All is at peace in the Mushroom Kingdom. No wars, no takeovers, no abductions. Inside the castle, Princess Peach is enjoying a snack while accompanied by her servant Toad.
Peach: This tea is kind of strong, Toad. How long did you steep it?
Toad: About ten minutes.
Peach: What?! Ten minutes? What got into you?
Toad: Sorry, I was daydreaming.
Peach: Oh well. It’s not bad after the fifth teaspoon of honey. Hey, this is pretty hot. Could you pass me the milk?
Toad: OK!!!
As Toad passes by with the milk, a tiny round ball shoots through Peach’s biggest window. The object flies right in front of Toad’s face.
Peach: AAAAAAAAHHH!!! Toad!!! Are you all right?
Toad stands completely frozen in shock with his eyes practically bulging out.
Toad: I… am…/ alive? ... That’s… good… to hear…
Peach: That thing flew right past you. What was it?
Peach walks over to examine the bullet-like object. It is a round ball with several markings and a single button.
Peach: There’s a button on it. Should I press it?
Toad: I… wouldn’t… do… that… just yet…
Peach: You’re right. I’d better show this to Mario.
Toad: You… do that…
Peach runs over to Mario’s house.
Peach: Mario! Listen to me! I have to show you something!
Mario opens the door.
Mario: Hey Peach! What is it?
Peach: Look at this strange ball. It shot through my window and nearly paralyzed Toad.
Mario: Is he ok?
Peach: He’ll be fine. He’s just a little shocked. Well, actually he can barely move.
Mario calls Luigi over and all three place the object on the table.
Luigi: Who could have done this?
Mario: It must be Bowser!
Peach: I don’t think so. Bowser wouldn’t bother doing this. He’d just barge in and kidnap me. Plus, look at those markings. They don’t look very Bowser-ish to me.
Mario: You have a point there.
Luigi: We need to call someone who would know about this sort of thing.
Mario: Let’s call Russ T. He knows everything!
Peach: Great idea! We can meet at my castle in 30 minutes. I need to check up on Toad anyway. I hope he’s all right.
30 minutes later, Mario, Luigi, and Russ T. show up at the castle. Peach answers the door.
Russ T: I heard the whole story. How is young Toad?
Peach: He’s still petrified, but the doctor says he’ll get over it by tomorrow. It’s pretty funny; he’s still clutching that milk carton he was carrying when the ball shot through.
Luigi: I gotta see this!
Luigi runs over to Toad’s room to get a look for himself. The rest go to Peach’s room and show the ball to Russ T.
Russ T: Astounding! This orb bears markings that are almost never seen. These writings are passed down through the most ancient tomes.
Mario: Meaning… what?
Russ T: These markings can only mean that this object is from a different world.
Peach and Mario: SAY WHAT?!
Peach: Which world?! Where is it from?! What does that button do?!
Russ T: One question at a time! Please! The name of this world escapes me, but I remember seeing similar markings in Monstro Town.
Mario: Monstro Town, eh? Well, let’s go.
All four head for Monstro Town, taking the shortest, least dangerous paths.
Luigi: Here we are, Monstro Town. Always someone new to meet.
Mario: Some of Bowser’s thugs live here. We should just show the ball to the landlord, Monstermama, and get out as soon as possible.
Peach runs towards Monstermama’s door as fast as she can and walks in. Inside is Monstermama, the middle-aged Toad woman in charge of Monstro Town.
Peach: Monstermama!
Monstermama: Oh, hello Princess, we haven’t seen you around here recently. Would you like a bite to eat?
Peach: Thanks, but no thanks. We need to show you something important.
Monstermama: Oh? What is it?
Russ T: The princess and her servant were enjoying lunch when this ball came smashing through the window. Do you remember seeing markings like this?
Monstermama pauses to think for a moment.
Monstermama: Hmm… Oh yes, I remember now. That fellow who used to live here had these markings all over himself. But he moved away awhile ago.
Mario: (thinking of a certain monster) Was this villager big? Different from the other monsters in town?
Monstermama: Oh yes! Very different indeed. Always kept his door sealed. Didn’t like company. I only saw him when he moved in and when he moved out.
