Previously…

As Mario and Bowser went back to sleep they decided they’ll press on when they’re well rested..

And now…the continuation of chapter 9: “Mushroom maniac mayhem”

As Mario Bowser and Luigi awoke and continue onwards…something felt off of what they were about to face…they just don’t know what. Luigi stopped walking and froze in place. Mario and Bowser are confused and stopped walking to see what is wrong with Luigi.

Mario: “Luigi?…Bro? Are you alright?” *He asked in confusion*

Luigi: *nothing but made a “be quiet” gesture then scanned the area with his robotic eye and detects something* 

Suddenly from silence…to the loudest roar coming from behind Mario and Luigi. It was Bowser! He seems to be getting attacked by something unknown or unrecognizable but he manages to fight back due of his brute strength.

Mario: “BOWSER!” *He yelled*

Bowser: *He growls and fights the creature who attacked him*

Luigi: *He began to fight off the unrecognizable creatures as well*

Mario seems scared and worried, yet doesn’t know what to do. Till he turned around. He jumped by surprise and hits the creature with purple flame from his hand causing the unknown creature to go flying to a wall taking massive damage. Little did Mario know he was ambushed and both Bowser and Luigi were too busy fighting off the ones who are attacking them.

Mario: “Mama mia…this isn’t good…” *He said to himself*

Luigi couldn’t hear Mario due of his sensor being damaged but resistant. Bowser roared louder causing the other unknown creatures to run off but one snuck past Bowser unnoticed. Mario tries to fight them off but was easily taken down by the amount that was circling him. He was covered in blood, dizzy..and was about to black out due of blood loss. Bowser sees this and rammed the creatures away from Mario then he picked him up.

Bowser: “Mario..are you okay? Say something!…” *He said to Mario with a hint of worry*

Mario: *He couldn’t say anything but violently coughing up blood. He was even shaking. Still alive but can’t respond*

Bowser grabs Luigi and fled from the fight hoping they lost them. Luigi sees Mario in disbelief and broken..He couldn’t believe he couldn’t assist his own brother and started crying.

Bowser: “He’ll be okay Luigi…I’ve saved something for him…you might wanna look away for a moment…” *He demanded in a low tone*

Luigi: “I……okay…..” *He hesitated but listened and looked away*

As Luigi is looking away from Bowser and Mario he kept thinking to himself ‘why couldn’t I save him’ he kept asking himself. Bowser grabbed the mushroom Mario had saved previously and fed him it then put it back away just like he had it. Mario wakes up with no injuries or blood. However, Bowser noticed a sudden change of Mario his left eye looks red instead his usual blue eye, Bowser lift Mario’s head the stares at him closely and it was the same color red as Bowser’s eyes. He decided to cover his eye with a eyepatch.

Mario: *He giggled a bit* “I look like a pirate..yarrr”

Bowser: *He smirked and sets him down* “You are something…even in a situation like this..” *He said while shaking his head*

Luigi: *He heard Mario’s voice and immediately hugged him in tears causing him to fall*

Mario: “EEP— pfft- heheh…oh Luigi…” *He hugged him back*

As everything seemed to calm down Mario and Luigi both got stabbed. Mario’s back was stabbed while Luigi’s stomach was bleeding. Both of them collapsed bleeding out. Bowser was stunned but he had no time to be scared he carried both of them and fled as fast as he can. Again, he lost them. But this time Bowser bandages Mario first then Luigi next.

Bowser: *Held them like children then sat down* “Hm…you two are lucky…I always come prepared…” *He said to himself*

Luigi: *Goans in pain* “Nhhgghh…….huuurrrt…….” *He mumbled*

Bowser: “….rest your brother is resting…” *He said*

Luigi: *He went back to sleep. He didn’t even try to fight the pain*

[17 minutes later…]

Mario wakes up and hops off Bowser’s arms then wonders off by himself. Upon walking he stumbles across a suspicious mushroom. He picked it up for a closer examination. It was a white mushroom with only 1 eye light gray dots and had a strange aura of a white glow. He thought to himself ‘This mushroom looks weird. Wonder if I should try it’. He ate countless mushrooms before but decides to save it then continued walking. He found another mushroom this time it’s a dark red mushroom with no eyes but has weird blood on it with a devil-like mouth and a demonic symbol on it’s head. He decided to keep it and kept walking.

[Hours passed]

Mario collected many mushrooms and decided to try them out with nobody around. He tries the Dark red mushroom [code name: The Devil’s Blood] as Mario ate it he felt dizzy and started to vomit blood as the effect wore off he started to feel pain then it stopped? Mario looks all over him trying to see what changed. He sees a broken mirror noticing a devil tail and has blood dripping from his left eye and notices fangs. He looked a bit scared and puts the mushroom back in his pocket. Next he tries out the odd white mushroom [code name: The ghost] as he bit the mushroom it tasted bitter and hard to swallow almost like eating stone. This mushroom causes Mario to be invisible for either a short period of time or long periods of time. He became visible again but looked confused and forced himself to spit it out with disgust. Now he held a mushroom that looks like it’s entirely made of liquid. He tilt his head and tries a bite but immediately spits it out with a grossed out expression. Mario decides to eat the mushroom that can cure him and takes a bite putting it back but then he notices something, even if he’s cured by the effects he still has the devil tail, fangs and blood dripping from his left eye. He was scared.

