Prologue 4: Awful Fawful
Ignoring the intense chaffing the from Mr. Pinch, Luigi continued to gaze out at the view in front of the Koopa Cruiser. The sky had become dark and starry as night time arrived. Bowser leaned on the wall asleep eyes closes and a snot bubble inflating and deflating as he breathed in and out. Mario sat against the railing, deep in thought.
"I wonder why the villain only stole the princess's voice," pondered Mario. "Just what are they going to do with it?"
"Your Rancidness!" a Koopa Troopa announced as he ran up to Bowser and kneeled before him.
Hearing his underling's voice burst the bubble and woke Bowser. "Huh, wha," he mumbled. "Oh, I was just resting my eyes. What is the matter?"
"We will soon pass over the border between the Mushroom and Beanbean Kingdom," he answered.
"Hmm!" grinned Bowser pleased with the news. "Nice work! You can go back down now." He then turned to Mario. "Hey! Mario! Once we get there it is your turn to pull your weight so you better give those poser villains the same pummeling you'd give to me."
"I don't intend to do anything less," he replied.
"Wha!" cried Luigi kicking his feet and shaking about on the crane.
"Just leave enough for me after you're done," he added. "I got to get some payback too. The only one allowed to kidnap the princess is me after all."
"Something's coming!" shouted Luigi.
"Why not help us fight the villain then?" suggested Mario. "I can't promise there will be anything left after we beat the bad guy. They tend to explode after they are beaten."
"It's getting closer!" he yelled flailing about even more on the crane trying to get their attention.
"I am a villain!" he growled. "The last thing I want to do is work with my sworn enemy. I can handle giving you a ride, but don't think we'll even be battling together."
"Why won't you listen to what I have to say!!!" hollered Luigi with all his might, his voice finally getting their attention.
"Eh? What's with all the hoopla?" asked Bowser to Luigi. "Can't you see we're in the middle of an important discussion?"
"We're under attack!" cried Luigi as a ball of green energy flew at the Koopa Cruiser and hit the ship hard. The entire vehicle shook knocking Bowser to the ground and freed Luigi who dropped to the ground. Mario managed to brace himself on the railing and frantically looked to see where the attack came from.
"What was that?" groaned Bowser getting back up only for Luigi to land on his head and hop onto the deck. "Ow..." Facing turning red, Bowser jumped back to his feet fuming mad. "RAWR! What now?" Gazing in Luigi's direction he stomped forward.
"I'm sorry," whimper Luigi. "I didn't mean to jump on you."
"Out of my way, greenie," he growled and got to the front of his deck. "Looks like we got company."
"What is it?" asked Mario as he and Luigi joined Bowser in gazing out into the distance, something quickly getting closer to them.
"It looks like... an old lady riding on a rocking chair..." commented Luigi.
"Eeeyah ha ha ha ha!" the villainous witch laughed as she reached the Koopa Cruiser and cackled at Mario, Luigi, and Bowser her large mouth opened wide showing her sharp, mangled tight and long slithery tongue.
"Make that a creepy old lady," added Luigi as the three of them stood on their guard.
"Who would have thought you'd catch up to the Great Cackletta in even a hundred million years?" she asked.
"You!" growled Bowser gritting his teeth and pointed a claw at her. "You're the fiend who stole Peach's voice! How dare you pull off such a cool evil plan?"
"Eeyah ha ha ha! Oh, I dare!" she bragged laughing even louder than before taunting Bowser on even further and quickly enraging Mario and Luigi as well. "And now I'm going straight back to the Beanbean Kingdom so my next plan can take root! I have no time to chat with the likes of you! Fawful! Take care of this!" Flying up on his jet propelled headgear, the other thief of Princess Peach's voice flew beside Cackletta.
"As you wish, o' great Cackletta," he replied, his voice carrying a german-like accent. "I will make them wish they never got out of their bed of safe and secureness."
"Very good," she laughed turning her flying rocking chair around and flew off.
Roaring at the top of his lungs, Bowser called out after her. "GWAAAARRR! HOLD IT!"
Flying right up to Bowser's face, Fawful laughed high-pitched right in it, showing off a large set of chompers in his own sizable maw. "Eeeyah ha ha ha ha!" he laughed. "I am the great Cackletta's most best pupil, who is named Fawful! I am here, laughing at you!"
