A Girl of the Future
Page 41
Mario launched a fireball from his extended gloved palm, the flaming projectile featuring an increased mass, velocity, and therefore momentum in the heated environment. It
smashed into the dirt path between the two of them, catching them and the earth around them on fire and delivering enough force to launch them off of the edge. Mario
continued around the bend, making great time as he ran up the helical path and towards Level 4.
As Mario ran at an impressive speed of 64 kilometres an hour, something strange happened. He suddenly felt a little cooler, as his whole body was concealed in shadow. He
stopped in his tracks, dust flying from his feet as he came to a rough halt. He looked skyward, his eyes widening as he jumped backward just in time to avoid being crushed by
Bowser, who apparently had jumped down from a very high height. Time appeared to be in slow motion as Mario soared backward, jagged rocks and harsh black dirt ripping
from the earth Bowser had landed on, the Koopa King slowly coming to a stand in the midst of all the rubble, red eyes glowing on his epic black silhouette.
Time resumed speed as Mario landed back on his feet with a clenched teeth grunt, luckily unharmed by the surprise drop in.
"BWAH HA HA!" Bowser laughed, facing skyward with spread arms.
"BOWSER!" Mario cried, his eyes epic as he stood in a fighting stance.
"Mario!" Bowser barked. "So you've come after all?"
"UGH!" Mario growled, as his foot smashed into Bowser's extended fist.
The scene froze, capturing the encounter between Mario and Bowser on Level 3 of Corona Mountain. Mario was in midair, performing a high jump kick to Bowser, who blocked
the sole of his brown boot by extending a fist outward. The rays of the late afternoon sun peeked into the picture, brightening up the unexpected encounter between our hero
and the Koopa King.
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. After Mario's brave act against the X-Naut Captain Waluigi, Peach found the courage she needed to refuse to back down. Although the Mushroom Kingdom is safe from Grodus for
awhile longer, if our heroes don't defeat Bowser and stop the X-Missile before sunset, Toad Town and much of the Mushroom Kingdom will be covered in the inner magma of
Corona Mountain.
Current Locations:
Mario & Bowser: Corona Mountain, Level Three
Luigi & Link: Trans-Mushroom Highway
Daisy: Outside Peach Castle
Peach, Rosalina, Navi: Peach Castle
Peach has left the crowd outside Peach's Castle to Daisy, and has left Toadsworth to deal with the Toad Brigade, who will also be heading to Corona Mountain as backup.
After finally finding Rosalina and Navi in the castle kitchen, the girls are preparing to head to Corona Mountain themselves!
"Yes, Daisy's got everything under control out there now." Peach explained. "I've got Toadsworth dealing with the Toad Brigade, so they should be heading to Corona Mountain
soon."
"Great! So now were heading there, right?" Navi questioned.
"Mm-hm." Peach nodded.
"Mario, Link, and Luigi are already there, right?" Rosalina questioned.
"Presumably." Peach answered. "Mario made quite a scene there already."
"You'll have to tell us about it on the way there." Navi hushed, fluttering before the clock, which read 17:33. "We've gotta go!"
"Yeah sure, just…" Peach started, grabbing a few ingredients real quick. "Just let me whip up a quick little something…"
"Peach!" Navi hissed.
"Oh, it'll just take a second!" Peach silenced.
A particular memory from earlier today revitalized Mario, allowing him to break free of the life sucking Fuzzies of Corona Mountain's Spring Hell.
"P-Promise?" Peach choked.
Mario's eyes suddenly harshly opened, as if his memory of something that happened earlier that day awakened and totally revitalized him.
"FIRE TORNADO!" Mario cried, spinning around with clenched fists in a fiery whirlwind, blackened Fuzzies flying away from him in all directions.
Mario makes it to Level 3, the Summer Hell, where an unexpected enemy comes crashing down from above!
Time resumed speed as Mario landed back on his feet with a clenched teeth grunt, luckily unharmed by the surprise drop in.
"BWAH HA HA!" Bowser laughed, facing skyward with spread arms.
"BOWSER!" Mario cried, his eyes epic as he stood in a fighting stance.
