PMN - Prologue Part 1

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(Author) - I am MMx2.

[Post]

--

(MMx2)

It was a peaceful and sunny day. The bros, not always the early worms, were still sleeping at the time. Then suddenly, a sound rings to disturb their sleep.

???: MAIL CALL!!!!
Luigi: *extremely groggy and quite cranky* I'll... get it...

Quickly changing to his trademark overalls, Luigi rushes up to the door, answering it.

Luigi: Eh?

What he sees, does not comfort him one bit. A massive snowman, glaring angrily at Luigi. Luigi, now having a dumbfounded look of pure shock on his face. Just before thoughts of getting the heck outta there cross his mind, the snowman poofs, transforming into a gift-wrapped package.

Luigi: *still dumfounded*

Just then, Parakarry appears nearby.

Parakarry: Whoops! Sorry 'bout that! I told the newbie Magikristopher not to put any transformation spells on packages.
Luigi: ...
Parakarry: In any case, this is for you *hands Luigi the package*

Opening it, some background music appears as a letter and life 'shroom pops up.
-Do do do do-
-...do do do do-
-dun dun dun dun-
-dun dun dun dun...!-

Picking up the two things...
DA DA DA DAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!

Parakarry: ¬.¬ Wrong game, Luigi. ---well in any case, I'd better be going now! See ya! *flies off*

Luigi: Mariooooo!! There's a letter here for-a you!
Mario (also in his overalls): What's it say?
Luigi (Reading): Dear Mario, long time no see! It's me, Goombario! I wanted to give you something. Hope you can come over. Here's directions and a life 'shroom just in case you walk here. Hope 'ta see you soon! Oh! And say hi to Luigi for me!

Looks like another adventure for you, Mario. I hope we'd both get something like your trip to Rougeport. *daydreams about the Waffle Kingdom*

Mario: Don't-a worry bro! I don't really thing anything too big would happen. ...I think.
Luigi: Well I'm working on a souffle anyway so I'll be fine.
Mario: Alright! See ya!

Then Mario walked off, following Goombario's directions. Now in a forest...

--

(Sparks)

Mario continued walking deeper into the forest, the canopy getting thicker, and thicker until it completely shaded the sun, Visibility was getting worse,and worse until mario stumbled upon a part of the forest where the canopy thinned out, and patches of sunlight shone through,and animals frolicking around. Then he noticed a pedestal at the far end of the area. It had a bright ray of light shining down upon it. Mario decided to investigate, and he approached the pedestal, he noticed that what ever had been there was gone now, and left a silhouette in the shape of a piece of paper. On the pedestal, there was text, but mario couldn't understand because it was written in a old text that was long forgotten. So he took out a pencil, and paper, and wrote down the text, and jammed pencil ,and paper back into his pocket. he then looked around for an exit, but couldn't find one. But then he noticed a old worn pipe, and decided to go through it not knowing where he was going to end up.

--

(MMx2)

Mario looked around, entering the village. Several friendly goombas were about, minding their respective businesses. Despite the quite nature of the place, one house, Goombario's, seemed to boom with conversation, voices able to be heard even outside the front door.

Closing in on the door, Mario knocked.

Mario: Hello? It's-a me, Mario. Anyone there?

Mario's cry seemed to fall on deaf ears, the heated conversation overshadowing his voice. Though a few more knocks later, it seemed to calm down and the door opened.

Goompa: Oh! Why if it isn't Mario! Goombario! You have a visitor!

From where the mustached goomba was, a smaller, younger one, clad in but a blue baseball cap appeared.

Goombario: Oh! Mario! Nice to see you again! So I take it that you got my letter?
Mario: *nods* Now what did you want-a to show me?
Goombario: Ah, that! It's with this archaeologist that's come over, follow me!

Following the young goomba, Mario takes note of Goombario's house. It seemed bigger than when he had previously visited and appeared somewhat renovated. Now in the living room, Mario becomes suprised as the visitors see Mario.

Professor Frankly: Oh! It's... No wait, don't tell me. Martin...? No. It's not Matthew... ...Oh! Is it Mario?
Goombella: Yeah, you remembered! Oh, wow, like, nice to see you again! How are you?
Kolorodo: Mario! Yes, how is it going?
Mario: It's-a goin' good. Goombario actually called me up here to show me something, I didn't expect-a you guys to be here!
Goombario: Heh, I actually found an object on one of my adventures, I happened to find Goombella and co. and asked if they knew about this. I've heard that you've met Goombella before so I knew I could trust her.
Goombella: *blushes* Ehe, well I'm a full time archaeologist now!
Frankly: Erhem! In any case, this is what we want to show you.

