A Girl of the Future

by Vanessa Krowd

before the massive X-Missile on level six was Kammy Koopa, Bowser, Wario, and Waluigi -the sun in the high noon position.

  "BWAH HA HA HA!" Bowser laughed, a big smile on his face. "Tell me Kammy, what time is it?"

  "Why it's noon, Milord." Kammy Koopa answered.

  "Sunset is at eight o'clock tonight, right? Hmm…" Bowser pondered, arms folded and eyes closed in thought. "Grr… How many hours is that?"

  "That's eight hours from now, your Mathlessness." Kammy Koopa answered.

  "BWAH HA HA HA!" Bowser laughed. "So all we gotta do is hold off for eight hours? Piece of cake!"

  Waluigi was a lanky man who only valued three things in the world. His twiggy black mustache, his prominent pink nose, and his master, Grodus. He wore black overalls with a

  long sleeve purple undershirt, a purple hat on his head with a reverse yellow L on it's front. His white gloves featured the same emblem, orange elf shoes on his feet. He was a

  captain in the X-Naut army, which were Grodus's forces.

  -Naut Army Captain- WALUIGI

  "And hold off eight hours we shall." Waluigi insisted, rubbing his twiggy mustache between his gloved fingertips. "Remember, you promised to give him the Mushroom Kingdom in

  exchange for that Goddess Star. If you fail to hold your end of the bargain, Master will hunt you down."

  "Yeah yeah, whatever." Bowser dismissed. "I don't mind helping him out after the awesome power he has granted me. Finally, I'll be able to crush Mario no problem! BWAH HA

  HA HA!"

  "HYEH HAH HAH!" Kammy Koopa cackled. "It certainly is the power of all powers, your Ruthlessness!"

  "Don't let it get to your head." Waluigi calmly warned, the lanky X-Naut captain rather uptight.

  Wario was a short and fat man who only valued three things in the world. Food, women, and above all else, money. He wore purple overalls with a yellow undershirt, a yellow

  hat on his head with a blue W on it's front. His white gloves featured the same emblem, green elf shoes on his feet. He was the second executive of the Koopa's, which were

  Bowsers forces.

  -Second Executive of Koopas- WARIO

  "Chomp, chomp, lighten up will ya?" Wario attacked, munching on a greasy drumstick of meat. "We get to watch a pretty girl cry and shoot a giant ass missile!"

  "Hmph, lighten up? Seeing girls cry and watching people die is your idea of a good time, is it?" Waluigi countered. "Don't you have any sense of propriety? This is business. Act

  professional."

  "Professional?" Wario barked, perking his butt as he let out a yellow gassy fart. "Heh heh. How's that for professional?"

  "Ugh!" Waluigi whined, plugging his precious nose. "How utterly repugnant! Your flatulence has damaged my perfect nose!"

  "Your nose sucks." Wario bluntly insulted.

  "WHAT DID YOU SAY?" Waluigi roared, flames in the background as his giant presence towered over the tiny Wario.

  "I said your nose sucks. And so does your mustache." Wario continued, greasy drumstick in hand.

  "WHY YOU!" Waluigi roared, steam blowing from his nose and ears -fist clenched and face red.

  "So different yet so similar." Bowser calmly noted, he and Kammy Koopa watching them bicker from the sidelines.

  "Alright, listen up idiots!" Bowser summoned.

  Waluigi and Wario stopped bickering, turning to the Koopa King with a mild bark.

  "Waluigi, you may be loyal to Grodus but right now he's got you working for me. So you're gonna do what I tell ya. Got it?" Bowser ordered, his expression somewhat harsh.

  "I shall cooperate in order to reach our common objective." Waluigi answered.

  "Okay well you can cooperate by taking your bony little butt and your X weirdos down to the gate at Level One." Bowser ordered. "I know Mario's gonna show up so I want you

  and your men to stomp him before he even sets foot on this mountain."

  "Consider it done." Waluigi accepted, leaving the scene.

  "Our troops are scattered around the mountain, right?" Bowser questioned.

  "Why yes, Milord." Kammy Koopa answered. "As requested, I've strategically stationed various troops throughout the four inner levels of the mountain. Mario won't stand a

  chance!"

  "BWAH HA HA HA!" Bowser laughed, his arms spread with a smile. "Mario and his green brother may have beat me in the past, but this time will be different! They won't even be

  able to make it up here! And if they do, they won't be able to beat me! Either way, there's no way they're gonna stop this missile from launching!"