"Mario!" Bowser barked. "So you've come after all?"
"UGH!" Mario growled, as his foot smashed into Bowser's extended fist.
The scene froze, capturing the encounter between Mario and Bowser on Level 3 of Corona Mountain. Mario was in midair, performing a high jump kick to Bowser, who blocked
the sole of his brown boot by extending a fist outward. The rays of the late afternoon sun peeked into the picture, brightening up the unexpected encounter between our hero
and the Koopa King.
Chapter 12: Clash! Mario Vs. Bowser!
CORONA MOUNTAIN
Level 3: Summer Hell -Mario, Bowser-
"Hoo!" Mario chirped, using Bowser's extended fist to perform a backflip. He landed with an ever so soft grunt, smoke flying from his brown booted feet as they slid back about
a foot on the dry dirt of Corona Mountains Summer Hell.
"So you came here all alone, huh?" Bowser initiated, slightly hunched as he looked at Mario eight feet before him, who was standing in a fighting position. "Can't say I'm
surprised."
"Yeah well, it doesn't take a whole lot to beat you!" Mario sniped, bringing his left fist back and extending his right palm outward. "Now Mario…"
"FIRE BALL!" Mario cried, launching fireballs at his large opponent.
Bowser stood in place, watching as Mario's enhanced fireballs bounced towards him and combusted on his presence with absolutely no effect.
"That the best you've got?" Bowser mocked, receiving no damage from his attack.
"Not even close!" Mario swore, blinding charging towards Bowser with harsh eyebrows.
"ERRAAAH!" Mario cried, punching Bowser repeatedly, so fast in fact that it looked as though he had multiple fists. Bowser was also slashing repeatedly back at Mario with his
claws, so fast in fact that it looked as though he had multiple claws.
Both Mario and Bowser featured concentrated epic expressions as they fought back and forth, a barrage of white gloved fists and scaly clawed hands between them.
"Ooh!" Bowser grunted, as Mario nailed him in the stomach with a fist -the Koopa King hunching forward and around it a bit.
"UGH!" Mario cried, performing a roundhouse to the side of Bowser's head.
Bowser's eyes were slightly widened as his head jerked to the right, his left cheek squashed from Mario's right brown boot -racing lines accenting the epic attack. Mario's eyes
were concealed by the beak of his cap, his teeth clenched. Bowser slid backwards with a slight scratch on his left cheek, dust flying from his clawed feet until he eventually
came to a halt about three feet away. Without hesitation Bowser faced skyward with clenched fists, leaning forward and unleashing a massive fire breath at Mario.
"Hoo!" Mario chirped, jumping away from the incoming fire blast and toward the rock wall of Corona Mountain.
"Ha!" Mario chirped, wall kicking off of the wall and flying towards Bowser.
Mario flew through the air, a path of flames beneath him as Bowser leaned fo
rward still using his fire breath. "Now Mario…"
"FIRE STOMP!" Mario cried, racing lines accompanying his flaming right boot as it stomped down on Bowser's head, the Koopa King featuring widening eyes and puffed up
cheeks -his neck tucked in and head squashed around the flaming boot that crashed down upon him.
Bowser stumbled backward a bit, his eyes closed and hand on his aching head -his expression showing discomfort.
"Now Mario…" Mario started, running towards Bowser with his hands behind his back, which he then ignited with flames.
Bowser's eyes widened, the Koopa King quickly tucking into his green spiky shell. He proceeded to spin rather rapidly on the spot.
"Eh?" Mario weakly grunted with clenched teeth, cancelling the attack as he stopped in his tracks.
"WHIRLING FORTRESS!" Bowser cried, flying through the air and smashing into Mario while spinning rapidly in his spiky shell.
"UGH!" Mario grunted, blocking the attack with crossed arms -the block proving futile.
"AHH!" Mario cried, flying backwards and smashing into the rock wall of Corona Mountain at a high velocity -smoke accompanying his impact -some rocks falling from above.
Bowser stood back on his feet, the Koopa King in a fighting stance as he stared at the smoke before him. Mario's blurry silhouette could only be seen for a short moment before
he jumped from the smoke with his fists flying.