Peach and Mario: Culex.
Monstermama: That’s his name! You know him?
Mario: We’ve err… crossed paths before.
Luigi: I remember you telling me about him. Which world was he headed to?
Monstermama: I don’t think he ever told me.
Peach suddenly has a flashback to when she, Mario, and the others met Culex.
Culex: Greetings. I am Culex, Dark Knight of Vanda.
Peach: I remember now! The name of the world was Vanda!
Mario: Oh yeah! Just one problem. HOW DO WE GET THERE?!
Russ T: I’m afraid even I can’t answer that one. Let’s head back to the castle.
Peach: All right. Thanks, Monstermama!
Monstermama: You’re quite welcome.
They head back to the castle, arriving one day later without Russ T, who went home. Toad is waiting at the front door.
Peach: Toad!!! You’re ok!!!
Toad: I hope that never happens again. What did you discover?
They explain their conversation with Monstermama to Toad.
Toad: All right. So how does this tie in with that ball thing that stunned me?
Luigi: Hey, I almost forgot about the ball. Where is it?
Peach: Right here!
Mario: We’re stumped on how to get to Vanda. This might be the time to press that button.
Peach: I’ll set up!
After about 20 minutes, Peach escorts them to the vast castle golf courses.
Luigi: What’s your plan, Peach?
Peach: It’s very simple: we stand here while Toad goes about 20 yards from here and pushes the button where we can still see him.
Toad: Wow, that’s a great… Wait a minute, what do you mean, “Toad goes out and pushes the button”?!
Mario: Come on, Toad, the fate of all Plit rests on it.
Toad: (as he walks into the field with the ball) 50 coins an hour for THIS?!
Once Toad is standing far enough away, he pushes the little button. A voice comes out.
Ball: You have activated the hologram; please crack this object on the ground.
Toad obeys the command and chucks the orb, which breaks. Toad and the others run towards the shattered ball.
Luigi: Toad! What did you do that for?
Toad: When I pushed the button, a voice told me to break it.
A pale purple light shines out from the fragments. The image of Culex appears to them.
Culex: Mario, Princess, it’s been awhile.
Mario: Culex?
Peach: So you’re behind this! You’re going to pay for what you did to my window!!!
Toad: And I’m going to make you pay for my medical bills.
Culex: Excuse me?
Toad: That stupid ball of yours shot right past my face and I was petrified for a day!
Culex: I’m sorry; I didn’t expect that you would stand up.
Luigi: If you shot the ball, you must have been close to the castle. Why didn’t the guards see you?
Culex: I asked a Boo to help me for 500 coins.
Peach: Well once we find you, you are going to pay for laying siege to my castle.
Culex: No, you’ve got it all wrong. I didn’t intend to attack you, but to warn you.
Mario: Warn us? Of what?
Culex: My world, Vanda, is being destroyed even as we speak. Four unidentified entities have ravaged my land and my people’s powers have no effect on them.
Toad: Wow, that stinks. But tell me something, why should we care?
Culex: Excuse me?
Mario: He has a point. It’s your world they’re destroying, why warn us?
Culex: If they destroy my world, their next target will definitely be Plit.
Luigi: How do you know?
Culex: Mario and the princess might recall me saying, “I can see your future.” Well, I can read their futures too.
Peach: NOOOO!!! We have to stop them! But Culex, how do we get to Vanda? We have no clue.
Culex: I set up a teleporter somewhere in Plit.
Peach: Where is it?
Culex: It is in the-
Culex’s image vanishes from sight. The pieces of the ball disappear.
Toad: Oh no! He must have run out of time and the communicator stopped running! Now how will we know where the teleporter is?
Luigi: Don’t sweat it, Toad, we’ll just ask Merlon.
They all head to the house with the spinning roof.
Peach: Merlon! We need our fortunes read pronto.
Merlon: I assume you’re in a hurry. Five coins please.
Peach hands him the money.
Merlon: All right then.
Merlon chants and his orb shines.
Merlon: I see a teleporter. It leads to a parallel world. Only three may enter, and must bring something from the destination world to activate it. The teleporter is located in the pipe leading to the Mario Bros' house.