"Get out of my face!" snapped Bowser swinging his claws at Fawful who dodged with the use of his headgear. "If you are giving us the chase just to get your silly princess's voice, then you are idiots of foolishness!"
"Is it me or does this guy have a few screws loose?" asked Luigi.
"I think it's more than a few," commented Mario. "Stay alert. No telling what he's capable of."
"Cease your talk of chattering," chortled Fawful. "My monologuing of the exposition must be fed into your ears of eating. Princess Peach's sweet voice soon be the bread that makes the sandwich of Cackletta's desires! And this battle shall be the delicious mustard on that bread! The mustard of your doom!"
"Wait? What?" asked Bowser scratching his head confused. "I don't understand what you're talking about? Did you take the princess's voice to make some evil sandwich? That's just dumb!"
"Silence!" shouted Fawful. "The brilliance of Cackletta's plan forming is beyond the scope of oniony turtle! I say hold the onions!" The top piece of the Fawful's headgear opened up and fired a blast identical to the one that hit the Koopa Cruiser earlier. It flew at Bowser so fast it blasted him to the other side of his ship before he even had time to react. The impact even managed to push back Mario and Luigi a little.
"He just took out Bowser in one shot!" cried Luigi.
"We better see if he's okay," replied Mario rushing over to the fallen Koopa with Luigi following behind, keeping an eye on Fawful.
"Ow," groaned Bowser. "Did anyone get the license of the Bonzai Bill that hit me?"
"Pull yourself together, Bowser," shouted Mario. "This would be the perfect time to show what this Koopa Cruiser can do."
"Yeah!" agreed Luigi. "Hit him with everything this ship has. All those laser and bullet bills and stuff."
"Uh, that may be a problem," replied Bowser defensively.
"Why?" asked Mario.
"All the weapons are all set to attack from above and we're already at our maximum elevation," he explained. "If the target is above the ship we're as defenseless as a Koopa stuck on its back."
"That is a really big design flaw," stated Mario.
"Well," replied Bowser. "It was made to fight against you Mario and wouldn't be able to make it up this high so there was no need for them."
"Then what are we going to do?" cried Luigi.
"Fight him ourselves," stated Mario.
"Does that include me?" asked Luigi fearfully.
"Of course," nodded Mario. "We're in this together."
"About that," said Luigi. "I was hoping I could start with some weaker enemies first and gradually work up. Maybe I could sit this one out and let you and Bowser handle him."
"I'm still not fighting alongside Mario," groaned Bowser.
"This is not the time for this!" snapped Mario. "He could decide to attack us at any moment." Turning back towards Fawful, he wasn't there. "Where did he go?"
"Maybe he went to store to get mayonnaise for that evil sandwich he was talking about," suggested Luigi.
"I think he was talking metaphorically," replied Mario. "At least I think was."
"Eeeyah ha ha ha ha!" laughed Fawful from behind the two brothers making them both jump in fright. "Next it is the turn of you!" he announced. "Time for battle of epicness, Fink-rats!!!"
"Fink-what?" asked Luigi as Fawful's headgear fired another blast at Luigi.
"Luigi!" shouted Mario grabbing his brother and diving away from the blast.
"That was a close one," panted Luigi. "Thanks, you saved me."
"Save your thanks for after the fight," replied Mario. "We are going to have our hands full with this one. That headgear is not just powerful. It also gives him a more freedom to move around. On top of that, we have to ignore his words. They'll just distract us. Our best chance would be to double team him and break his head gear. Without that device we'll have the advantage."
"Double team?" gulped Luigi. "As in you and me... fighting... together?"
"Yeah," replied Mario. "Was I not clear enough?"
"Y-you were," answered Luigi. "But I don't know if I can do it. It's been ages since my last fight. I don't know if I could help you against a guy like that."
"I guess it can't be helped," sighed Mario. "Take cover and I'll handle this." Mario got to his feet and faced Fawful once more as Luigi quickly crawled away, taking cover behind Bowser shaking as he watched.
"The count of fink-rats have lessened to just the one in red," he observed. "Soon zero shall be your number!"
Firing another blast of evil energy, Mario anticipated it and dodged. Laughing, Fawful continued to fire forcing Mario to move nonstop to avoid the attacks. "Now's my chance!" thought Mario as he managed to get within striking range of Fawful. Mario dodged Fawful's next attack and leapt atop the flying foe to stomp him from below. With a suddenly burst of speed, Fawful dodged making Mario stomp only the deck of the Koopa Cruiser.
