Doopliss, Popple, and Ludwig stood above the defeated Mario Bros. with gleams in their eyes. While Ludwig cradled Karma in his arms, he knew she would've loved to see this just as they did, despite the fact she was knocked out. Both of the Bros. were unconscious as well, with wounds to show. They had been beaten by the four of them, after a long and trial-filled quest, full of anguish and blood, not to mention the seemingly endless battles with them! Popple pulled Mario's hat out of his pocket and stared at it thoughtfully. He then handed it to Doopliss, who smirked. He jumped up and stuck the hat on Ludwig's aurora blue hair, joking that it was a slight improvement. Ludwig chuckled as he looked up, trying to catch a glimpse of the hat through his wild mop of hair. As he did so, Karma started to stir. Instantly he put her down on her feet and turned away, hiding a bright red blush as Popple and Doopliss snickered.
When the four of them were about to head outside, Popple stopped and looked back. He rushed back to the Marios and took his own hat off, his very favorite black hat. His three partners stared as Popple placed the black hat on Mario's head, and took out a piece of paper and pen. The trio walked over to Popple to see him writing something down.
Marios,
You put up a good fight, but you weren't good enough. Me, Karma, Ludwig, and Doopliss look forward to you guys getting stronger and actually putting up a challenge. You're extremely lucky we didn't kill you both. Let this be a warning to you sorry excuses for plumbers. Don't mess with the Koopa Pack, nor me or freak sheet! Don't expect mercy if you cross our paths again, ‘cause we won't hesitate to kill you.
To Plunder
Your Stuff Always,
Popple the
Shadow Thief
Popple smirked as he signed his name while the other thieves smiled in approval. He stuck the note in the black rim of Mario's new hat and stood back, watching the Bros. The sun had just risen, peeking in through the twisted metal of the mysterious castle. He turned back, feeling that the theft was finally done.
On the way onto the walkway, the ongoing storms had finally subsided, and the slight sun that escaped over the hills shone bright. They made their way past the destroyed catwalk, leaving the Bros. alone with nothing but Popple's calling card. When they walked inside the castle once again, Doopliss asked how Popple had come back from the dead. Without looking, Popple continued walking, but answered that he hadn't actually died, it was more like the brink of death. When Mario had hit Popple into the moat with his uppercut strike, his clothes absorbed water. Then, when Mario threw him into the fire, he definitely was badly burnt, but did not die thanks to his soaking clothes. When the trio had left him to confront the Marios, he started to awake, and saw them ascending the stairs. Popple could've followed, but decided not to. He was afraid they would think of him as a ghost, so he opened the main castle doors and went outside, leaving them to finish the heist. After he walked about halfway down the courtyard, he saw a flash of red light. Instinctively, he looked upward to where the glint had come from, and saw that the Mario Bros. were welding the doors to the catwalk shut! At that moment, Popple didn't care whether they thought of him as a spirit or not, and rushed towards the trees. When he had himself completely camouflaged, he jumped to the upper levels of branches and jumped through gracefully. In the tower where they had fought the last battle, he could catch glimpses of them fighting. He’d popped his head out of the tree's uppermost leaves and looked upward, in hopes of a better view. But when he saw Mario dangling Ludwig out of a window, he sprang into action. When Mario dropped him, Popple positioned himself just right on a branch, and when Ludwig came down, he landed on the edge of it. The branch was cocked back, and Popple grabbed his arm tightly. Ludwig had looked a little surprised when he first saw him, but seemed to understand. With that, Ludwig and Popple jumped up, using the branch as leverage, and... well, then the fight ensued! Popple smiled as Ludwig, Karma, and Doopliss just gave him skeptical looks.
When they reached the end of the stairs, the entire foyer was burnt to a crisp from the now extinguished fire. Doopliss had also been wondering why Karma had flashed that golden brown when Ludwig was dropped out of the window, so he turned around and asked them. Both Karma and Ludwig turned away from each other, stuttering for words as Doopliss and Popple looked at them funny. Karma explained that they had a Metbond, and that was all she could say before Popple and Doopliss fell over laughing their heads off. Them, Mets? Ludwig tried to explain and said it was true, but the two of them continued laughing. Both Karma and Ludwig just sighed and walked for the door as Popple and Doopliss' laughter slowly died.
As they hit the backyard of the castle, the border of Dark Land and the Mushroom Kingdom stood. Ludwig took Mario's hat out and clenched it. When they passed the border, it was as if they had walked onto the clouds, it felt so sweet to be safe again. Across the plains, they passed the cave in which they had taken refuge. It was only a cave, so why not just take a look? The four of them peeked inside to see everything the way they’d left it; the silverware, the rocks, the plates, the remaining residue from the chocolate salad, everything! It felt funny to look in there... It was the end of their escapade, and this was where they were when they’d only started out. Doopliss shrugged and left, eager to show the hat to Bowser. Popple, Ludwig, and Karma followed, leaving the cave exactly the way it was.
When the castle came into sight, the four of them broke into a sprint, Popple, for the money and fame; Doopliss, for the power over Twilight Townl Ludwig, for the money needed for necessary tools; and Karma, for the peace and quiet! The quartet reached the doors of the castle as the guards came over. One of them didn't look sober, while the other was half asleep. They took one look at the bunch and fell over, probably back to sleep. Ignoring them, they walked inside Kastle Koopa and down the main hallway. When they reached the foyer, they realized nobody was awake right now. Ludwig jogged up the staircase with his three companions behind. Karma, Popple, and Doopliss followed reluctantly, not really caring if anyone woke up.
When they reached Bowser's room, they rapped on the door. Bowser and Clawdia opened the doors with sleepy faces. When Clawdia lay her eyes on Ludwig and Karma, she picked them up and hugged them tight, almost instinctively! Popple and Doopliss smirked snidely as Ludwig and Karma gasped for air under Clawdia's arms. Once she finally put them down, Bowser stood in front of the four of them, almost smiling. Ludwig pulled the hat out of his shell, and Bowser grabbed it. He eyed it closely, and nodded in approval. The other four rejoiced amongst themselves while Bowser pulled a chain from his room, sounding an alarm. Instantly, an army of sleepy Koopas were lined up in the hallway, and among them six Koopalings, still half asleep, whining about being awakened this early. But when they saw Ludwig and Karma, they smiled and rejoiced as well. Bowser lifted his hand, showing the army Mario's hat! They all cried out in joy, filling the castle with shrieks of happiness.
Later on, the quartet lay down in the grass outside the castle, absorbing the sunlight. Popple had a new hat, and was laying on a pile of coins. Ludwig and Karma were nestled against each other, snoozing the day away. Doopliss stayed awake, resting against a tree, his entire adventure coming to a close... He thought to himself that it definitely was worth it. While thinking about their escapade, it actually brought a tear to eyes he thought had dried out many years ago. He smirked, and looked down at his sleeping friends. Popple was drooling on the coins, Ludwig was snoring loudly, and Karma was quietly inhaling and exhaling to herself. He nodded off himself, basking in the lights of victory.
The End
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