Mario and Luigi: WHAT?!
Merlon: Find the one in Mushroom Kingdom who possesses the item of the distant world. Then the way will open.
The four leave Merlon’s house.
Toad: Ok, so the teleporter is in your pipe, we need something from Vanda to activate it, and only three people may enter.
Luigi: Were you taking notes?
Toad: (holding a notepad and pencil) Yes, as a matter of fact I was.
Peach: We need an object from Vanda to enter? The ball disintegrated. We can’t use that.
Mario has an instant flashback to the time after he defeated Culex.
Culex: Take this. Keep it as a memento of our battle.
Mario: The Quartz Charm.
Peach: Huh?
Mario: Peach, what happened to the Quartz Charm?
Peach: I don’t know. I didn’t take it. That must be what we need to enter Vanda.
Toad: Maybe Mallow took it. Let’s call him.
Peach: Good idea.
They go back to the castle and Peach dials Mallow’s phone number.
King Nimbus: Hello?
Peach: Hi, it’s Princess Peach.
King Nimbus: Oh, such a pleasure to hear your voice, Princess. What do you need?
Peach: May I speak with Prince Mallow?
King Nimbus: Of course.
Mallow picks up the phone.
Mallow: Hello? Peach? What is it?
Peach: Mallow, listen to me, did you take the Quartz Charm after we beat Smithy? There’s no time for details.
Mallow: Nope. I didn’t take it. I thought you did.
Peach: All right, bye Mallow!
Peach hangs up.
Peach: He doesn’t have it.
Mario: What about Geno? If the doll was still holding it, Gaz may have it now.
Peach: Ok, I’ll try Gaz.
Peach calls the Rose Town inn.
Gaz: Hello?
Peach: Hi Gaz, it’s Peach.
Gaz: Wow, Peach? Really? What do you need from me?
Peach: Gaz, when we gave you your Geno doll back, was he holding a shiny clear stone?
Gaz: No, he was just like always.
Peach: Ok, bye Gaz!
Peach hangs up.
Peach: Geno didn’t have it either. His spirit couldn’t have taken it back to Star Road.
Mario: Then the only other person could be…
All: OH NOOOOO!!!
After a brief pause, Luigi speaks up.
Luigi: Bowser has the charm. How do we get it?
Mario: Let’s steal it!
Peach: That’s a bad idea. I’ve been in Bowser’s castle longer than you have, I know that the only place more heavily guarded than my cell, is the treasure room. Getting in is hopeless.
Toad: We could take a bunch of lousy Koopatrols!
Peach: We couldn’t beat 200 Koopatrols. And that was just an estimate.
Luigi: What if we put Poison Mushrooms in their meals?
Mario: Yeah, that would make them easier to beat.
Peach: I think someone tried that a few years ago. Now they make a Goomba sample the food before serving it to their troops.
Toad: Darn it! I thought we were on to something! I guess we only have one other option.
Peach: Yes, we’ll have to negotiate.
Luigi: I hate the way that sounds. How will we get in?
Mario: I say we just walk in, fight the guards, and reach Bowser’s throne room.
Toad: That’s a good idea. Who’s going to go?
Peach: The four of us.
Mario: Peach! You can’t come with us!
Peach: I’ve fought before (Super Mario RPG, if you’re unfamiliar). I’ll be fine.
Luigi: I guess we can’t stop you.
Toad: Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s go!
The four walk to Bowser’s castle. Soon they are standing on the other side of Bowser’s bubbling moat of lava.
Toad: Wow, Bowser really needs to redecorate.
Luigi: I know, his castle has looked the same since we first visited it.
Mario: Come on, let’s go in already!
They step inside the dark stone fortress. Two Koopatrols jump them.
Koopatrol 1: Hey, what’s Mario doing in here with the princess?
Koopatrol 2: And why’d he bring his brother and Fungus Face?
Toad: WHAT?! AAAAAAAAAHHH!!!
Toad jumps the Koopatrols, beats them up, and throws them into the lava moat. His friends just stare at him.
