Part 1: Hoohoo Mountain
Chapter 1: Crossing the Border
"Uh, where am I?" groaned Luigi opening his eyes to the purple landscape around him. "Oh, yeah, I feel really far and somehow I survived." He paused for a moment as his words sunk in. "I'm alive!" Jumping to his feet, he cheered and celebrated, kicking up a dust cloud as he did so all around him. "What is this stuff?" Luigi began coughing as he inhaled some of the dust quickly prompting him to stop dancing. "Wait a minute, if I survived then where is Mario?"
Quickly looking around, Luigi searched the surrounding area and quickly spotting him, his lower half, sticking out of the ground. "Mario!" cried Luigi running over to his legs. Hastily, he tugged at Mario's legs and plucked him out of the ground with surprising ease, tossing him up into the air. "Mario!" he called once again looking up as his brother as he started to come to.
"Whoa!" cried Mario as he found himself falling to the ground once more, but this time landed on his feet. "Luigi? Was that you? Where are you?"
"Down here," he groaned, buried in the ground beneath Mario's feet. Jumping up, Luigi knocked Mario off his head and freed himself from the ground. "Looks like we made it here in one piece, wherever here is."
Looking around, Mario observed the purple, dusty ground, and the light fog that had begun rolling over the area. "I think this is Stardust Fields," stated Mario. Searching through his suitcase, he pulled out a map to check. "We were heading straight towards the Beanbean Kingdom so we should have been around here when the Koopa Cruiser went down."
"Then we made it?" asked Luigi. "We are in the Beanbean Kingdom?"
"Not quite," answered Mario. "But we're near the border. Once we cross it we'll be there."
"That's good to hear, but what'll we do from there?" questioned Luigi. "We don't exactly have a plan anymore. It is just the two of us now. We don't have Bowser, his minions, or the Koopa Cruiser."
"Hey, look over there," pointed Mario at the wreckage of the Koopa Cruiser. "Let's go check it out."
Hurrying over, the brothers quickly found the Koopa Troopas and all the rest of Bowser's minions making their way out of the ship and onto the ground. They all looked beat up after the crash and the ship itself was a shell of its former self, chunks of the ship scattered about, and ship battered, broken, and no longer airworthy.
"The K-Koopa Cruiser..." whimpered one of the Koopa Troopas. "We haven't finished... paying it off..."
"Forget the ship," said Mario. "How are all of you doing?"
"We're all still... in one piece," groaned another Koopa Troopa. "But other than that... not good. We're too injured... to go on... at the moment. How about yourselves?"
"A little sore, but nothing a mushroom can't fix," commented Mario. "What about you Luigi?"
"Amazingly, I'm okay too," he replied. "If Bowser hadn't thrown us overboard before the ship blew we'd probably be in just as bad shape as everyone else here."
"Then we wouldn't be in any shape to continue either," added Mario. "Bowser really saved us this time. Speaking of, where is he?"
"He's not here..." stated a Koopa Troopa. "Please... F-find Lord Bowser."
"Bow-Bowser fell..." stuttered another. "Urgh... on the other side... Ack! ...of the border..."
"Bowser made it across?" asked Luigi. "If that's the case we better go see if he's okay too."
"I wouldn't worry too much," commented Mario. "Bowser's been through a lot in the past. Something like this wouldn't stop him, but we'd better go and meet up with him anyway. Will all of you be okay?"
"We'll treat our wounds... and work on repairs," replied a Koopa Troopa. "We'll try and get the Koopa Cruiser working again as soon as possible. Unfortunately, you'll have to go on foot for the time being."
"Guess this will be just like the old days then," stated Mario. "Let's go, Luigi. The border should be just up ahead. I think there should be gate up ahead, but with our passports we shouldn't have any trouble getting through."
Walking along, they quickly came to a rickety, wooden bridge. At the other end was a building with the words "Mushroom - Beanbean Border" and a pair of flags hanging over the entranceway. Carefully, Mario stepped onto it followed by Luigi. Gripping the support ropes, Luigi fearfully shuffled across. "What are you so afraid of?" asked Mario, nearly at the end of the bridge while Luigi hadn't even made it halfway.
