Mario mumbled something, but it only came out as a gurgling sound. They walked over and began to wipe it away the goop away from his face.

"I said, what we're going to do about it is the real question..."

"If we could disable the paintbrush somehow..." Luigi started, "then Bowser wouldn't have Junior to stir up trouble, and would have to come out here to save him."

"Which would give us the advantage for a change."

"That's settled then," Peach said. "We're going to E.Gadd Scientifics."

The brothers looked at her. She immediately went defensive.

"I'm going."

"Absolutely not!" Toadsworth shouted, entering with a new bucket of water. "I'm sorry, Your Highness, but I must forbid you to leave the castle until this threat has passed." He poured the water onto Mario, clearing the goop away. "It may not always seem like it, but it is the safest place in the kingdom for you."

Peach looked to the brothers for support. They shrugged.

"Hmph! You guys are no fun!"