Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga Retelling
Prologue 1: The Ambassador of Beanbean Kingdom
Fireworks burst in the air in joyous celebration in the Mushroom Kingdom. The day of the much anticipated arrival of the goodwill ambassador from the Beanbean Kingdom had come and all the Toads in the Kingdom were abuzz with talk about it.
"This is the first time we've ever had such an important dignitary come here from the Beanbean Kingdom."
"I hear that they want to propose a marriage between Princess Peach and Prince Peasley."
"I wonder how Toadsworth feels about that. I bet his worry wart is going to burst if Princess Peach is going to get married."
"Have you been reading the rumors on the back of the Toad Town Message Boards again? You know those are just unfounded rumors. It's just a meeting to ensure the peace between our two kingdoms. It is just a very routine visit."
"But wouldn't it be amazing if it was true?"
"It would sure be surprising."
"Did you know my cousin lives in the Beanbean Kingdom? He moved there years ago, but he we still send letters back and forth."
"I've heard that some Toads took up residence over there. It is a good vacation spot? I've been meaning to plan a getaway some time soon."
"The way he talks about it, it must be. I'm actually getting ready to go there in a month."
"We should go together then."
"You think Bowser is going to come in and wreck everything like usual?"
"That's a given. You know how much he loves to cause trouble around here especially when something so important is going on."
Everyone was excitedly gabbing about the event, and nowhere else in Toad Town was more excited about the event than at Peach's Castle where Toads were lined up in Peach's throne room dressed in their finest clothes and draped in cloaks with the Mushroom Kingdom coat of arms on it. Each held in their arms a banner, outstretched like to form an arch for the visitors to walk under.
"Everyone at attention!" announced Toad entering into the throne room. "The goodwill ambassador from the Beanbean Kingdom has arrived."
Dressed in a long, yellow gown from head to toe, only the face of the ambassador was seen. Her skin was bright green and her hooked nose reached half a foot in front of her. Her wrinkled face looked creepy with a large, toothy grin plaster on it. Behind her, another visitor in dressed in a similar outfit followed behind her. In his arms he held a shiny, metallic red chest.
The two of them approached the throne where Princess Peach sat and bowed their heads in respect to her. "It is truly an honor to be in the presence of the Princess of the Mushroom Kingdom."
"No. It is my honor to welcome visitors from the Beanbean Kingdom," she told them. "If there is anything that you desire I will do all within my power to give it to you."
"You are a kind and pure-hearted as I have heard," the ambassador said. "And your voice is by far the most beautiful and purest these old ears of mine have ever heard."
"I am flattered to hear you say such things," Peach stated with a smile. Her eyes then took notice of the chest her assistant held in his hands. Standing up, Peach took a couple steps from her throne. "And what is that you have brought?"
"I wish to improve my kingdom's ties with the Mushroom Kingdom," the ambassador explained. "This is a gift from Queen Bean." The assistance walked towards Princess Peach and held out the box for Peach.
"Oh, how thoughtful," commented Peach excited and curious. "I wonder what it could be." Moving her hands to the lid, she was about to open it when the lid swung open and a bizarre and ugly puppet dressed in a purple silk outfit popped up with the aid of a springing mechanism. "Oh my, what is this?"
The puppet opened its maw and sprayed a thick, green gas in the Peach's face before popping back into its box. Peach coughed and gagged as the gas made its way into her lungs. Seeing this, the Toads dropped their banners and began to run around in panic and terror. The ambassador opened her mouth big as she cackled hideously. "Eeeyah ha ha ha!" In a puff of smoke she discarded her disguise and revealed her true form. She became much taller and was draped in pink dress with a frilly purple robe over top of it. Her eyes burned with a fierce pinkness and her teeth were sharp and jagged. Her head was adorned with a pair of purple horns and a gem embedded in her forehead. Lifting up her bony arms into the air, she unleashed her dark magical power.
Outside the castle, the one bright sky quickly turned black as storm clouds. Hurricane winds blew through the town and bolts of lightning pierced through the roof of the castle. The townsfolk ran fearfully as they sought shelter.
"What's going on now?"
"You think this is Bowser's doing?"
"Ten to one it is."
"Looks like we have to reset the counter again. It's a shame. We were almost two full weeks without a 'Bowser Incident' too."
Back inside the castle, all the guards fled in fight as the lightning rained down, leaving Princess Peach at the mercy of the two felons. The second one then took in much shorter in stature than the first villain. He wore a red robe with yellow trim that covered over most his body, save for his head. He had a large set of teeth that gave him a huge grin that only became more eerie as he cackled evilly. He is but a single strand of hair on his otherwise bald head and a pair of thick glassed. From one of the many holes the lighting made in the ceiling, a strange helmet device dropped down onto his head. It had a large glass dome and two rockets attached to the sides. On top was a vacuum device that appeared more like a mouth than a nozzle. With merely a thought from the wearer, the vacuum extended over to Peach, still trapped in the green smoke and promptly inhaled it all up into the glass dome. The gas gone, Peach caught a quick glance of her attackers before her vision grew cloudy and she collapsed where she stood. The two simply laughed even harder.
