”Professor, wait up!” Bowser called out.
”Oh? What can I do for you, Bowser?”
”Where is the warp pipe? I need to find Mario.”
”It’s just through the forest over there.” E. Gadd replied. “Mario wanted to be alone, remember?”
”Yeah, but I feel like we can’t do anything without him.” Bowser said. “We really don’t have much time to find Sombra. I’m going to see if I can help Mario out, one way or another.”
”And you’re sure he’ be okay with that, Bowser?” Professor E. Gadd asked.
”We haven’t been arguing or anything since we got here. I guess it’s safe to say that we are getting along.”
”Hurry, Bowser!” The professor exclaimed. “The princess is counting on us!”
”I’m going!”
The Koopa King ran into the Everfree Forest, where Professor E. Gadd’s time portal was still hanging around. He obviously couldn’t fit inside and had to take the professor’s newly built warp pipe, secretly hiding in the middle of a patch of bushes.
”Here goes nothing...” as Bowser got ready to jump in.
9:15AM
Mushroom Kingdom
Thursday
”Oof... Aw man, that’s gotta be a painful landing... Why’s it so dark in here? Mario? I need to go upstairs and find him.”
The warp pipe that led Bowser back to the Mushroom Kingdom made him end up in the basement of Princess Peach’s castle. When he first invaded the Mushroom Kingdom yesterday, his trembling dimmed out all the lights. So, Bowser found a put out torch and decided to light it back up by breathing fire on it.
”Mario? Hello? Is there anybody home?”
Hnnrgh...
”Who’s there? Talk to me at this instant!”
Nnnrgh...
”Okay, if you’re not going to show yourself, I might as well come after you! Come out from wherever you’re hiding!”
As Bowser approached a set of stairs, he heard the source of the crying coming from underneath the staircase. He crept slowly and slowly, waiting to attack at any moment. Then, suddenly...
”NO, STAY BACK I SAY!!!” An old man yelled.
”Wait a minute...” Bowser paused. “Toadsworth?”
”K-King Bowser? W-What are you still doing here? I thought you left already with Princess Peach!”
”I was supposed to, but now I need to find Mario and save her from some unicorn named King Sombra. This time, she’s going back home safely to the Mushroom Kingdom, where she belongs.”
Toadsworth is Princess Peach’s elderly steward, or caretaker as how commoners would call it. Like other Toads, Toadsworth is short and stout. Despite his age, he is quite energetic. He also speaks with a southern English accent. He’s been traveling with Princess Peach for many years, looking after her by her side. Regardless of his position, he cares deeply for the princess very much in a fatherly manner.
”I-I don’t believe you! Even if Mario manages to save Princess Peach, you’ll just go back to kidnapping her as usual!”
”Trust me, I won’t.” Bowser spoke. “In fact, Mario and I seem to be finally getting along with each other. I just happened to have come back to the castle to try and find him. He’s not in the best of moods right now, though.”
”What seems to be troubling him?” as Toadsworth calmed his breathing. “I think I saw him go upstairs, but I’ve been very restless hiding under these stairs since yesterday to even notice a thing.”
”Just take it easy for now.” Bowser said. “After this is all over, the Mushroom Kingdom can go back to living in peace.”
”Why are you helping us, anyway?” Toadsworth wondered. “I thought only power was the only thing that mattered to you.”
”Yeah, but what’s the point of it all anyway if I’m just going to keep on failing? After Mario and I made some new friends in the world where Princess Peach is held in, it made me realize that...it’s time I started doing the right thing. All this time, I wanted Princess Peach to live a better life, but kidnapping her is basically forcing her into situations that she doesn’t want to be in.”
”What are you trying to tell me?” Toadsworth asked again.
”I don’t want to be evil anymore. I mean, it’s cool having all these powers and what not, but who would want to live in a world where destruction leaves nothing left?”
”I see... What about Mario?”
”I’m going to try and cheer him up. We actually don’t have much time before Princess Peach goes missing, so I gotta hurry this up. It was, uh, nice running into you...”
”W-Wait a minute, King Bowser!” Toadsworth interrupted.
”Hmm, yes Toadsworth?”
”Look after Princess Peach.”