[Meanwhile with Bowser and Luigi]

Bowser and Luigi woken up and immediately noticed Mario is gone. They frantically look for Mario until Luigi’s detection sensor went off indicating Mario’s location and Luigi told Bowser where he is. They waste no time getting to Mario. Until they see him looking scared and paranoid. He even mumbled not to look at him. Luigi steps forward placing a hand on his shoulder.

Luigi: “Brother?…Mario…? It’s me Luigi…Bowser is here too….” *He said with worry in his voice*

Mario: “Please… *panting* get a-away from me…I’m a monster…..I’m a monster…” *He said in a panicked voice crying blood and normal tears*

Luigi: “Wha…? N-no! No no…your not a monster bro…look at us…we can help you….please…” *He assures him with a little bit of confidence*

Mario: “…Don’t say I warned you brother…” *He said in a sad voice*

As Mario got up and turned around showing what he looks like now both Luigi and Bowser are in shock…surprised even. Mario turns his head away upset by his own stupidity and curiosity. Bowser picks him up and holds him in his arms*

Bowser: “Luigi…scan him…” *He demanded*

Luigi: *He nods then proceeds to scan Mario. What information he got shocked him to the core* “H…He…oh god this is bad….” *He said in horror*

Bowser: “Well..? What info you find?…” *Confused by Luigi’s reaction*

Luigi: “H…He….ate 2 suspicious mushrooms…a dark red one known as ‘The Devil’s Blood’ and a pale white mushroom known as ‘The ghost’..but he managed to cure himself?….” *He said while confused of the ‘cure’ he’s unaware of*

Bowser: *He looked stunned then looked at Mario* “Mm…”

Mario: *Unable to control his emotions and continued crying*

Bowser: *He sighed and cradled him like a baby(LOL) to calm him down*

Mario: “Mmnn……” *He falls asleep*

Bowser sighed and tells Luigi they should get going to find an exit to this hellhole. As they walked and walked Luigi and Bowser encountered many unrecognizable creatures but these creatures looked dangerous. The duo looked at each other and fled. As they fled they’ve hid so they wouldn’t be found. They’ve waited a total of 3 minutes and went to continue as usual.

[2 hours later]

Mario wakes up again and went to find more odd things to eat (again?!). As he walked he found that dark red mushroom again but it was uneaten he puts it in his pocket and grabs the one he had taken a bit out of and continues to eat it. But this time nothing changed him except more blood leaving his left eye. He ignored it and finds a green mushroom again. At first he thought it was a 1-up mushroom but he looked closely noticing it was a different green color and only took a small bite before spitting it out and continued walking. As Mario walked and walked it seemed he was getting lost but uses his flame from his hand to see better, upon lightning the dark area he finds many mushrooms, confused he lit a torch and found himself…in a cave?.. A cave full of different types of mushrooms. He was happy but also suspicious…he couldn’t care less. 1 by 1 he ate the mushrooms that were edible some were bitter…or some were inedible and couldn’t be eaten. Mario was full and satisfied he never felt this better in a while..as we was about to leave one mushroom caught his attention. He sat back down and took a good look at it. It was a rainbow mushroom with all types of colors he kept it safe with him and stayed in the cave with even MORE mushrooms. As full as he was, he just sat there happy.

[Meanwhile with Bowser and Luigi]

Luigi and Bowser woke up and they both looked at each other annoyed..? Bowser sighed and shook his head. While Luigi scanned the area but couldn’t reach Mario’s location looking tired and upset.

Bowser: *He picks up Luigi* “Hey…it’s okay…he’s possibly hungry…or finding stuff…we should leave him be…” *He said tiredly*

Luigi: “But…what if he’s hurt…? Dead even?…” *He worryingly asked*

Bowser: “Then we blame ourselves…I’m tired…I haven’t rested in a while…you haven’t got proper sleep..so it’s fair we just sleep for a little longer.” *He said to Luigi*

Luigi: “If you say so..” *He said in a worry voice*

Luigi and Bowser went back to sleep unaware of Mario’s absence.