  "HYEH HEH HEH!" Kammy Koopa cackled, riding her magic broom in place. "I'm positively smothered in chortles, your Awfulness!"

  "Yeah, those losers don't stand a chance this time." Wario laughed. "Little pink Peachy's gonna cry cry cry once her precious little castle burns to the ground and Grodus takes

  her kingdom."

  "BWAH HA HA HA!" Bowser laughed, with an evil smile -the camera focusing in on his narrowed eye afterward. "Let the games begin."

  -Peach Castle, 2FOutside

  of Peach and Mario's bedroom door was Daisy and Rosalina, Navi fluttering in between the heads of the two princesses.

  "Come on Peach, open up!" Daisy sang, sounding distressed.

  But there was no response. They were positive that Peach was in there, but she had locked herself inside and was not coming out. Inside the room Peach was lying on her

  side beneath her fluffy white blankets in her pink canopy bed. Wet tear lines were present on her soft somber face, her back facing the bedroom door that Daisy was talking to

  her from. "Just how long do you plan on staying in there anyway? This isn't gonna just fix itself!"

  A tear slid down Peach's cheek, the princess of the Mushroom Kingdom sniffling and sobbing quietly while wiping it away with a gloved hand.

  "Looks like she's not coming out." Rosalina noted, watching Daisy stare at the door from behind.

  "Ugh…" Daisy groaned, turning away from the door. "This is gonna be harder than I thought…"

  "P-P-PRINCESS!" Toadsworth screamed, the old steward running up the stairs in a panic.

  An exclamation mark appeared over the party outside Peach's door, the three of them turning to the panicked steward that was running their way.

  "Toadsworth! What's got you so riled up all of a sudden?" Daisy questioned, stepping forward.

  Toadsworth stopped before Daisy with his hands on his knees, the aged Toad wheezing as he took a moment to catch his breath. "Huff, I say! I'm told old for this…"

  "Ahem! EMERGENCY!" Toadsworth screamed, his arms spread. "THE ENTIRE TOWN IS OUTSIDE THE CASTLE DOORS AND THEY'RE FURIOUS!"

  Daisy and Navi gasped in shock, Daisy immediately running for the front doors.

  "Dammit, this isn't good!" Daisy cursed, running towards the first floor. "I'll talk to them, you get Peach out of there!"

  "Princess Daisy, y-you can't just go out there!" Toadsworth declined, stretching an arm back towards the direction he came -Daisy running down the stairs. "Oh dear…"

  -Outside Peach CastleIt

  was madness. From Toad Town all up along the dirt path and leading to the stone bridge before the main doors of Peach Castle were the citizens of Toad Town. Angry and

  scared, the people of the country were demanding answers from their princess and they were demanding them now. Mushroom Kingdom News had even set up some cameras

  and a television broadcast in a small section of her castle gardens, so that the world could watch the chaotic event that was taking place. The camera was focused on the

  stone bridge before the main doors of Peach Castle, which had nine armed Toad Guards blocking the citizens from storming into the castle. Behind the barricade of Toad guards

  stood an angry Princess Daisy and an uncomfortable Princess Rosalina. Rosalina was scanning the area, all of the citizens crying and shouting various things. Some of them

  were holding up signs that said things like "PROTECT TH
E PEOPLE, AND STEP DOWN!" or "DONT BE A HERO, PLAY IT SAFE!". The crowd was anxious and they seemed to

  be in favour of Princess Peach backing down from her title and surrendering the Mushroom Kingdom to Grodus. Rosalina continued to scan the eager crowd, eventually noticing

  the cameras that were set up and pointing straight at her, the massive television screen showing her and Daisy standing on the bridge behind the Toad Guards. She went as

  white as a ghost.

  "Geez, can you believe these people?" Daisy complained, her teeth clenched slightly.

  "Oh no… C-Cameras…" Rosalina whined, frozen in place as she stared at the screen she was displayed on for the world to see.

  "Rosalina?" Daisy summoned, turning and facing the terrified princess of the galaxies. "Hey, are you okay?"

  "I-I have to go." Rosalina whined, turning around and heading back into the castle.

  "What? Are you serious?" Daisy barked, watching her quickly run inside the castle -closing the brown main doors tightly behind her. The crowd was loud and eager, causing

  Daisy to cringe in anger as she turned back towards them.