"I saw that attack coming from the day that was tomorrow's two days ago," laughed Fawful. "Your attacks are like that of a wet noodle on a plate that I spit upon!" Unleashing a barrage of blasts, Mario quick-stepped backwards, but the attacks came faster than he could move. Bracing himself, he took the brunt of the attacks and was knocked against the guard rail.
"Mario!" cried Luigi running up to him. "Please get up! You have to beat that guy!"
"Luigi," groaned Mario. "Watch out. Don't look away from that guy."
"Fink-rat!" hollered Fawful from behind Luigi, scaring him as bad as any Boo ever had. Scrambling away, Luigi fled from Fawful. "You flee like a squirmy bug. I will enjoy watching to run like an obnoxious brat with a magnifying glass! I have amusement!" Luigi scrambled away only for Fawful to quickly circle around to intercept him. Quickly, turning the other way, Luigi ran away again, but just got blocked over and over again. "And now I have boredom!" added Fawful as he fired at Luigi and sent him rolling into the guardrail upside down. "Now the squirmy bug meets the sun that hates you!" He laughed heartily as he prepared to fire once again.
"Mario!" cried Luigi at the top of his lung.
As Fawful was set to fire, Mario stomped on his head, making Fawful misfire and cracking the glass dome of his helmet. "So Red was faking dead like a possum who deceives," stated Fawful.
"Are you okay, Luigi?" asked Mario.
"I think so, but what are we going to do?" he groaned. "That guy is so tough."
"As I said before," replied Mario. "We have to work together. I can't do this without you."
"Ok," quivered Luigi. "I'll try."
"We'll swap between offense and defense," instructed Mario. "Don't take your eyes off him and strike when he's focused on me."
Mario leapt at Fawful once again the the villain dodged out of the way. He laughed as he returned fire at Mario only to be stomped on again, this time by Luigi. "It seems the Fink-rats are now working together like a wet noodle that has befriended a squirmy bug! You will won't defeat I, who is Fawful, who is growing with anger!"
"What did he say?" asked Luigi.
"I think he said he's getting angry," replied Mario.
"Fink-rats!" roared Fawful as the unleashed a barrage of energy balls at Luigi. He stumbled backwards to avoid them. Seizing the opening, Mario attacked Fawful from behind, further damaging his helmet and drawing his aggro from Luigi. Luigi then took the offensive and attacked Fawful and the brothers continued this strategy until Fawful was dizzy from trying to keep track of them. "I am nauseous like a sock in a wash set on turbo."
"Now's our chance!" announced Mario to Luigi seeing Fawful floating hazily in the air. Together they jumped at Fawful and smashed his headgear with a combined attack, knocking him to the ground face first. His head gear exploded off his almost fully bald head.
"We did it!" cheered Luigi. "We beat him!"
"Not just yet," informed Mario. "Just look at him."
Luigi got a closer look at Fawful seeing him tremble. Without warning, he lifted his head with a contorted smile on his face. Immediately, Luigi backed away. "Scary," whimpered Luigi hiding behind Mario.
"I am filled with a sensation of feeling that makes me uneasy," stated Fawful getting to his bare feet. "This is a feeling of mystery to I, who is Fawful. Red and Greenie, please answer my question of wanting to know the answer. Is one of you the star of superness the resides in the kingdom of mushrooms?"
"You mean the superstar of the Mushroom Kingdom?" asked Luigi. "Well, that's, of course, Ma-"
"We're both the superstars of the Mushroom Kingdom!" interrupted Mario. "Both Luigi and myself."
"Two superstars?" questioned Fawful. "You surprise me like a kid who has snooped on his presents only to find it is all clothes! Boo I say to you Red and Green who fills Fawful with such emotions he had never felt before. I have! I have! I have!"
"Did we break him?" cried Luigi seeing him repeat the same to words over and over again.
"I think he's about to blow his top," replied Mario tensing up.
Fawful's veins bulged as blood rapidly pumped through them. His glasses cracked as he made the biggest grin he could make. He continued to repeat the same words over and over till finally, he shouted at the top of his lungs. "I HAVE FURY!!!" Running at the Mario Bros. with haphazard speed, he rammed Mario with incredible force and then pummeled Luigi with a berserked barrage of punches.