"HY YI YI YI YI YI YI-" Mario repeatedly cried, punching at Bowser rapidly, Bowser slashing at him repeatedly -the attacks cancelling out.
Bowser grunted as he flew up into the air about seven feet, preparing to ground pound down on Mario before him.
"Too slow!" Mario declined, jumping backward while bringing his hands behind his back.
Bowser smashed into the ground, his attack delivering enough force to crack the earth beneath him -the Koopa King slowly rising back to a stand.
"Now Mario…" Mario started, igniting his hands behind him with flames.
"FIRE SMASH!" Mario cried, nailing Bowser with the flaming thrust attack.
"Rooo…" Bowser whined, stumbling backward a few feet from the attack -the Koopa King flailing his arms as he struggled to stop himself.
Eventually Bowser regained his balance, a hand on his aching head -eyes closed. Mario stood about eight feet away with his fists clenched at his sides, arms relaxed.
"You're strong, but you're slow." Mario warned, reentering his fighting stance -right fist at his hip and left palm extended -left leg bent ninety degrees and right leg back. "This
shouldn't take much longer."
"Heh heh heh…" Bowser calmly laughed, a big grin on his face.
-Somewhere Along The Trans Mushroom Highway-
"Alright." Luigi sighed, wiping a sweat from his forehead with his arm as he sat in the drivers seat of his green Wild Wing, the repairs complete. "I think we're finally ready."
Link was sitting in the passenger seat, a slight blush on his face.
"Haa, boy I sure hope so!" Link laughed, wobbling side to side a little bit -happy smile on his face as he raised three empty bottles of sake. "I'm completely dry!"
"YOU DRANK THREE BOTTLES OF SAKE?" Luigi scolded, his teeth sharp.
"AH HAH HAH!" Link laughed, slapping his leg in good cheer. "But of course! To celebrate our newfound friendship!"
"Sigh. You're hopeless." Luigi sighed. "Anyway, here goes nothing."
The key sat in the ignition. A single sweat slid down from Luigi's forehead. He wiggled his white gloved fingers once as his hand slowly crept towards the key. His forehead was much sweatier as he clasped his gloved index finger and thumb around the key. He bit his bottom lip in suspense, sweat raining down his face. His hand was trembling as he
held onto the key, sweat dropping down his forehead. The camera switched between the key and Luigi's sweaty face back and forth, faster and faster as the suspense got
higher and higher. Then, Link clasped the key and turned it, the green Wild Wing giving a healthy roar as it started up.
"AH HAH HAH!" Link abruptly laughed, drunk blush on his face. "And we're off!"
SLAP!
"DONT STEAL MY THUNDER!" Luigi scolded, his teeth sharp and hand in the concluding position of his slap -Link's head tilted slightly with his tongue weakly sticking out -drunk
blush on his face.
CORONA MOUNTAIN
Level 3: Summer Hell -Mario, Bowser-
"Uraaaaah- HAH!" Mario cried, his extended fist meeting Bowser's extended fist as he said "HAH".
A pulse of power radiated from the impact of their two fists -blowing their hair about briefly in an epic fashion. Both of them jumped backwards.
"Now Mario…" Mario started, running toward Bowser with his fists behind him, leaning a bit.
Bowser watched as Mario jumped high in the air before him, Mario's silhouette black as he blocked out the late sun -his right knee raised as he ignited his boot in flames.
"FIRE STOMP!" Mario cried, Bowser grasping his right boot with his left hand, clasping his right ankle with his right hand.
"H-Huh?" Mario barked, stuck in the air.
"Eyah!" Mario whined, as Bowser tossed him up.
Bowser jumped up into the air, a big grin on his face as he was level with the skyward tumbling Mario.
"Don't count on it…" Mario grinned, his head upside down.
"Roo?" Bowser barked, seeming surprised by his confidence.
"FIRE CYCLONE!" Mario cried, spinning downward towards the ground head first with flaming fists extended at his left and right -Bowser getting caught in the fiery vortex as
he was sent downward with Mario while getting clobbered by his flaming fists repeatedly.