Toad: NEVER CALL ME FUNGUS FACE!!!
Luigi: *shocked at Toad’s sudden outburst* K.
They move deeper, encountering more guards and taking them down easily.
Luigi: (bashing two guard’s heads together) This is way too easy.
As they reach the throne room, they take down two Magikoopas and enter the huge red door.
Mario: Bowser! We need to talk to you!
Bowser: Geez, Mario. I knew you were stupid, but I never expected you to just hand the princess over to me. I’m touched. Dont worry, I’ll make the fight look good.
Peach: (to the rest of the group) We must fight Bowser! If we win, he may just listen to us.
Luigi: Don’t worry, it’s four against one, he doesn’t stand a chance.
Toad: Take this!
Toad lands a few weak punches on Bowser and does minimal damage.
Bowser: Gwah ha ha ha ha! You call that an attack? Let me show you how it’s done.
Bowser exhales fiery breath on Toad.
Toad: AAAAAAHHH!!! I’m… not… finished… yet…
While Bowser is distracted, Mario whales on him with his hammer.
Bowser: Ow! Why you little-
Peach: Yah!
Peach smashes Bowser with her trusty frying pan. Luigi then clunks him with his hammer.
Bowser: No fair!
Bowser claws them all. Toad eats an Ultra Shroom to recover, then climbs up Bowser’s shell and pulls on his horns.
Bowser: AAAH! You little runt! Get off of me!
Toad: Now, guys!
The others attack Bowser with everything they’ve got. Bowser falls to the ground.
Bowser: NOOO! I can’t believe I lost so easily. Darn it!
Mario: Bowser, stop moaning and listen to us!
Luigi: We need to ask for your alliance!
Bowser: WHAT?! Ha ha ha ha ha! Why would I do that? You must be insane!
Toad kicks Bowser in the side.
Bowser: OW! You already won! Quit it!
Toad: Help us or I’ll kick you again!
Bowser: Fine, I’ll listen, but don’t expect me to agree.
Peach explains the whole situation to Bowser.
Peach: And we need the Quartz Charm to enter the teleporter. Do you have it?
Bowser: Of course I do. It’s in my treasury. But why would I join you? I couldn’t care less.
Toad kicks Bowser again.
Bowser: Ouch!
Peach: Think about it. If this world is destroyed, there would be nothing to conquer, nothing to take over, and nobody to kidnap.
Bowser: WHAT?! NOOOO!!! All right, fine, I’ll join you. But only temporarily.
Toad: Sweet!
Bowser escorts them to his treasury and takes out the Quartz Charm.
Bowser: Here it is. But I have to carry it.
Mario: (under his breath) Fine, if it’ll make you shut up.
They walk back to Toad Town Plaza.
Mario: We’re off. Luigi, you go back home and take care of things there.
Luigi: Fine, I guess I have no choice.
Peach: You too, Toad. Take care while I’m gone.
Toad: Awwwww. Do I have to?
Peach: Yes, Toad. The teleporter will only carry three people and you are the only other one who knows how to run the kingdom.
Toad: *sigh* All right.
Bowser: Come on! Let’s go already! I don’t want to be seen with you guys.
Peach, Mario, and Bowser enter the pipe, while Luigi and Toad stand and watch them go in.
Toad: I hate watching the castle. Nothing ever happens.
Luigi: I know how you feel.
Meanwhile, in the pipe...
Mario: Here’s the separate path Culex spoke of. Let’s go in.
They find a large room with a teleporter much like the one Mario used to travel to and from the Moon.
Mario: Bowser! There’s a slot here. Insert the Quartz Charm inside it.
Bowser: Don’t order me!
Mario: Just do it!
Bowser: Fine.
Bowser places the Quartz Charm in the hole. The giant platform lights up.
Peach: Ok, let’s go.
They step on the platform and vanish from sight.
Meanwhile, back in Peach’s Castle, Toad stares out a window completely bored.
Toad: Well, thus begins day one of total boredom.
Toad hears a sound, runs to Peach’s quarters, and sees the large window broken (again).
Toad: Who’s there?
The Koopalings jump out from behind a sofa.