”I will.”
As Bowser ran up the stairs, he ended up in the west wing of Princess Peach’s castle. Not much has changed, except for the fact that the dining room was left open. He started walking towards the room to see if Mario or anyone else was still left inside.
”Mario? Hello?”
Sniff sniff.
”Mario, is that you?” Bowser peeked inside.
Another torch lit the room, and it turned out that Mario was actually here. He seemed to be staring at a giant painting of Princess Peach with his arms crossed. He got up close and personal with it that he even felt the painting with his hand.
”There you are, Mario!” Bowser called out. “Is...everything alright?”
”...Bowser?” Mario sniffed. “Hey, I never thought I’d get to see you follow me like this! What’s up?”
”I came by to see if there was anything I could do that would lighten things up for you. We all need you right now to beat King Sombra once and for all so you can save Princess Peach! You have to cheer up, Mario!”
”I know, but...I just can’t. I can’t stand to see Princess Peach like that again. Like I said, I appreciate your guys’ help, but now’s not the time.”
”That’s not Princess Peach.” Bowser corrected. “That’s just a demon trying to take control of Princess Peach. How come you weren’t like this the first time she turned into the Shadow Queen?”
”Something about King Sombra possessing the princess this time makes it even more terrifying.” Mario replied. “I don’t want to see her succumb to the darkness!”
”She won’t!” Bowser firmed up. “Remember, Twilight said that Sombra feeds off of fear and hatred. Don’t let it get to your head, Mario, or you’ll also end up being his slave!”
”I know, but...it’s really hard for me. Maybe I just need to stop thinking about what the princess has become on the outside and think about how she really is on the inside. Who knows?”
”Yeah, that’s a good start.” Bowser said. “I could see that you’re no longer crying now. Just take a deep breath in and out.”
”Hooo...” Mario inhaled and exhaled. “I have no fear... I have no hatred...”
”Good, good, good. You know what I think? There’s something I have to tell you that’ll probably make you feel even better, Mario, if you’re interested.”
”What is it, Bowser?”
”You and Princess Peach were really meant for each other. I mean, she obviously has expressed her gratitude towards your heroic deeds, hasn’t she? She feels so happy when you’re around.”
”You really think so? It’s not like I’m in her castle 24/7 or anything, but yeah, I guess I really have been falling for Princess Peach. Thanks, Bowser!”
”Haha, now there’s your smile!” Bowser chuckled. “How are you feeling now?”
”I think I’m feeling better now!” Mario exclaimed. “Do you mind if I say something too?”
”Go ahead, Mario.”
”Maybe you and I were meant to get along in the first place. I know you’ve always had a thing for kidnapping the princess, but I guess she matters to you as much as she does to me.”
”She does matter to us equally.” Bowser admitted. “I know I’ve been playing rough all these years, but it’s definitely time I put an end to these evil deeds. No more kidnapping and fighting from me at this point, alright? Are we...friends now?”
”Friends...” as Mario offered a handshake.
”Thank you, Mario.” as the Koopa King returned the handshake. “C’mon, let’s get back to Twilight.”
”Yeah, but first, let me... Wait, what’s happening?”
”MARIO!!!!!!” a grumpy voice from outside the castle yelled.
Yet another earthquake trembled throughout the Mushroom Kingdom, and at an even higher magnitude than when Bowser and King Sombra first came in. It was so strong that the long dining room table flipped all the way until it was upside down.
”That voice sounds familiar to me. Let’s get out there, Bowser!”
”Got it!”
The two allies ran outside Peach’s castle while still holding their torches. The earthquake continued throughout their escape until the two of them finally made it outside the castle. Their jaws dropped massively hard when they found the source of the voice...or three, rather.
”It can’t be...” as Mario covered his mouth. “Hooktail, Gloomtail, and Bonetail???”
Hooktail is a large, female red dragon, with a cream-colored underside, jaw, and cheeks. She has small red-and-purple wings on her back, and antennae resembling ponytails on her head. She has large red feet with purple claws, and her tail is light purple, thin, and forked into three parts.