"Uwagh!" Bowser cried, as he slammed into the ground back first, bouncing back upward from the force of the attack.
Time appeared to be in slow motion as Bowser slowly flew skyward after hitting the ground with such speed and force. His body was arced in such a way that his stomach was
the highest point, his tail and head the lowest. His eyes were whited out completely, mouth hung open in defeat.
"Now Mario…" Mario started, his eyebrows harsh and expression epic as he jumped high above Bowser.
Mario then covered his entire body in flames, the fire hero performing a fiery ground pound on Bowser's stomach from above. "COMET!"
A pulse of force zoomed radially outward from the ground beneath Bowser as Mario landed down on his arced stomach with the flaming ground pound from above -sending the
Koopa King crashing down into the earth of Corona Mountain's Level 3.
"ER-ACK!" Bowser gagged, coughing up a bit of blood -his eyes whited out.
Time seemed to be in slow motion as Mario slowly inched downward with the ground pound, his eyes completely concealed in harsh shadow -his teeth clenched in an epic
fashion. The flames on his presence flickered slowly -his signature red hat rocking on his head ever so slightly.
Bowser was lying down on the earth of the Summer Hell, his head turned to the right, right arm bent skyward at 90 degrees, his left arm at about 240 degrees -eyes whited
out and mouth slightly hung open in defeat -a bit of blood present on the ground by his mouth. Mario's white gloved hands clasped his tail.
"Hear this, Bowser." Mario warned, his eyes concealed in shadow. "As long as I'm around, you won't ever get the Mushroom Kingdom!"
Mario didn't notice, but the defeated Bowser gave a confident grin. Mario then proceeded to spin him around by the tail, the angle with respect to the earth increasing in magnitude the more Mario spun around.
Despite Pepper's well-meaning insistence to the contrary, Tony didn't think he'd ever followed his heart in anything at all before he'd fallen head over heels for the most
oblivious, illogically prickly and irritatingly retiring sexy god he'd ever met.
He'd followed his brains, his pride, his dick, his almost daredevil sense of adventure and his not-always-quite-right moral compas
s to wherever they all lead him at different
points in his life, and the miracle that he'd ended up being the richest, smartest and most attractive Avenger of the lot had more to do with the fact that he'd been lucky
enough to stumble into the lives of people who'd been worth their weight in gold than with his presumed possession of a goody-goody heart. He'd always been too pragmatic
and too selfish to be anything other than bad with a large tendency to worse in the moral-fiber department, and that meant that following Pepper's rather simple romantic
advice was a lot harder than it looked.
He dithered for another twenty four hours in which he'd locked himself in his lab and stared obsessively at the new suit, trying to see it through Loki's wary eyes without
success, and ended up so messed up in the head about how to show it and what to say when he finally did it, that he'd thrown his favorite screwdriver at the bloody thing in
a fit of sleep-deprived frustration at three thirty in the morning before hightailing it out of the room in order to avoid throwing something more damaging at it.
The lift took him efficiently upwards, depositing him in the darkened foyer of the Avengers' common floor and he walked towards the fully stoked bar with the accuracy of a man who'd trod the same path equally blindly a million times before. He turned his back instinctively on his least favorite window and walked right through his now second
favorite floor spot in the entire tower, only topped by the small square patch where Loki had sock-slid for the very first time
"I've got it bad. I've got it real bad, man. I can't work. I can't sleep. I can't even get smashed without having that bloody sexy reindeer haunt my thoughts even though he's
been giving me the widest berth, ever, since he came back from home." He grumbled under his breath, serving himself a generous amount of Scotch and draining the tumbler in
a single go before lowering it once again with the intention of serving himself another.
"If you intend to keep drinking while spouting further mushy nonsense about me in increasingly drunken monologue, I'd rather you abandon that particular course of action right
now, if it's all the same to you, Anthony."
His crush's gorgeous voice, coming so abruptly from somewhere near the cluster of couches closest to the unlit fireplace shocked him so much that he'd ended up spilling his