--

(Sparks)

Frankly: Goombario found this old map of the whole mushroom kingdom, that had distinctive locations marked on it. But we are still having trouble figuring out what it leads to. On the map there are also strange markings. It is possibly pre-mushroom kingdom tribes have created this strange map, because if we compare this map to the modern maps, it would match up with all the major towns in the mushroom kingdom, including the castle itself. I have reason to believe that this map was created just before all the tribes living in the area came together to form the kingdom. I'm still trying to decypher the written symbols on the map.

Mario: those symbols seem very similar to the symbols i saw in the forest.

Mario reached into his pocket, and retrieved the paper with the ancient symbols, and handed it frankly.

Frankly: INTERESTING, i'll get to work right away

--

(E. Nigma)

Goombario: By the way, Mario, I heard Bowser's kids kidnapped Peach sometime in the past. Could you describe them?

Mario: Well, Bowser has-a seven boys and one girl. Larry is-a weak, whiny child... Roy is-a gangster wannabe... Lemmy is-a ninja cos-player... Wendy is-a pampered, elegant pooch... Morton is-a violent grouch... Iggy is-a crazy mechanic-a... Ludwig is-a James Bond-ish Villain... and-a Bowser Junior is an authoritative spoiled brat.

Goombario: Interesting. I asked because they have a copy of this map.

Frankly: It's true--we made an identical photocopy of this one in-case anything ever happened to the other, but the Koopalings infiltrated our house and snatched it away. Somehow, they knew this map existed, I suppose.

Mario: Mama mia! Why didn't they-a take anything else-a?

Goombella: I can answer that--after they snatched the map, I warded them off with Itchy Spray. The touch of it causes an intense itching upon anything that touches it. We have a few cans lying around here that I suppose we could take with us.

--

(Sparks)

After a couple of hours of deciphering the map, frankly decoded the map only to find something very strange about the wording of the text...

Frankly: I have completed deciphering the text on the map, and everything is straightforward except this one part in the text. "When (blurred text) red and green (blurred text) powers divine (blurred text) vanquish the great (Blurred text).

Mainly i cannot read the entire sentence, but i'll try to fiqure it out while you are out on your adventure. . . In the meantime here's a device you can use to contact me, it's called a Mailbox DSi, and it's the peak of technology these days, so i'll send you a message later once you have started your adventure.

--

(MMx2)

Mario: An adventure, huh? *Looks at the Mailbox DSi"

Mario wasn't taken aback from this statement. With the information given to him, he actually seemed to expect this; the map alone being a foreshadowing to an inevitable journey. Goombella, having a superb intuition, also knew something was bound to happen the moment she laid eyes on the map. Excited about possibly joining Mario in another adventure, the young Goomba girl began to ask about things in detail.

Goombella: So, Professor Frankly, what should we do first?

Goombella intently listened for an answer from Frankly. Ever since her adventure with Mario and his other partners in Rougeport, she seemed to crave for the fun and the rush involved in such a quest.

Frankly: Kolorado and I will continue to decipher this map. --
Kolorado: ...Indeed! Somthing extraordinary is afoot! Treasure perhaps!
Frankly: Perhaps... ¬_¬; Ahem! Goombario will follow up that Dowser's movements.
Goombario: Yep! But it's "Bowser", sir.
Frankly: Right. Trouser's movements.

*Everyone but Frankly sweatdrops*

Goombella became a bit nervous now. Was "it" to happen? Good thing for her, luck was on her side.

Frankly: Lastly, Goombella will go with Mario to his destination. We would have switched roles, but as I've said before, I'm too old for such direct involvement. So I trust that you'll be able to manage. You are an archaeologist now after all.

Goombella gave a mental sigh of relief. Unknown to the others, Mario also wished for someone to accompany him. His adventures were usually solo jobs so this was a good change of pace. Normally he'd ask his brother Luigi if he'd like to go, though frequently, unusual developments arise--Luigi being busy or not in the area to name examples. When Luigi does tag along however, his eyes light up, eager to help his older brother. This helped Mario quite a bit; while not close to middle-agedness, Mario knew he lacked the agility of his teenaged self. Also, traveling with companions were often more exciting.