"This bridge is so old it could fall apart at any second," whimpered Luigi looking down at the long drop. "I just know that it'll collapse the second I reach the middle of it and I don't want to fall."
"That is a drop of a few meters," pointed out Mario. "A little earlier we fell twenty times that height and came out relatively unharmed. Besides, if it held us this long, I doubt it'll break on us."
"You do make a good point," agreed Luigi finding more courage and walking more speedily across to catch up to his brother. "I wonder why it is so run down. This is the bridge to the border after all."
"I guess it isn't really used that much," suggested Mario as he reached the end of the bridge and stepped onto the red carpet with gold trim leading into the border building. "We are only crossing here because the Koopa Cruiser crashed. If it hadn't, we'd have flown to the International Airport in the Beanbean Kingdom instead."
"Well if nobody crosses by the border over here," commented Luigi as he made it across. "Does that mean that there isn't anyone guarding it?"
"Well the lights are on," said Mario pillars with glowing, ceramic mushrooms. "Somebody has to be here."
Venturing into the building, they discovered only a single room and passage to the Beanbean Kingdom. On the wall was a mural of one of the Mushroom Kingdom's castles in an older architectural design. "I haven't seen a castle in the Mushroom Kingdom like that in ages. Feels kind of nostalgic."
"Yeah," agreed Mario looking around. "But where is anyone? Has this place really been deserted?"
"Well, well!" came a voice from above. Looking up, Mario and Luigi watched as a pair of black-shelled Koopa Troopas dropped down and blocked their way. They wore helmets on their heads and armor just as Hammer Bros. did ages ago and unlike other Hammer Bros. they were chubby rather than muscular. Instead of wielding hammers, they held onto a rope, holding onto one end each. They wore a very pleased look on their faces. "Talk about a nice surprise. Check it out, Bro! It looks like the famous Mario Bros. have arrived!"
"Man!" exclaimed the other. "That really brings back the memories, doesn't it? Good times... Good times."
"Uh, do we know you?" asked Mario, confused. He turned to Luigi who was gestured he didn't have any idea either.
"Guess we shouldn't be surprised. We haven't seen you since Bowser trapped the residents of the Mushroom Kingdom in blocks. We were a couple of the Hammer Bros. that were guarding the entrance to one of the castles Bowser took over."
"We tried to double team you two, but Mario stomped my my head."
"Yeah, and Luigi pelted me with a few fireballs when I tried to run away. I couldn't sit down for two weeks."
"Oh, uh, sorry about that," apologized Luigi.
"That's a part of the job," he chuckled. "No hard feelings. It's actually pretty funny in hindsight. So, I guess you remember us now, huh."
Mario and Luigi looked at one another then answered together, "Sorry, we still don't remember you." The two Hammer Bros. started to sob and quickly Mario changed the subject. "Uh, so what are you two doing over here?"
"Oh, uh, well after Bowser was defeated we went out to find new work. It wasn't easy with being former members of the Koopa Troop, but Princess Peach gave us jobs protecting the border and making sure only those who have the proper paperwork get across."
"From that day on we've become the Border Bros!" Together they struck a pose attempting to add some weight to their words. Instead, there was an awkward silence.
"So you two have been here for all this time guarding the border?" asked Luigi. "How has that been?"
"It has its moments," one of them admitted. "We hardly ever have any problems with people illegally crossing the border. It must be because we're so good at our job."
"It's really boring, isn't it?" stated Mario.
"Yes!" they sighed. "You two are the first visitors we've had for as long as I can remember. Thank you for coming over here."
"N-no problem," answered Mario as he watched them sob for joy.
"So what's up, brothers M?" asked of the Border Bros as they regained their composure. "Are you two heading off on a journey together?"
"Yes we are," answered Luigi with a nod. "We are on an important mission and we need to get into the Beanbean Kingdom."
"Oh..." they replied with eagerness in their voices.
"So you probably want us to let you pass, huh?" said one of the Border Bros. his tone changing to sound more authoritative. "Well, this is the border of the Mushroom Kingdom after all."
"That's right, it's the border," added the other brother. "And since we're the border security, we can't let you in... until you do some jumping worthy of the Mario name!"
"Jumping?" asked Mario confused. "Like we have to jump the border or something?"