Gloomtail is the middle sibling in the "Tail" family. He is the older brother of Hooktail and the younger brother of Bonetail. Upon hearing Mario's former partners say they defeated his sister Hooktail in her castle a long time ago, Gloomtail vowed to destroy Mario and company and avenge his sister. He lives in the Palace of Shadow beyond the Thousand-Year Door.
Bonetail is a large, skeletal dragon who lives in the Pit of 100 Trials, beneath the city of Rogueport. It is the older brother of Gloomtail and Hooktail. Unlike its still-living siblings, it is an undead dragon, having died of old age after not eating anything for centuries at the bottom of the Pit of 100 Trials. It was once a pet of the Shadow Queen, but legend never stated why or how Bonetail came to reside at the bottom of the Pit.
”How are you three still alive?” Mario demanded. “I thought I killed you all!”
”That’s where you’re wrong!” Bonetail shouted. “You may have left us for dead, but in the end, we were able to recover to the fullest!”
”Now that the three of us have finally reunited once again, we will gladly put an end to your story, Mario!” Hooktail laughed.
”Any last words before we put you out of your misery?” Gloomtail waited.
”I’ve stopped you all before and I will do it again right now!” Mario pointed at them angrily.
”Oh really?” Bonetail asked. “With what assistance? Certainly not from that puny, weak turtle down there!”
”Hey, who are you calling puny and weak?” Bowser roared. “I never got to meet any of you dragons outside of Rogueport, but now’s the time we finally get down to business!”
”Oh, it’ll be our pleasure, hehe!” Gloomtail giggled. “Oh, by the way, Mario? You remember your lifelong friends that you’ve met since you came to Rogueport? They were great sources of food for us!”
”YOU ATE MY FRIENDS???” as Mario stomped the ground. “HOW DARE YOU!!!”
”Mario, there’s nothing to worry about!” Hooktail lied. “At least, they’ll be living happily ever after...while resting in PIECES, hahaha!”
”Wow, and I thought I was evil.” Bowser disbelieved. “Whatever, you three giant doofuses are going down!”
”My dear siblings, it is now time to exact our revenge on Mario, and we’ll even kill Bowser as an added bonus.” Bonetail confirmed. “Do not fall to him once again.”
”Bring it, cowards!” Mario challenged.
The three dragon siblings started to fly all around the castle, in hopes that Mario and Bowser are unable to reach them. Although the two were dodging their claws and breaths of fire, Mario’s hammer throw wasn’t within range of them and neither was Bowser’s fire. The earthquakes were more of a volcanic eruption than just earth tremors.
”So, you got any plans, Mario?” Bowser questioned.
”Uhh, not any that I can think of! Ooh, if only Luigi and the others were here, we can at least outnumber these freaks!”
”Look out!” as Bowser ducked with Mario.
”Psst, you two are so helpless!” as Bonetail cooled off his breath. “It is now time to unleash our full power!”
”And with pleasure!” as both other dragons lined up behind Bonetail.
Bonetail, Hooktail, and Gloomtail all started to line up in the form of a train and opened up their razor sharp teeth. Facing Mario and Bowser in front of the castle, they all started to swoop down and attempted to consume the two head on.
”Brace for impact!” as Bowser hid.
”This is not good!” Mario exclaimed. “They’re going to destroy the castle!”
”Well, is there anything inside that we can use, Mario?” Bowser worried.
”I think the Toads might’ve stored a Mega Mushroom somewhere in the basement, but it’s going to be hard to find it in the dark. You have to take it, though!”
”Hoooo, that’s fine!” as Bowser kept breathing fire. “Just get down there while I try to distract the dragons!”
”I’m on it!” Mario confirmed and ran back inside.
”So, this is the warm welcome I get for coming back to the Mushroom Kingdom?” Bowser smirked. “All right punks, it’s just you and me now! Bam, a punch to your face is what you need, haha!”
”Grrr!” Gloomtail groaned. “Whatever, it’ll take more than that if you think you can stand up to me!”
”Where is it, where is it?” Mario panicked. “Why did it have to be so dark?”
Storage Room
”Aha!” as Mario lit up the hallway with a torch. “It’s in one of these blocks, which I must jump up to get.”
Pow.
”A Raccoon Leaf? Well, at least I can fly again! Is the Mega Mushroom in here?”
