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[img]https://i.imgur.com/O6MhssR.png[/img]

[b][color=6ecff6]Level 2[/color][/b] - (10/20) EXP 
[b][color=6ecff6]Location:[/color][/b] 1-1, Sewer Dungeon
[b][color=6ecff6]Word Count:[/color][/b] 977

[sub][b][color=6ecff6]Old Friends Collide[/color][/b][/sub][/center]
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As Geno attempted to insert the regular key into the gate's lock, he would find that there was in fact no lock to be found at all. He looked all around the surrounding area, desperately trying to find a hint of where the other lock could be hidden. Yet it wouldn't be until he placed his eyes beyond the confines of the metal bars, where he finally found the lock. Unfortunately for him however, it laid on the other side of where he stood. And it was just out of reach for Geno to press as well. How smart of them. Looks like the new inhabitants did a good job in keeping their foes at bay with their new security measures.

Still, Geno believed he could get through. Utilizing his light disks, the Star Warrior threw them at the gate, hoping they would cut through the gate like they did with the previous one. And to his dismay...

Nothing.

Something about those bars prevented him from dealing any damage to it. Were they blessed or cursed to where they are indestructible? Did they absolutely require the user to by pass through basic puzzle-solving and trying to find an alternate way pass it? Maybe he can find a secret passage away or something? Surely there'd got to be one hiding around here, right?

But as Geno began to inspect the dungeon for another way out, he'd once again turn his attention to the ominous Bowser Gate. He found himself glaring at it for longer than he liked, but he couldn't turn away from it either. Something about it was calling to him. Whatever was inside required his absolute attention. He had absolutely no clue to what lurked within - only believing something bad must be inside - but it came to the point where he couldn't take the suspense any longer. Whatever it was keeping within, it must be most surely priceless - or extremely dangerous in that matter. After all, he had the key, and who knows how long it will take for Bowser and his crew to arrive. He closed his eyes before taking a deep breath. 

[b][color=6ecff6][i]"Forgive me, sire."[/i][/color][/b] he thought to himself.

[center][sub][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uGqKRRhzfg][b]Opening The Gate[/b][/url][/sub][/center]

Plucking the Koopa King's key from under his hat, the wooden doll proceeded to insert the golden key into the first lock. He'd cringe tightly as it clattered on the ground with an echoing thud. Geno would pause for a moment - as if he's almost regretting this situation - before continuing to release the other locks. Once they were all unlocked, he placed his wooden hand upon the metallic sheen of the great door, before slowly pushing it open with all his strength. It's piercing metallic frame shrieked as it slid against the stone-floor, ceasing only until thumping against the moldy walls. 

Glaring into the room before him, the star warrior was welcomed to a dark abyss - lighted only by the vague torch-light which bore upon the walls. It definitely lived up to being incredibly forbidding. Geno would proceed to slowly, yet cautiously, walk inside - with each step bombastically echoing through the entire chamber. Now the musty-air was much more prominent, as if the room hadn't been properly used in years. Yet as he continued to walk farther in, he noticed something near the back of the room. A shadow hung against the back wall. The doll couldn't tell what it represented at first, but as he got closer, the light began to reveal more clues about its identity. He can make out chains that jettisoned from the ground. No doubt they held something dangerous within. 

But what exactly?

Another few steps forward and Geno can make out vague outlines of color illuminated by the light. He can identify hints of red around the top of what appears to be a figure, along with blue around the middle portion, and at the bottom, hints of brown that produced an ovular shape. And that's when it would hit him. A wave of sudden nostalgia flooded through his wooden head as he recalled the moments of days past. 

Could it be?  

The wooden doll would halt his advance suddenly, his eyes squinting to get a better picture of who this person must be. And that's when he finally spoke.

[b][color=6ecff6]"Mario?"[/color][/b] he asked curiously.

[center][sub][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_w4B2xtDb3s&t][b]Old Friends Collide[/b][b][/b][/url][/sub][/center]
[center][sub][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up88zQxhKVc&t][b](Alt. Theme: Nostalgic Battle)[/b][/url][/sub][/center]

His answer was revealed once two glowing eyes of dangerous crimson pierced through the darkness - almost as if he responded to his call. Every shed of doubt was shaved from his wooden body as Geno looked upon his old friend. Except that it wasn't the Mario he knew. His eyes were glowing ominously red - just like the man with the two turrets guarding the Castle. And just like him, the legendary hero had seemed to have turned into just another mindless minion of the floating god. He'd feel himself sink upon this sudden realization. 

[b][color=6ecff6]"Mario..."[/color][/b] he'd say somberly as he looked upon his now corrupted friend.

There was only one way he could potentially free him. And it wasn't something he's going to enjoy doing either. He began charging up his cannon, as well as revealed one of his light disks in his free hand, as he pointed the former at his old friend. But even then, his wooden joints began to shake the longer he pointed at him. Surely the real Mario was somewhere within that cold, heartless husk, right? 

[b][color=6ecff6]"If you can hear me..."[/color][/b] he motioned softly, yet determinedly, [b][color=6ecff6]"If you're really in there... you know who I am. And surely you know I mean you no harm. Nod twice if you can understand me."[/color][/b]

It was his last ditch effort to determine the true outcome. But if it led into combat, then Geno will have to try his hardest to free his friend from his endless suffering.