"In a manner of speaking," they explained. "You see this rope? You have to dodge and jump over the rope as we swing it around. If you can avoid us till the time passes you can get passed. If you fail then you won't be allowed to cross. It's simple as that. That's how we keep trespassers from crossing the border."
"Trespassers?" asked Luigi as he and Mario took out their passports. "But we have our passports all taken care of. We'll be crossing the border legally so there's no need to test us."
"Wha- what?!?" they stuttered. Their jaws dropped as they say the passports. Curling up on the ground, depressed, they whimpered disappointed.
"They have passports. We have to allow them to cross."
"But- but it's not fair. This is the first time we've even had anyone come through here. We might not get another chance to do this ever again. All our hard work we put into our Border Jump routine will have been for nothing."
"They seem really upset that we don't have to do their Border Jump challenge," Luigi whispered to Mario. "I feel kind of bad for them."
"Me too," nodded Mario in agreement. "Let's do their challenge. If it involves jumping it shouldn't be too difficult for us anyway." Approaching the Border Bros, Mario offering them his hand with a smile. "Even though we have our passports, we still want to do your Border Jump Challenge."
"You do?" one of them sniffled. "You aren't just saying that to make us feel better are you?"
"Uh, of course not," answered Luigi trying to sound earnest. "You said we beat you two once before. How about we consider this a rematch then."
"A rematch?" one of the Border Bros. repeated. "Yeah! A rematch!"
"And this time we'll be the victors," said the other one. "Come on, bro! Let's give them all we got!" Quickly moving to different sides of the room they continued to hold their rope between them holding it like a jump rope. "All you have to do is avoid the rope as the move it around. See the flagpole against the portrait?"
"Yeah," replied Mario, taking a quick glance before turning back to the Border Bros.
"The flag on that will slowly get raised as time passes. If you can avoid the rope until the flag reached the top you will be allowed to pass. Good luck and hope you can survive."
"Survive?" repeated Luigi nervously. "We are just crossing the border. This isn't supposed to be dangerous."
"I'm sure they are just being overly dramatic," replied Mario. Then the Border Bros. dashed at the Mario Bros. with unexpected agility. Quick to react, they leapt over the rope as it was about to hit them. They then swung the rope back as Mario and Luigi landed on the ground again. Mario and Luigi ducked, narrowly getting hit, though Luigi's hat got knocked off his head.
"Wow, they are just as good as they were back in the good old days," one of Border Bros. commented.
"Then enough with the warmup round," replied the other.
"I don't like the sound of that," squawked Luigi taking a peek at the flagpole. It had only risen a few inches so far.
"Keep your eyes on the rope and stay light on your feet," instructed Mario.
The Border Bros. resumed their attack, bringing the rope towards Mario and Luigi once again, but they swung in back and forth in their arm, creating a curved flow in the rope. Mario and Luigi backed away from the rope, keeping out of range. They continued to back up till they came up to a wall. Mario leapt up to jump over the rope while Luigi walked backwards into the wall.
"Ow," he groaned. "You didn't tell me I had to keep an eye on my surroundings too."
"This is our chance," stated one of the Border Bros. "Let's split them up!"
Swinging the rope upwards at Mario, it stretched longer than it appeared, narrowly missing him as he made it to the opposite side of the rope. He then raced it back down to the ground and fled it desperately as they swung it at him. Rushing to the other end of the room, Mario got out of range of the attack, panting for breath.
"Only a third down," gasped Mario taking a look at the flagpole while the Border Bros. repositioned themselves on opposites sides of the room just as Mario and Luigi were. "What are they going to do now?"
The Border Bros. began to run in a circular path around the room. As they approached Mario and Luigi they began to run with them to avoid the rope. As the Border Bros. ran faster, so did Mario and Luigi, the room spinning around them as they grew dizzy. Then without warning, the Border Bros. skidded to a stop and changed direction. Stumbling as they tried to change direction, it was all Mario and Luigi could do to keep from getting hit by the rope. The only relief came when the rope finally stopped chasing them as they flag passed the three quarters mark on the pole. All four of them collapsed to the ground, tired of running and too dizzy to stand.
"We really need more practice spinning around," groaned one of the Border Bros. unable to sit up yet.