  "EVERYBODY, SHUT UP!" Daisy screamed, racing lines accompanying her presence -a top down view on her as she yelled toward the skies.

  Remarkably, the angry mob went silent. Veronica Shroom of the Mushroom Kingdom News was one of the people at the mobs front. After silencing and gaining the crowds

  attention, Daisy continued to rant -the exiled Princess of Sarasaland on the T.V. for various people all over the world to see.

  "Don't you guys have any sense of compassion? How do you think the Princess feels right now?" Daisy challenged.

  The mob was silent, listening intently to her words.

  "She's stressed out of her mind! Saving her people is her top priority, but she can't just back down before she even fights!" Daisy reminded.

  -Peach Castle, 2FNavi

  was hovering in place before Peach's door, the somber Toadsworth on the outside waiting anxiously for Peach to come out.

  "Things seem to have gotten quieter out there… Nice work, Daisy!" Navi thought aloud, turning to the somber Toad afterward. "Umm, Toadsworth, is it?"

  "Hmm? Oh, yes. Yes it is." Toadsworth confirmed.

  "Right. Well, I'm gonna go in there and check on the Princess." Navi informed, flying down to the ground then lying in prone -the blue fairy proceeding to crawl through the gap

  at the bottom of the door.

  "My, one of the many advantages of being small I see!" Toadsworth noted, watching as her lower legs and feet went out of sight.

  -Outside Peach Castle-

  "And here you guys are booing her off the stage before she's even started!" Daisy challenged. "You should be ashamed!"

  "You know, she's got a pretty good point." One Toad commented.

  "Too hell with that! My family is in danger!" Another Toad cursed. "Give it up and end this crisis before it starts!"

  "Peach has been good to us for years! No way am I just gonna vote her off like that!" Another Toad countered.

  "Do you wanna burn to death you idiot?" Another Toad snapped.

  "Beats being ruled by Grodus!" Another Toad counted.

  The citizens of Toad Town got riled once more, arguing with each other now. In an effort to calm things down, Daisy had only created more chaos -her teeth clenched.

  "EVERYBODY, CALM DOWN! HEY!" Daisy silenced, her demands futile as the chaos continued. "Dammit!"

  -Peach Castle, B1-

  Standing before a green Wild Wing -an awe inspiring sporty muscle car- in the underground parking complex of Peach Castle was Luigi and Link. The area was relatively dark for

  the time of day, only the occasional ceiling light available to guide vehicles out of the complex and onto the stretch of highway that took one through the countryside.

  "Pretty impressive." Link nodded. "I never would have imagined such a place existed beneath Peach Castle."

  "Aww yeah." Luigi smiled. "This place is tight. We can fit all sorts of vehicles here!"

  "She's a little empty though." Luigi continued, the two of them surveying the relatively barren parking complex. "We don't really know any engineers or mechanics. I mean I can

  fart around a bit, but I couldn't fill this place with anything worthwhile."

  "I see." Link acknowledged. "Can't help you there, I'm afraid."

  "No biggie." Luigi assured, jumping over the door and into the drivers seat of his green Wild Wing. "Come on, hop in!"

  "Oh? Well alright." Link accepted, walking up to the passenger door and getting inside the vehicle. "Ahh. I tell you, you don't see these things around Hyrule."

  "So you're from Hyrule, huh?" Luigi acknowledged. "I guess that makes sense."

  "Shh." Link hushed, holding up a finger.

  Luigi went quiet. The two of them were dead silent as they sat in the green Wild Wing within the parking complex beneath Peach Castle. They could hear the faint noises of

  the outraged mob at the castle front.

  "Geez, it sounds crazy out there!" Luigi gawked.

  "Indeed." Link agreed. "Naturally, the town is in an outrage."

  "I think the girls got it covered." Luigi assured, turning the key in the ignition -the engine giving a healthy purr. "Let's go find Mario."

  "Right." Link nodded.

  "Heh heh, we'll catch up to him in no time with this bad boy!" Luigi laughed, zooming through the parking complex. "Yahoo!"

  "AH HAH HAH!" Link abruptly laughed, his hair and hat blowing in the afternoon wind as they zoomed out of the parking complex and entered the Trans-Mushroom highway -the

  first chosen hero revealing a bottle of sake. "This calls for some sake! Want some?"

  "YOU CAN'T DRINK AND DRIVE!" Luigi scolded, his teeth sharp.