Pow.
”No, that’s just a regular Mushroom! C’mon, I know you’re in here somewhere!”
Pow.
”Frog Suit, no! Fire Flower, no! Aww, which block is it in? Oh, there’s a chest.”
Mario walked towards a small wooden chest and when he opened it up, he was so happy that he was left speechless.
”Bingo, baby! All right, now to get back to Bowser!”
”Who wants some more?” as Bowser punched Hooktail when she flew in. “How about you, Bonepal?”
”It’s Bonetail!” The eldest sibling corrected. “You may think that this is funny, but I say that playtime is over!”
”Bam!” as Bowser threw a punch at Bonetail. “Oww, my hand!”
”Attacking an undead being like me is like attacking a being made of iron!” Bonetail yelled. “I will knock you so far away that you’ll be dead by the time you come back!”
”Not on my watch!” Mario interrupted. “Bowser, catch!”
Mario, who now had a raccoon tail and ears, threw the Mega Mushroom at the Koopa King. Instead of using his hands to catch it, he chomped down into it as soon as it made contact with his jaws. Bowser’s stomach started to grow loudly now.
”YEAH!!!!!!” Bowser roared. ”Now you’re no match for Giga Bowser!”
”We got you this time, fools!” as Mario flew up onto Bowser’s shoulder.
”What difference does this make?” Hooktail spit out. “There’s still three of us and only two of you!”
”Mario, I got the weaker siblings!” Bowser called out. ”Go get Bonetail!”
”Right away!” Mario accepted.
Giga Bowser and Raccoon Mario both went in opposite directions as they continued to face off against the Tail Dragons. The giant Koopa King was even able to grab Hooktail & Gloomtail by their necks and he threw them into Princess Peach’s lake. Mario also flew to the top of the castle and reached Bonetail at the height of the flagpole.
”Just because you can fly doesn’t mean you match my strength, Mario!” as Bonetail hovered in place.
”Maybe, but I can easily outsmart you! Wahoo!”
”Hey, what’s the meaning of this?” Bonetail asked. “Get off of my antennae!”
”Never!” Mario replied. “I’ll just have to make you crash into something!”
”Nnrgh...” Bonetail gritted his teeth. “Let go of my antennae, I’m warning you!”
”Forgive me, Princess Peach...” Mario whispered to himself while looking at the castle.
9:30AM
Twilight’s Castle
Thursday
”I wonder what’s taking Bowser this long.” Luigi said.
”I really do feel sorry for your brother, Luigi.” Rarity added. “It’s times like these where things get even more difficult than going to battle.”
”Maybe Bowser succeeded and went with Mario for a celebratory snack?” Pinkie grinned.
”Who knows how long he’ll take?” Cappy asked. “I’m not saying Bowser is slow, but I think he’s never done something like this before.”
”Then it’s settled.” Twilight declared. “We’re going after Mario now!”
”You heard Bowser, Twilight.” Rainbow Dash sighed. “He’s got this, doesn’t he?”
”Yes, but we’re going to give him and Mario even more moral support. It should wrap things up quickly before we head to Mount Aris.”
”I don’t know about this, Twilight.” Fluttershy thought. “We don’t what’s waiting for us in the Mushroom Kingdom! There could be scary monsters over there!”
”Ehh, only if you plan on leaving the Mushroom Kingdom.” Professor E. Gadd raised. “I could take you all there right now if you want to!”
”If ya say so, Professor.” A.J insisted. “C’mon y’all, let’s go see what those two are up to!”
”Once we’re done, Mario and I can show you our house if we have time.” Luigi suggested.
”Okay!” Everyone else nodded.
”You ponies head on forth.” Star Swirl said. “We shall guard this castle, even if it takes an eternity or so.”
”Please don’t go in my room...” Spike gulped.
”Time is of the essence, mateys!” Captain Celaeno alarmed.
”I’ll be waiting for you, too.” Daring Do acknowledged.
”Follow me to the forest!” E. Gadd exclaimed.
”Bye everypony!” Luigi and the rest of the group waved off.
”Hang in there, Mario, we’ll be right there...” Twilight thought to herself.