Super Mario: Mushroom Kingdom

Normally it wasn't this difficult for Mario to win, but Bowser was pulling out all the stops today. Mario jumped away from Bowser in time to dodge the Koopa King's fiery breath. Mario Landed on a moving platform and ducked as Bowser tossed the discarded shells of one of his beaten minions Mario's way. But Bowser wasn't aiming at Mario. The mechanism that worked the platform shattered and Mario was dumped from the platform. The only thing waiting below was a warp pipe and a lake of lava. Mario got lucky and his cry as he fell into the unknown was the last anyone would hear.

"Mama Miaaaaaa!"

From their Vantage point on one of the castle walls, Luigi, Yoshi, and Toad watched in horror was Bowser stomped across the bridge to the warp point and used his mighty strength to push the pipe over into the lava. Luigi's hammer finished off an attacking Goomba before shouting a retreat. Bowser had won. Mario's plan to end Bowser before he could attack again had resulted in Mario disappearing. Possibly for good. Time passed.

"Finish the bombing run. I want that island wiped off the map."

"Yes, Lord Bowswer," Replied Kamek before signalling the other airships in the fleet. The Magikoopa had been one of Bowser's greatest confidantes along with his older sister Kammy. This bombing run had been Kamek's idea. They were finally wiping Yoshi Island off the map. After the last bombing ship passed over the island and dropped its load, three more ships passed over, letting their parakoopas begin descending upon the island. Soon, the Yoshi clan there would no longer trouble Bowser's minions.

Peach ran through the forest, knowing that the Goombas and Shy Guys were right behind her. She had tried to make it to Daisy's kingdom and found the boarder town already under attack. Her guards had fallen, one by one, until she was alone. Even Toad was gone. He had taken the last of her defenders and stayed behind to draw the Goomba away. If they were back on her tail, then she feared Toad was either captured or dead.

Her bright pink dress was torn and her shapely legs were cut and bruised in several places. She was getting tired and the terrain was rough, but maybe there was a chance. If she could just avoid Bowser's minions for a while longer, she might be able to find some of the freedom fighters and then-

"Eeek!" Peach's heel was caught on a root. She twisted and fell, landing hard on her side. Peach tried to lift herself up, but the exhaustion of running for her life for days on end finally crashed upon her. With the sounds of people approaching, she passed out.

Luigi was sitting in a bar, trying to forget his troubles. Mario was gone. Peach and her few remaining guards had gone missing. Yoshi had returned to his island to fight alongside his people. Some of Mario's other allies had joined up with the freedom fighters, but others had been captured by Bowser. At Luigi's side sat Goombario and Kooper, two of Mario's friends from previous adventures.

Like Luigi, they were pretty upset that they couldn't save Mario. More so simply because they had not been among group that had agreed to go with him that fateful day. Luigi lifted his drink to his lips and took a look at the pair. Goombario had his head bowed and was crying softly and Kooper was nursing his own drink.

"We should have been there! Mario was our friend and when he asked us to help, we refused," cried the young Goomba.

"But what can we do now," asked Kooper.

"What would Mario do," asked Goombario, looking up at his friends.

"Fight," said Luigi, putting his glass down. Mario would never give up. No matter how many castles he had to take back. No matter how many times he was told that the princess was in another castle. Mario would fight. And Luigi would too. For Mushroom Kingdom!