[Back with Mario]

Mario felt hungry again and starts to eat the mushrooms that were waiting to be devoured. Mushroom after mushroom he ate and ate without stopping. He even ate the inedible mushrooms which had no effect but it felt like he was eating stone. 10 hours passed and Mario was full once again, he lay on the ground looking at so many mushrooms. He shut his eyes for a minute then opened them while forcing himself to sit up, as he sat up he noticed how big his stomach was, again he didn’t care. He just wanted food, as full as he was he continued eating the mushrooms as he ate and ate he spots a weird mushroom with a strange texture to it…he ate it and felt hungry and his stomach is back to normal. He giggled to himself and continues to eat as many mushrooms as he can eat, he didn’t took a break. 30 minutes passed and Mario is laying flat on his back too full to move.

Mario: *uff..* *uff…* “M-mama mia there’s so many of them…I think I’m in heaven…who needs an exit when I have all of THIS???” *He said to himself laughing a bit like a psychopath*

He lays there happy but also seems delusional. He started to cough a bit. Mario decides to sleep for a bit whenever he is hungry again.

[Meanwhile with Luigi and Bowser]

Luigi and Bowser both woke up and then started looking for Mario. Luigi looks scared and worried about his dear brother. While Bowser looked worried but also concerned. As they searched and searched..Luigi’s detect sensor was going off critically! Luigi looked panicked and pulled up a red screen showing what is happening to Mario. What they saw traumatized them. Luigi wanted to cry so much while Bowser looked shocked and speechless. Bowser grabbed Luigi’s arm and rushed over to the location shown. They found Mario but now they look confused. They looked in the cave but no sign of Mario?.. Until they heard a scream. It was Mario! They immediately went to his voice screaming then they found him in tears unable to scream but is struggling to free himself upon trying to free himself causes him to yelp in pain on his arms and legs, he can only move his head not much movement though.

Mario: *muffled panicked noises being forced fed poisoned mushrooms it effects him a little bit but still stings so much he can’t stop feeling the pain*

Luigi: “MARIO!” *He cried trying to free his brother but Bowser stopped him*

Bowser: “No Luigi..if we free him he wont be able to move” *He said in disappointment*

Luigi: “ARE YOU CRAZY?! AM I SUPPOSED TO WATCH HIM SUFFER LIKE THIS?! I CANT WATCH HIM DIE LIKE THIS!…I just can’t….” *He screamed while sobbing*

Mario: *Muffled pained noises then tilt his head to the left a little bit from pain*

Bowser: *Looked skeptical and sees a figure in the darkness*

An unknown figure emerged from the darkness with a button in their pocket. They looked at Mario grinning of his suffering and cries then looked at Luigi and Bowser.

???: “I see you found this pathetic excuse of a ‘hero’ trapped like this and forced to devour poison..it’s priceless to see him cry. Making him delusional was the best thing to drive him crazy over mushrooms.” *He said in a sinister voice while laughing*

Bowser & Luigi: “YOU AGAIN!?” *They shout in fury and anger ready to attack*

???: *Clicks a button to make Mario be in pain and sped up the machine to force feed faster*

Mario: *Muffled screaming and started to cry even more unable to escape*

???: *He grins unnaturally* “How about we speed things up~? Your progress of escape is futile. *He sped the machine to maximum causing Mario to swallow them whole damaging his throat as he walks away laughing*

Mario: *He tries to scream but nothing came out. Only panting as his stomach is hurting a lot he isn’t full. He looks at Bowser and Luigi in tears.*

Luigi: “Mario……” *He starts to cry*

Bowser: *Still pissed but concerned and worried..but doesn’t know what to do*

Mario looks at them…with hollow eyes looking like he’s about to die. But then he remembered something. He nod his head to the machine looking at Bowser as if like he want him to break it. Bowser looked confused but walked over to it and used all his might to break it causing the machine to malfunction and explode but also freeing Mario in the process. Mario fell on his knees having a hard time breathing talking even. Bowser held Mario close and fed him the curing mushroom causing all effects from poison and other mushrooms he ate disappear and his body is normal again. (except the devil tail fangs and blood from his eye) Mario looks at both Bowser and Luigi before blacking out. Bowser puts the curing mushroom back while Luigi was still crying. Bowser held Mario and Luigi then leaves the cave heading back to their usual hiding spot to sleep. Luigi hugged Mario tightly not letting go while Bowser sits down holding them like kids.

Bowser: “…We’re not separating again…” *He said in a serious tone*

Luigi: “W…W…Will he b-b-be okay…?” *He stuttered while crying*

Bowser: “Yes…..he’ll take time to recover…” *He answered*

Mario: *Only soft breathing is heard*

Bowser: “Cmon..let’s rest…he’ll never leave my sight this time…” *He said in a serious voice*

Luigi: *Upsettingly nod okay laying next to Mario in Bowser’s arms*

Bowser: *He sat there watching them sleep and keeping a close eye on Mario.*

As the bros rest Bowser remains awake keeping an eye on them in case any danger had occurred. They have no idea how long they’ve been here. Nor found any exits..Bowser’s faith is starting to fade but still has hope..and still hope one day or more…they can move on with their lives.

End of chapter 9