  -Peach Castle, 2F-

  "Ungh…" Navi weakly grunted, pushing herself off of the floor as she successfully entered Peach and Mario's bedroom. "Huh?"

  Navi blinked in wonder with slightly widened eyes. There Peach stood with her back to Navi, completely silent. It was eerie. The room was silent, but the chaos before the

  castle front could be heard. The glisten of Navi broke the silence as she flew up from the ground.

  "U-Umm, Princess?" Navi greeted. "I-It's me, Navi."

  Peach still had her back facing the tiny blue fairy, standing there all alone in her bedroom. "We were just wondering if you could come out and diffuse the situation a little."

  "Oh… Hi, Navi." Peach calmly answered, sounding relatively normal but still having her back to Link's companion. "Yes, I'm ready to come out now."

  "Oh? O-Okay! Great!" Navi smiled.

  "I've made my decision." Peach informed, turning around and looking slightly downward with her hands neatly together -her arms forming a V.

  "That's good! Let's run it by the others." Navi decided, seeming rushed.

  "Hey, you're kinda cute." Peach noted, the blonde princess examining the tiny fairy hovering before her. "I've never really seen you up close before."

  "What?" Navi barked, a slight pink blush forming on her blue face. "P-Peach, stay focused!"

  "I wonder how Mario feels about sleeping in a pink bed." Peach calmly rambled, turning her head to the bed. "I mean, he doesn't ever complain, but-"

  "Peach!" Navi snapped.

  Peach calmly turned to Navi with a soft toothless smile. "Yes?"

  "Y-You're acting strange!" Navi attacked, flying somewhat defensively. "Are you okay?"

  "Am I okay?" Peach asked, seeming to have to think about it. "Yeah, I think so."

  Navi was silent but defensive as Peach walked by, heading towards her bedroom door.

  "Well, let's go. Better tell everyone the news." Peach thought aloud, placing a hand on the doorknob -her eyes concealed in shadow.

  "I'm surrendering the Kingdom to Grodus."

  One two three -cause we'reRunning

  ever faster, running ever faster,

  I know we'll catch up, -with,
our, dreams -cause we'reRunning

  ever faster, running ever faster,

  I know we'll get there one, of these DAYS!

  SUPER MARIO: LEGEND OF THE CRYSTAL STARS (Corona Mountain Arc)

  Bowser has allied with General Grodus, and plans on helping him take control of the Mushroom Kingdom with the aid of an X-Missile, which is set to launch at sunset. If Peach

  doesn't surrender her country by then, Toad Town and much of the Mushroom Kingdom will be covered in the inner magma of Corona Mountain.

  Current Locations:

  Bowser: Corona Mountain, Level Six

  Mario: Trans-Mushroom Highway

  Luigi & Link: Trans-Mushroom Highway

  Daisy: Outside Peach Castle

  Peach & Navi: Peach Castle

  While trying to get Peach out of her bedroom to discuss the situation at hand, the angered citizens of Toad Town showed up at the castle front. Daisy tries to calm them

  down by asking for a bit of compassion for the princess from the people, but only gets the citizens arguing amongst themselves.

  "And here you guys are booing her off the stage before she's even started!" Daisy challenged. "You should be ashamed!"

  "You know, she's got a pretty good point." One Toad commented.

  "Too hell with that! My family is in danger!" Another Toad cursed. "Give it up and end this crisis before it starts!"

  "Peach has been good to us for years! No way am I just gonna vote her off like that!" Another Toad countered.

  "Do you wanna burn to death you idiot?" Another Toad snapped.

  "Beats being ruled by Grodus!" Another Toad counted.

  The citizens of Toad Town got riled once more, arguing with each other now. In an effort to calm things down, Daisy had only created more chaos -her teeth clenched.

  "EVERYBODY, CALM DOWN! HEY!" Daisy silenced, her demands futile as the chaos continued. "Dammit!"

  Meanwhile, Link and Luigi drive along the Trans-Mushroom highway in search for Mario.

  "Heh heh, we'll catch up to him in no time with this bad boy!" Luigi laughed, zooming through the parking complex. "Yahoo!"

  "AH HAH HAH!" Link abruptly laughed, his hair and hat blowing in the afternoon wind as they zoomed out of the parking complex and entered the Trans-Mushroom highway -the

  first chosen hero revealing a bottle of sake. "This calls for some sake! Want some?"