Larry: Haha!
Ludwig: We’re gonna try to make this painless. Hand over the princess and no one gets hurt.
Toad: (not showing any fear) You’re too late.
Roy: What do mean, “too late”?
Toad: You heard me.
Wendy: That’s impossible! We’ve been planning this invasion for months!
Morton: Yes, correct, that’s right, we planned, plotted, schemed this and waited for days, weeks, months for our dad to leave, go, take a trip from us-
Toad: SHUT UP!!! Peach isn’t here!
Lemmy: Then, Dad went to kidnap her?
Toad: No! He joined forces with Peach and Mario.
Lemmy: Dad would never do that!
Toad explains the situation to the Koopalings.
Toad: Now do you believe me?
Larry: Well, I guess.
Wendy: What? You believe him?
Larry: Yeah. You can’t really make that sort of thing up.
Ludwig: Still, this invasion is not going to fail just because Peach isn’t here!
Roy: Yeah, get ready for pain, Toad!
Toadsworth walks in.
Toadsworth: Toad! Are you all right? I heard shouting! *sees the Koopalings* OH, MY WORD!
Toad: Stand back, Toadsworth! I’ll take care of this!
Lemmy: Bring it!
One minute later...
Toad: Are you through? I’ve seen Goombas with better fighting style!
The Koopalings are lieing on the floor moaning in pain.
Toadsworth: Wow, Toad! That looked easy.
Toad: That wasn’t easy, it was annoying.
Larry: Man, where did you learn to fight like that?
Toad: The Toad Town Dojo. Do you want to see my diploma?
Wendy: No, not really.
Roy: Well Toad, I guess you’re not as weak and helpless as I always tell people you are.
Toad: Hey!
Lemmy: I’m gonna regret saying this, but you fought well and have earned my temporary respect.
Toad: Cool! Let’s be temporary friends!
Ludwig: Fine, but only until Dad comes back.
Koopalings: Yeah!
Toad: Agreed! Hey, want to play video games?
Koopalings: YEAH!!!
Toad and the Koopalings run off to Toad’s room to play on Toad’s GameCube.
Meanwhile, Mario, Peach, and Bowser take their first steps into Vanda. It is a dark, gloomy place that is desolate and devoid of life.
Bowser: Man, what a dump.
Peach: How awful. This must be the work of the four evils.
A voice is heard through the gloom.
Voice: Hello travelers. Are you the heroes that Culex spoke of?
Mario: Who’s there?
A Toad in white robes steps forward. He carries a staff as tall as he is.
Toad in robes: Excuse me for my intrusion. My name is Bajja. I am a Toad Wizard who was sent to Vanda to repel the oncoming danger.
Peach: It’s a pleasure to meet you, Bajja.
Bajja: The pleasure’s all mine. I left Toad Town two years ago in secret. Four monsters have been polluting this land for some time now. They have recently gotten much stronger, and Culex must have called you over to help me stop them.
Mario: Do you know more about the monsters?
Bajja: I do not know their origin. They are dark shadow monsters who constantly change their form. Ever since Culex returned from Plit after fighting you, they took new forms. They are now shadows of YOU THREE!!!
Bowser: Me? How dare they steal my good looks! Posers!
Mario: What’s the fourth one in the form of?
Bajja: Myself.
Peach: Bajja! You must take us to Culex!
Bajja: Yes, at once. Follow me!
Bajja taps his staff against the ground. The staff’s tip lights up and the four walk to Culex’s dwelling. After walking for about two miles in silence, they see a large cave.
Bajja: Here we are!
Bowser: Culex lives in a cave?
Bajja: He says that he will move back to his old home once the monsters are gone.
They move inside.
Bajja: Culex! Come out! They have arrived!
Culex emerges from the depths of his dark cave.
Culex: At last you have come.
Peach: Tell us, where will the creatures show up next?
Culex: There is one place left on Vanda which they have not placed their dark curse upon. It is a field that is considered sacred to the people of Vanda.
Mario: How do we get to this field?
Culex: I will warp you there.
Peach: When?