"We almost got them though, so that's something," remarked the other. "Once we recover we'll hit them with our strongest attack."
"Victory will be ours," they cheered.
"What else are they going to do?" cried Luigi finally able to put his hat back on his head. "I'm already exhausted."
"Don't worry," encouraged Mario. "Sounds like this'll be the final round. Just concentrate on recovering your strength."
The seconds ticked away slowly, as they all struggled to recover their stamina. Little by little they got back to their feet, Mario and Luigi joining up once more as the Border Bros. stood in the middle of the room and began to swing the rope like an ordinary jump rope. As they swung the rope around its length varied adjusting as far it reached in the room. Mario and Luigi watched it carefully, jumping it as it came in range of them. Each rotation came faster than the last. The rope soon became a blur, the brothers barely able to jump and land before the rope came back around again.
"Are we almost done?" wheezed Luigi.
"Yes we are!" answered Mario as the flag reached the top. "We've won!" Together Mario and Luigi stomped down on the rope and stopped it forcing the the rope from the Border Bros.'s hands. Fireworks shot out of the ground around the flagpole and exploded in the air, illuminating the room with red, green, and blue.
"We lost," cried one of the Border Bros. their jaws dropped in shock. "Again."
"The first time we've ever had to defend the border and we've failed," sobbed the other. "We're good for nothings again."
"Don't beat yourselves up like that," encouraged Mario. "It was definitely a challenge."
"Yeah," agreed Luigi. "You have nothing to be ashamed."
"You're not just saying that are you?" one sniffled.
"Of course not," stated Mario. "Keep training and you might beat us next time."
"Next time?" they asked. "You'll... you'll come back across the border?"
"Of course!" answered Mario. "So you better get training cause we'll be even stronger next time too."
"Then let's get to training!" they cheered, grabbing their rope and jumping with it as they chanted as they did so.
"King Bowser went to impress.
His beloved princess.
Brought her to his cosy keep.
Then came along that Mario creep.
Came to cause a terrible hastle.
But the princess was in another castle.
To buy some time for Peach to make.
King Bowser a great big cake.
How many worlds will it take?
1! 2! 3! 4...!"
As the two Border Bros. continued to jump rope, Mario and Luigi passed them to cross the border. "Are we really going to come back here and challenge them again?" whispered Luigi.
"We are never coming back here," answered Mario to Luigi's relief. Together they finally crossed the border into the Beanbean Kingdom.
"They should be arriving soon," said a young man with green skin and luscious golden locks that glistened in the sunlight. He was dressed in a white garb that covered his body from his knees up to his shoulders. He also wore gloves and slippers made of the same material. There was a belt around his waist with a rapier holster at his side. Around his neck was a red cape that flowed in the breeze as he flew on his flying bean around Hoohoo Mountain. "Don't they know it is rude to leave someone as fabulous and me waiting?" He continued to search search around aimlessly, yawning from boredom. Then the sound of groaning caught his ears. "It sounds like someone is in trouble."
"Oh, my joints," moaned Cackletta rubbing her hands and breathing heavily in her parked rocket chair. "I barely managed to make it back to the Beanbean Kingdom and my condition has already started acting up again so soon." Reaching into a pocket in her robe, she grabbed some pills and swallowed them. "My medication can't even numb the pain for an entire day anymore. I must find a way to speed up my plans if I am to make it in time. My next stop is Beanbean Castle, but it won't be easy to infiltrate with all their soldiers and worst of all the prince leading them. If I didn't have to deal with him, the castle would be a very simple task."
"Hello?" called the young man towards Cackletta. He approached her from the back of her rocket chair, unable to see more than part of her purple dress. "Are you okay over there?"
"P-Prince Peasley?" cried Cackletta surprised. She quickly covered her mouth till she calmed down and then spoke again carefully disguising her voice. "Is it really you Prince Peasley?"
"Yes, it is I," he answered gallantly. "I am on an important mission, but upon hearing you in distress I have come to offer my aid. Pray tell, what is an elderly lady such as you doing in a place like this?"
"E-elderly!?!" snapped Cackletta, irritated, but covered her mouth again. "Uh, I came up here for the fresh air, but it seems I am having trouble. This body of mine doesn't work as well as it used to. I just took some medication so I should be feeling better shortly."
