[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/1KQAzTb.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/CvvCohd.png[/img] [b][u]Levels:[/u][/b] [color=6ecff6][b]Geno: 4 (29/40)[/b][/color] [color=ed1c24][b]Mario: 3 (17/30)[/b][/color] [b][u]Location:[/u][/b] Peach’s Castle [b][u]Word Count:[/u][/b] 1,091 [color=ed1c24][b](Mario: Super Mushroom Active)[/b][/color] [sub][b]Direct Mentions:[/b] [@Lugubrious], [@Genon][/sub] [/center] [color=ed1c24][b]"Mama Mia!"[/b][/color] Slamming his naked fist upon the deafening ringing of the alarm clock, Mario leapt from his bed as he hastily grasped for his overalls. Yet as soon as he planted his foot on the wooden floor, he could feel the toll of yesterday nearly crush him to the ground. His entire body ached from head to toe - a side-effect from the double role he played yesterday. Despite being beaten by Geno as a revenant before his old consciousness was resurrected to battle Megadragonbowser, the usually acrobatic plumber believed that he would be able to shake it off as usual. After all, he fought stronger and deadlier battles with the Koopa King, so no doubt Mario believed wake up more invigorated and ready to go. And yet, here he was in such a crippling state. It was such an alienating feeling - one he was not used to as of lately anyways - yet excruciatingly familiar - a reminder of his mortality and growing age. Once he was able to get his clothes on, the plumber proceeded to stretch his body to the best of his abilities - hearing every bone and muscle pop into place - before straggling out the door. [color=ed1c24][b]"Hello-a?"[/b][/color] Mario called out drowsily as eyes darted from one place of the castle's interior to the other. For a minute, his head was shrouded in the stratosphere of World 9, before suddenly realizing that he was alone. Very few souls roamed the castle square, mostly minor toad servants and other miscellaneous figures. The royal table was left abandoned, no doubt the place where the plans of the day was discussed. The plumber sighed in solemn shame. Yep. He definitely overslept. Seeing a piece of chocolate cake by the corner of the table, Mario proceeded to slam the whole thing in his mouth as he began to survey the plans on the table - which included what appeared to be a map of the entire world around them. [color=32851D][b]"Looks-a-like you overslept as-a-well, huh bro?"[/b][/color] a familiar voice called from behind him. Mario cocked his head back to see his brother walking towards him. [color=ed1c24][b]"Oi?"[/b][/color] the senior plumber muttered confusingly, [color=ed1c24][b]"You didn't go with the others?"[/b][/color] Luigi shook his head. [color=32851D][b]"And-a-before you ask,"[/b][/color] he replied assuringly, [color=32851D][b]"No, it wasn't my choice."[/b][/color] Mario would eye his brother carefully, making sure if he was lying again or not. [color=ed1c24][b]"What do you mean?"[/b][/color] he asked again, desiring much of the context he clearly missed. [color=32851D][b]"I was to stay with a bunch of the others here, while a selected few were to go on two-a-different missions on behalf of Peach."[/b][/color] the younger brother explained, [color=32851D][b]"In addition, a Pokemon trainer of some kind was also here to explain the concept of Pokeballs and what not, along with a bunch of other things~"[/b][/color] Luigi then explained about everything else - from the loot boxes, spirit-meddling, and the 'Land of Adventure' quests that had been debriefed - most notably the 'Convoy' mission. Mario listened to most of what was said, but his mind was purely focused at the mission at hand. After reading the notes, Mario rushed to the front of the Castle. He hoped that there was a cart or some other kind of vehicle still left in the driveway. Lucky for him, [url=https://www.mariowiki.com/images/f/fe/Kart_mario_bg.png]there was one[/url]. And not only was it a standard cart, it happened to be Mario's own cart from the most recent Mario Kart tourney. He was surprised that it was still around, let alone having survived Galeem's onslaught. [color=ed1c24][b]"Well,"[/b][/color] the red-cladded plumber breathed as he proceeded to enter his kart. It was a tight fit considering his size, but it was manageable. He then turned towards Luigi, [color=ed1c24][b]"Looks like I'ma off then. You still wanna come, bro?"[/b][/color] Green stache slowly shook his head no. [color=32851D][b]"I'ma good bro."[/b][/color] he replied before patting his brother on the back, [color=32851D][b]"But please be-a-careful out there. I heard it's gonna be one hell-ova tussle."[/b][/color] Mario smirked as he tipped his cap. [color=ed1c24][b]"Good."[/b][/color] red stache replied cockily as he looked forward confidently, [color=ed1c24][b]"Then it's-a-off to the races."[/b][/color] [hr][hr] While Mario was trying to rush and catch up, Geno was fortunate enough to join up with the Convoy group on time. And even if he was late, he would've still been able to fly and catch up anyways. The doll stayed in the air for most of the early fight, picking off the weaker vehicles and pilots with his wooden cannon. Things looked to be in their favor, with Geno concentrating fully on the last two vehicles in front of him. Unfortunately for him, tunnel vision caught the better of him, resulting in his failure to assess the incoming enemy reinforcements that were barreling towards him. Before he could get a good look, the doll felt three solid shots rattle through his wooden frame. Wood splintered and cracked as two hit his torso, with the third ripping through his cannon arm. Stunned by this ordeal, the star warrior found himself briefly falling to his doom and skidding across the rough soil below... But luckily, this terrible fate wasn't preordained. As if Star Road granted him a second chance, he found himself surrounded in a mysterious green mist - unaware of the person who casted it. Yet he found his wounds quickly regenerating to the point where he was good as new. Quickly, he was able to steady himself as his thrusters barely allowed him to avoid hitting the ground that was just inches below him. The star warrior wanted to find and thank the person who helped him, however he won't be able to do it now. Yet as he prepared to fire upon the giant monster truck that entered the battle, he would suddenly witness it reeling out of control as the others were able to successfully take it down. Yet it came at a steep cost, as the Bowsermobile was soon compromised as well. And then, in a blur of chaotic fury, Geno would find himself face to face with a giant bot... forged from the same ice cream truck that attempted to rip the star warrior to shreds. As his allies assembled to combat this newfound threat, Geno proceeded to finally take action himself. He rose his hands towards the heavens and from the clouds above a volley of rainbow stars proceeded to bombard upon the clownish robot without mercy. It was time to get down to business... And little did he or the others realize, a lone kart was speeding towards the battle at great speed... with a certain mustached plumber at the wheel.