Culex: We can set up now if you want. As I told you already, my powers are useless against them. Therefore, Bajja will accompany you in your battle.
Bajja: I will do my utmost to save Plit.
Bowser: We’re not doing anything talking about it. Let’s go and kick those shadow’s butts!!!
Mario: For once, I agree with you. Let’s go!
Culex: All right, let me prepare the warping spell.
Meanwhile, back in the castle, Toad and the Koopalings are playing Mario Kart: Double Dash.
Larry: Darn it! Why do you always attack me?
Lemmy: Because you stink the most.
Toad: I love playing as myself, I get the best items.
Ludwig: Golden Mushrooms are so cheap. You always win because of them.
Toad: I know.
Toad uses a Golden Mushroom to blast through Larry and steal his lightning bolt.
Toad: HAHA!!! YES!!!
Larry: NO! NOT AGAIN!
While Culex prepares the spell, Bajja brings Mario, Peach, and Bowser outside to explain more about their opponent.
Bowser: Why did you call us out here?
Bajja: As you already know, the monsters are shadows of each of us. The only way to defeat them is to fight your counterpart.
Peach: So, we fight whichever one looks like us?
Bajja: Correct, they can only be damaged by the one they’re currently shaped like.
Mario: Simple enough. Anything else?
Bajja: No, that’s all. Just be careful out there.
Peach: We will.
Bajja: I bet Culex is done with his spell. Let’s go back to the cave.
Back in the cave...
Culex: You came just in time. Stand in front of me, and I’ll cast the spell.
They all move into place. Culex spreads his arms out, chants, and within seconds, the four disappear.
Mario: Where are we?
They reappear in a large meadow. In contrast to the rest of Vanda, it is lush with thick grass and a multitude of flowers which seem to go on forever.
Bowser: THIS is our battlefield?!
Peach: It’s so beautiful and peaceful.
Bajja: These are holy grounds in Vanda. Warriors used to come here to obtain enlightenment.
Bowser: So where are the shadows?
Bajja: Stay on your guard! They’ll come. Don’t let them catch you by surprise.
After a few moments of waiting, they hear something.
Peach: *giggle*
Bowser: What’s so funny?
Peach: What? I didn’t say anything.
Mario: Yes you did. You just giggled.
Peach: But I didn’t say anything!!!
Peach’s shadow leaps up and creeps up behind her.
Bajja: BEHIND YOU!!!
Peach: AAAAAAAHHH!!!
Peach’s shadow grabs her from behind. Still shrieking, Peach kicks her legs behind her until the shadow loosens its grip.
Bajja: They’re here! Stay alert!
The four shadows appear before them. Dark and translucent, they silently run at the four heroes.
Mario: Here they come!
Mario grabs a Fire Flower from his pocket and launches a few fireballs at his double.
Bajja: (smacking his own shadow with his staff) That won’t work, Mario! They’re immune to the elements. You must use hand to hand combat!
Bowser: So, fire breath is out of the question?
Bajja: YES!!!
Bajja takes a hit to the face while talking to Bowser.
Peach: How dare you attack me like that?!
Peach pulls out her frying pan and does massive damage to the shadow monster. Meanwhile, Bowser grabs and bites his clone.
Mario: Is it just me, or are these guys really weak?
Bajja: For a group of monsters that have done so much damage, I kind of expected more of a fight.
After a few minutes of battling, the shadows fall down defeated. Culex’s voice is heard in the distance.
Culex: Well done, warriors.
Bowser: THAT was your ultimate evil? I barely broke a sweat.
Mario: He’s right! What was up with that?
Culex: Ah, you still fail to understand.
Peach: Huh? What are you talking about?
Bajja: What’s going on, Culex?
Culex: You must have been curious as to the origin of these beings.
Peach: We have been. Who created them?
Culex: Hahaha… I did, you fools!
Bajja: WHAT?! You would betray me?
Mario: Why did you do this? Was it just for laughs?
Culex: No, not at all. Before I continue, though, I would like to reveal who these shadows really were.
The darkness in the shadows vanish and the crystals of Earth, Fire, Water, and Wind rise from the shade.
Peach: The crystals?