"That is good to hear, but I must insist on helping you down the mountain right away," he told her. "I am lying in wait of a pair of criminals coming this way. I don't want you to be in any danger."
"Oh, this is such a courageous thing that you do," she wheezed. "And you are doing this on your own?"
"A force from the castle is on their way, but I flew ahead to ensure I made it in time," he answered. "Truth be told, I doubt I will require any assistance in capturing these villains."
"As expected of the prince," Cackletta stated. "Could I be so bold as to ask for your autograph?"
"But of course," Prince Peasley chuckled heartily. "It would be my pleasure."
"Such a generous... kind... chivalrous... FOOL!!!" cackled Cackletta as she lifted both her arms out to her sides.
"Cackletta!" cried Princes Peasley as the sky cracked overhead. He turned to look in time to see a bolt of lightning crash down on him, knocking him off his flying bean and onto the ground.
"Oh, lucky day," snickered Cackletta getting up to face the fallen prince. "I can do away with the prince right here and then make my way to Beanbean Castle with barely any opposition. This couldn't have been planned any better."
Lifting her arms once again, the sky crackled as another bolt was about to descend. It crashed down at the prince, but quickly recovering, Prince Peasley avoided it just in time. On his feet once more, he rubbed some dirt off his face then smirked and wagged his finger at her. "It seems you have grown even more decrepit than I remember," he told her. "You truly have fallen far, Cackletta." Running his fingers through his hair, the Prince shined brightly for a moment. "But your evil magic will not be enough to defeat me."
"Is that so?" hissed Cackletta. "Then come attack me. It was I who you are pursuing after all, right?"
"That is right," answered the prince. "I am putting an end to your plans right now!" Rushing at the evil sorceress, Prince Peasley unsheathed his rapier and slashed at her body. As he did, her body was torn to pieces with ease, then exploded in a cloud of purple smoke. Bats with heads like Cackletta's then emerged from it and attacked him. "A fake?!?" Swinging his weapon as he backed away, Prince Peasley fought back the numerous bats.
"As arrogant as ever," laughed Cackletta, several more of her appearing nearby. They all moved and spoke at the same time. "Your reckless heroics will be the downfall of the Beanbean Kingdom."
"I admit, I did act hastily," he said. "But if you think that I would be fooled by this trick again, you are an even greater fool!" Fending off the bats, Prince Peasley leapt at one of the numerous Cacklettas and struck her. Unlike the last one, this one got cut and fumbled backwards, but didn't explode into smoke. All the other Cackletta's also vanished.
"How?" she groaned. "How were you able to tell the real me from the fakes?'
"I already told you, the same trick won't work on me again," he explained. "And now your evil desires are put to an end now!"
'Fink-rat!' cried Fawful firing a ball of energy at Prince Peasley, electrocuting him. While he was stunned, Fawful dropped down on him and pinned him to the ground. 'The bean that is a prince will not slay Cackletta who is great! I mock you with my feet that are filthy! Smell the soles of the feet!'
"Fawful," commented Cackletta getting back up. "You caught up later than I thought you would and you have a fire in your eyes like you chewed up a bowl full of hot peppers. Don't tell me those two guys were too much for you to handle."
"Red and Green," chortled Fawful. "Both were the Superstars of the Mushroom Kingdom. They attacked with the fury of many angry jackhammers upon my cranium. So much fury they gave me, I spanked them like many angsty brats that I hate."
"Well done, my apprentice," praised Cackletta. "And with the prince captured there is nobody else who can stop our plans. I will be able to invade Beanbean Castle with ease. While I do that, you will make sure the soldiers who have come here are delayed from returning."
"As you wish, O' Great Cackletta," he answered. "But what shall we do with this prince that is beaten?"
"I know just what I want to do with him," cackled Cackletta grinning with her pointy teeth. "It will be a fate worse than death for a bean so pretty as him." Kneeling down to Prince Peasley, she held her arms over him and focused her dark powers over him. Prince Peasley struggled with all his might to escape, but what strength he still possessed left him as he felt his body twist and contort into something grotesque. Soon after, his consciousness faded. The last thing he heard was the vile laughter of those two villains.