Mario: So where should-a we go first?
Frankly: Mario, Goombella, do you two recall your adventures in Rougeport?

*The two nod*

Frankly: Good. Well from what I've discovered while deciphering the map, there's something that happens when the map interacts with the pedestal in the forest.
Goombario:Wow, that's cool! But wait... how do you know that when there's not that many symbols in the front?
Frankly: Ah, it's here on the back.
Goombario: Oh! *suprised* Not too many people look on the back of things, eh?

*Kolorado recalls his fault moments ago and blushes*

Kolorado: ...I-indeed! So off you guys go now! Just be wary of enemies and all that! We'll see you when we get back, eh? *Gives half-hearted chuckle*
Frankly: *Smirks and walks over to Mario and Goombella* Now I know you two can handle yourselves but it doesn't hurt to be prepared so I'm giving you and Goombario over there a mushroom.

Mario takes the mushroom and puts it in his pocket. On the other side of the room, Goombario's parents smother Goombario as they say their farewells. Now waving goodbye, Goombella and Mario head out back to the forest. Out of the pipe, Mario smiles, but his excitement paled in comparison to Goombella's. The goomba girl though of herself as lucky, being able to contain herself.

After a short while of walking and catching up (Goombella seemed to have placed seconds in a hotdog eating contest in Glitzville promptly after graduating. Gonzales, a yoshi hatched in Glitzville who joined Mario's party, happened to meet Goombella in the contest, taking a close first with his natural Yoshi appetite), the two reached the clearing in the forest where the pedestal was.

Goombella: Ah, so this is the pedestal you found, Mario?
Mario *nods* From what the professor said, the map's supposed to react to this pedestal.
Goombella: Yeah, kinda like the Thousand-Year door!
Mario: Hmm, okay. *Takes out map, lifting in high into the air* Yah!

... ... ...

Goombella: It's not working. Guess it's not exactly like the Thousand-Year door. There's nothing else there... Ah! Why not we check the pedestal for clues?

*Nodding in agreement, Mario walks around the pedestal, examining it closely*

Mario recalled seeing a silhouette on top of the pedestal. Feeling around, he felt that it was actually an indent in the shape of a parchment. Goombella veered closer and Mario placed the map in the indent, fitting perfectly. As Professor Frankly hinted, the ground began to shake moments after the map settled into the indent. The two jumped in surprise at the shock and ever so slowly, the pedestal receeded and an ancient, moss-covered stone pipe appeared in its place.

Goombella: Woah! It's a stone pipe! Looks like it hasn't been maintained in AGES!

Aside from Mario's confusion from seeing a modern-styled pipe from long ago, a feeling of awe comparable to Goombella's washed over him. Now Mario was no archaeologist like Goombella, but he knew a good pipe when he saw one. With his bravery in check, Mario beckoned to Goombella as he jumped in the pipe without hesitation. Knowing this officially marked the start of their adventure, Goombella smiled and followed suit.

Reaching the other side of the pipe, the duo looked around, noting their surroundings. The ancient architecture was reminiscent of an old Aztec-Egyptian mix leading Mario to feel as if he was in Sarasaland or the Dry Dry Desert.

Goombella: Woaah! This place is WAAAY different than what the forest would suggest. It's even older-looking than underground Rougeport!
Mario: No kidding. *Looks around* Ah, there's the map!
Goombella: *Walks up to it* Look, Mario! It's glowing.

Closer and closer the two went, the map's glow brightening with each step they took. The moment Mario touched the map, a blinding flash shrouded the area. When the light ceased and only the torch lights remained, the map descended to Mario's hand.

Goombella went closer to get a good look at the map.

Goombella: L-look! A mark appeared on the map!
Mario: Ah, but it's not on any city here. How can we find it?
Goombella: I have a way to find out.

Smiling, Goombella nudged off her explorer's hat. On top of the young archaeologist's bright blonde hair was a rolled up map--one neater and yet the same size as the ancient one.

Goombella: Here's a modern map of the Mushroom Kingdom and surrounding areas. I think we could find where the mark leads to by comparing the two maps.
Mario: Good idea.

Both Mario and Goombella then began to scrutinize the maps, finding that the mark pointed to...

--

...to be continued..?