Culex: Yes. It was the crystals all along.
Bowser: I don’t get it. What’s the deal with the crystals?
Culex: I’m getting to that. My world, Vanda, is dying. The damage was not caused by the shadows, it has been occurring over time. What my world needs to sustain itself is the life force of another world. I chose Plit. Congratulations.
Mario: Plit? Why?
Culex: I went to Monstro Town to wait for the strongest knight in the land. If they managed to defeat me, then I would know which world had the greatest life. Plit is full of life and purity, making it the perfect target. Once I control Plit, I can revive Vanda.
Peach: And what would become of the people of Plit?
Culex: In extracting the life force of Plit, I must also take the lives of those on it.
Mario: You wouldn’t!!!
Bowser: Even I wouldn’t!!!
Peach: We won’t let you destroy our home. We beat you before, and we can beat you again!!!
Culex: And that’s where my lovely crystals come in. In battling you, they absorbed a lot of energy. With every hit you struck, the crystals gathered more power.
Mario: Then why didn’t you make the crystals use the stored power against us?
Culex: Now that all the crystals have full energy, I will use that stored power on myself.
Culex gathers the four crystals in his arms.
Culex: This is the beginning of the end.
The crystals melt into Culex.
Bajja: No... It can’t be....
Culex absorbs each crystal. He grows four times in size.
Culex: This is it! This is true power! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Culex vanishes from sight.
Peach: Oh… no… What can we do now?
She sits on the ground and starts to sob.
Bajja: I could open a portal to Plit. We might make it in time.
Bowser: Did you see him? Even with me on your side, do you think you’d stand a chance?
Mario: We have no choice. We have to do this. For Plit! Even if we don’t win, we still have to try.
Bajja: ... Yes. You’re right. For Plit!
Bajja puts his hand out; Mario puts his on top, followed by Peach, and last, Bowser.
Mario: Let’s finish this!
Bajja’s staff lights up and he creates a portal leading to Plit. They all jump in.
Meanwhile, back at the castle...
BOOM!
Toad: What was that?
Lemmy: Look! It’s Dad!
Outside Toad’s window, the portal appears next to the castle and the four heroes step out.
Toad: Peach and Mario are back too!
Larry: Does this mean we have to be enemies again?
Toad: Looks like it.
Toad punches Larry in the face.
Larry: Ouch! Take this!
They all continue fighting each other. Peach enters the door followed by Mario, Bowser, and Bajja.
Peach: What’s going on in here?
Bowser: Hey, did you plot this invasion on your own?
Toad: Hey, who’s the guy in the fancy robes?
Peach: His name’s Bajja. But there’s no time to explain anything more.
Bajja: That’s right, he’ll be here shortly.
Wendy: Who’s “he”?
They explain everything to Toad and the Koopalings.
Toad: What should I do to help?
Peach: Gather everyone in Toad Town and have them hide in the castle bomb shelter.
Toad: Bomb shelter? When did you get that? Where is it?
Peach: In the basement. Hurry!
Bowser: You guys should hide there too.
Koopalings: Right!
Toad and the Koopalings run off to complete their tasks.
Mario: Now what?
Bajja: Now we go to the plaza. And wait.
After Toad Town has been evacuated, the four go out for the final battle. Within minutes, Culex’s gargantuan figure appears before them.
Culex: I don’t see why you feel the need to resist. Don’t worry, I’ll make this painless. Mostly.
Everyone takes their battle poses and begins the fight.
Bajja: Light Ray!!!
Bajja fires a beam of light which shines through Culex.
Culex: You’re going to have to do better than that! I forgot to mention, with all the crystals inside of me, I now have all their powers as well. Storm!!!
A large storm falls on Bajja, doing heavy damage.
Bajja: Aaaaah!
Peach: Psyche Bomb!
Peach drops a rain of bombs down on Culex.
Culex: Not bad, not bad. Ice Crystal!
A large block of ice flies at Peach, but she dodges just in time.
Mario: Super Flame!
Bowser: Terrorize!
Mario and Bowser’s attacks combine and a large fiery Boo charges into Culex.
Culex: Ack!
Peach: You got him!