"Come now," she said. "We have what we came for. Time to return to the Beanbean Kingdom!"
"This is a disaster among disasters," cried Toad running out of the castle and heading for the outskirts of town. "We were all utterly useless in protecting the princess again. Now there is only one thing left to do. I have to get his help. He's kept the princess safe and rescued her whenever trouble came to the kingdom. I know he'll be up to the task of saving the day again." As he reached the bridge leading out of the Kingdom he saw two small figures flying into the dark clouds from above, the two assailants. Even against the loud thunder their laughter was as bone chilling as ever. "At least I hope he can do it."
"That was great your vileness," the shorter fiend stated to his flying wheelchair companion.
"It was all too easy," she laughed. "We've got the key and now all we need is the chest it can unlock."
"The poor fools ran around like chickens without heads," he snickered. "How could a kingdom like that be so peaceful and prosperous and yet bet so pathetically weak?"
"Have you not heard of the Superstar of the Mushroom Kingdom?" she asked. "I heard tale of a lone warrior who has singlehandedly kept the kingdom and its princess safe."
"Should we be concerned then about this fink rat?"
"Hardly," she replied. "No matter who this supposed Superstar is, they cannot possible stop us now. There is no way they can even catch up to us."
"Hahah!" he chortled. "He doesn't sound so super to me."
"This is just super," grumbled Luigi as he worked to dry his brother's clothes on the clothes line. He was dressed in his usual green, shirt and blue overalls and he had on his green cap with his 'L' emblem on the front. His wore his mighty smooth, double curl mustache with pride under his bulbous nose. "It was a sunny day then a hurricane blew in out of nowhere and now that's gone and it's sunny again. The weather toad really screwed up on the forecast today."
"E-E-E-Emergency situation!" shouted Toad as he ran up to Luigi waving his arms up and down wildly.
"Emergency?" asked Luigi turning to Toad. "What's going on?"
"Did you see the Kingdom Courier?" asked Toad unable to calm himself down.
"No," answered Luigi shaking his head. "I haven't left home all day. I've been doing chores and whatnot."
"Well, it's horrible beyond words," explained Toad. "The kingdom is in another crisis and I've come to get the one person who can help."
"Not to worry," answered Luigi boldy. "You have come to the right plumber."
"Great," cheered Toad. "Then Mario is home."
"Oh, uh, right, Mario," said Luigi trying to hide the disappointment in his voice. "He's inside."
"Thanks, Luigi," replied Toad as he rushed past Luigi, sending him spinning to the ground.
"Wait!" called Luigi to Toad, but the little fungi was already inside and out of ear reach. "It might not be a good time to see Mario right now!"
"Marioooooo!" shouted Toad as he entered the house, but didn't get an answered. "Luigi said he was in here. Where could he be?" Walking around the house, Toad went in search of Mario. Mario's signature hat rested atop the coat rack by the door. On the windowsill sat a few plants bating in the sunlight, including one Fire Flower and even a Piranha Plant. Hanging on their wall was a massive picture of Princess Peach in a golden frame. The kitchen was rather neat and tidy, thought the unmistakable aromas of Italian delicacies like pizza and pasta. Upstairs Mario and Luigi's beds were all made up and their plumbing tools were at their bedside. "Not up here either. He's got to be around here somewhere." Entering into the washroom, Toad's ears perked up. "Hmm... I hear humming... Mario?" Venturing through the room billowing steam, Toad continued his search for Mario. Peering through steam, he could make out the silhouette of someone. "That's got to be him. Mario! Emergency! Emergency! E-E-Eeeeeeeek!"
Turning around and rushing out into the hall, Toad's face was bright red. He ran so haphazardly, he crashed into the wall and collapsed on the ground. Mario was dressed in nothing more than a towel around his waist and his smooth, multi-curved mustache left the bathroom and followed after Toad, a displeased look on his face.
"What's the big idea coming in on my Mario time?" he snapped and jumped a few times on Toad's noggin for good measure. "You better have had a good reason."
"P-P-Princess P-P-Peach..." he wheezed weakly. "P-P-Princess P-P-Peach..."
"Why didn't you say so earlier?" cried Mario no more than that to get a basic understanding the situation. "I'm on my way!" Rushing to the door, he grabbed his hat and shoes and ran outside towards his clothes still dangling from the clothesline.
"Bro?" asked Luigi shocked to see his brother outside in just a towel. "What are you doing? Couldn't you at least put on some clothes first before coming outside?"
"I'm in a hurry," he answered as he leapt at clothesline and in a flash, dressed himself. His discarded towel floated away in the breeze as Mario stood boldly. His gloved hands adjusted his cap on his head as he looked down the road towards the Mushroom Kingdom. "The Princess is in trouble again. I bet Bowser is at the center of all this as usual. Well, I'll find out soon enough." Dashing down the path, Mario raced towards the Mushroom Kingdom, but what he failed to realize was that the clothesline had gotten wrapped around his leg and not just that, but Luigi had gotten tangled in it as well.
"Mario!" cried Luigi though his mouth was muffled by the ropes along with his arms and legs, forcing him to be dragged all the way to the Mushroom Kingdom.