"He's even stronger now," groaned Mario. Getting up once more he charged at Fawful to help Luigi.
"Fink-rats! Fink-rats! Fink-rats!" chanted the crazed Fawful not ceasing from attacking Luigi. As Mario neared, he grabbed Luigi and tossed him at Mario who stopped to catch his brother. Fawful took the advantage and rolled at the two of them with the same insane strength. "I have fury!"
"How are we supposed to beat him now?" groaned Luigi. "That was so painful."
"Just hang in there," coughed Mario. "We'll attack him together. All we can do now is try to outlast him."
"I'll do my best," nodded Luigi getting off Mario and standing beside him. "I promise I will not be a burden."
"You never are," commented Mario.
Getting into fighting stances, the brothers locked eyes on Fawful. The instant he charged at them they charged at him. They swung their fists at him landing blows at the same time he hit Mario with a punch and landed a kick on Luigi. Ignoring the pain, all three continued to exchange blows striking one another again and again not giving an inch as they struggled harder and harder.
"I have fury!" wailed Fawful, his anger rising the more the Mario Bros. continued to fight him. "Like a punching bag of defiance you keep coming back for me. I despise you with hate! You spoil my mustard of doom on the sandwich of Cackletta that is great!"
"Pipe down!" counted Mario.
"Don't you ever stop talking?" snapped Luigi the two of them punching Fawful in the mouth mouth and knocking him into the guard rail for a change. Running at him, they kicked him with all their might breaking off the guard rail behind him and kicking him off the Koopa Cruiser and out of sight. "We did it! We did it!" Luigi cheered but only for a moment as the two slumped to the ground.
"Just barely," panted Mario. "But that's one down. Now we just have to beat Cackletta and retrieve Princess Peach's voice."
"Uhnnrgh..." groaned a familiar voice that sent a chill down their spine. "How could fink-rats like you beat such an awful nasty as me?"
"How?" cried Luigi looking around. "He fell off the ship and he didn't have his headgear."
"I had a backup headgear," chortled Fawful. "You ruined my mustard, but I had another jar of doom just in case." As he floated over them, he opened his maw once more and shouted, "I have fury!"
"Does this mean we have to fight him again?" cried Luigi.
"As many times as it takes," replied Mario gritting his teeth.
"Bah!" spat Fawful. "Now is when the talking stops! I do not have time to stop and smell foul roses such as you! One fell swoop is the way I will deal with you fink-rats!" Flying out of reach, Fawful rained down a barrage of energy balls onto the ship, breaking through the floorboards and into the hull destroying the ship from the inside. "Eeyah ha ha ha ha!" He laughed heartily as Mario and Luigi stumbled to stay balanced. Then without another word he flew off. Mario chased him down the observation deck as far as he could go, but before he could catch him Fawful flew away.
"What are we going to do?" cried Luigi freaking out. "The ship's going to explode and take us with it!"
"I'm not sure," admitted Mario. "We could jump, but I doubt we'd survive a freefall from this height."
"Gwar!" roared Bowser from behind them.
"Bowser," cried Mario. "You're up again!"
"You disappoint me, Mario!" growled Bowser angrily. "You failed to beat that weirdo and look what he did to my precious Koopa Cruiser and now you have no idea what to do! The Mario I know would chase me down to the ends of the universe to rescue Peach!" Grabbing the floorboards beneath at his feet, Bowser pulled out a chunk of the floor with Mario and Luigi on it. "Now get out of here!" With all his might, Bowser threw them off his ship.
"Bowser!" cried Mario as he watched the ship explode in the air.
"Wha- what just happened?" cried Luigi hanging onto the floorboards. "Did Bowser just save us?"
"He did," answered Mario. "He threw us off with this floor to slow our fall."
"Then we're saved," cheered Luigi just as the boards broke off from under them. "Now we're doomed!"
Looking through binoculars, the destruction of the Koopa Cruiser was sighted in the night sky. "General Starshade! A massive explosion has been sight!"
"Confirmation! I need confirmation!"
Looking up higher, two lights were falling quickly to the ground. One burned with a brilliant red and the other a dazzling green. "General Starshade! Meteorites confirmed!" The binoculars followed the meteorites down to the ground and watched them crash down in the distance. "Impact in Stardust Fields! Initiate recon!"
"This situation could be serious! Sound the alarms! Emergency! Emergency!"
Prologue End