Culex: Dark Star!!!
Culex’s black star rains down, damaging all four. They all have minimal HP remaining.
Culex: Time for me to finish this! Meteor Bla- Ouch!
Mario: Luigi! You came!
Luigi had hit Culex in the back with his hammer, stopping his spell.
Luigi: Looks like I came just in time.
Culex: Not another one! Oh well, I’ll finish you just as fast as these four. I can easily defeat five of you.
Luigi: Five? I wouldn’t be so sure about that!
Toad: Yeah! Go pick on someone else’s world!
Peach: Toad! Go back! Run! This is no place for someone like you!
Toad: And what do you expect me to tell the others?
Mario: The others?
Toad whistles and all seven Koopalings jump down from the roofs of buildings and slash Culex simultaneously.
Ludwig: Looks like you guys need one of these.
Ludwig tosses a Kero Kero Cola to Bajja, who drinks some and passes it to the next.
Culex: I didn’t expect to be fighting thirteen of you. No matter, let’s see how you deal with this! Corona!!!
Before the attack commences, Bajja acts fast.
Bajja: Barrier!
The whole team is covered in a protective shield of light. The fire bounces off.
Culex: No!
Bowser: All right Koopalings, retract!
The Koopalings all hide in their shells. Bowser throws each one spikes first at Culex.
Luigi: Nice hit!
Culex: Argh! I’m sick of this! I’ll just stop you from attacking all together! Petal Blast!
Petals fly all around the fighters.
Peach: No!
Ludwig: We’ll all be turned into…
Before Ludwig can finish talking, they transform into Mushrooms.
Culex: Now I got you!
Bajja: Not so fast!
Culex: What?
Toad and Bajja remain standing on the battlefield.
Toad: You should know better. You can’t turn a Toad into a Mushroom.
Culex: Of course. Why didn’t I see that? But still, there’s only two of you left. The others are still Mushrooms!
Bajja: Oh no, I forgot about that. Toad, could you heal them?
Toad: Just leave it to me.
Toad pulls a Freshen Up out of his pocket and sprinkles a little on each Mushroom. Everyone turns back to normal.
Mario: Thanks, Toad.
Peach: I’m glad we have you guys on our side.
Bowser: We got you now, Culex. What’re you gonna do now?
Culex: Impossible… I am true power… I have no other choice… I’ll freeze this whole land in time. If I can’t live in a peaceful world, NO ONE WILL!!!
Culex starts to glow.
Culex: You can’t stop me. Once my spell is complete, this whole world will freeze. Completely immobilized by my awesome power! It shouldn’t be long now until I have enough energy.
Peach: What do we do?
Bajja: There’s only one thing that we can do. But you all have to step back.
Mario: What are you going to do?
Bajja: I’m going to use all my power to return his spell against him. It’s our only hope! Stand back, all of you.
They run far away, yet close enough to see what happens.
Bajja: (to himself) For Plit.
Bajja’s staff begins to light up; both Culex and Bajja cast their spells. A blinding flash of light covers Toad Town, followed by a loud BOOM. The light starts to fade.
Iggy: What happened?
They see clearly into the plaza. Culex has been transformed into a statue. Bajja, standing alone in the Plaza, collapses.
Everyone: BAJJA!!!
They run over to Bajja, who is motionless.
Peach: Bajja? Can you hear me?
Bajja: Princess… Mario… Bowser… Everyone… We did it. We won.
Mario: Are you all right?
Bajja: That spell sapped almost all of my strength.
Luigi: Then don’t talk! We can get a doctor. It’ll be all right.
Bajja: No, my time is running out. I just wanted to tell all of you not to mourn for me. This is what I want. And one last thing to all of you. Never change… Never… change…
Bajja manages a smile and shuts his eyes for the last time. A week later, he is buried in Mushroom Kingdom’s cemetery (wherever that is). His grave is marked with a statue of himself raising his staff to cast his last spell. Heeding his final words of “Never change”, Mario and Bowser still fight each other and Bowser still kidnaps Peach. But deep down, none of them can forget the Toad who gave his life to save the land of his birth.
The End
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