#echoeternally

... ... ... 

Fishing out a Star, Mario tightened his grip around it, but Bowser only seethed at the sight.

“Not this time, plumber boy!”

Clamping his free hand over the Star and tightening it over Mario’s, the power-up’s energy surged around both of them. Bowser grinned as the rainbow aura washed over them both.

“Oho, now that’s the stuff!” His eyes narrowed on Mario. “Now, where were we? Oh yes, finishing this!”

Another wind up and thrust, Bowser slammed Mario into the wall, which broke open from the final impact with fluorescent rainbow cracks bursting. The power of the Star made it that much easier, perhaps too much so. Or, perhaps rather, the craggy backdrop had been more hollow than anyone knew.

Losing his footing, face stupefied at the breakage, Bowser tumbled forward from the bridge. He toppled over and dropped through the broken mountain wall, falling in and taking Mario down with him.

“No!”

Luigi leapt over the flames that Bowser had left behind, and Peach hurried after him. Both stared at the opening ahead, searching for where Bowser and Mario went.

All that they could see though was darkness. 

Through a deep drop into the abyss, Mario and Bowser soared down from above, flailing about as they plummeted. In spite of falling through a mountainside wall, the inner area was dark and empty. Only a sparkling trail of rainbow energy preceded them, creating almost a path for their rapid descent.

“This doesn’t make any sense!”

Bowser roared out as he tossed through the space, eyes wildly searching for anything to slow his descent. He couldn’t find anything around enough to help himself, only Mario. Keeping his mouth clamped for just a second longer, Bowser finally snapped in a panicked state.

“Do something!”

“Me?”

“Yes!”

“Like what?”

“Save us!”

“How?”

“You’re the super one, you figure it out!”

He watched as Mario tumbled through the air, surveying around them as they fell. Bowser’s jaw dropped as Mario merely shrugged to him.

...

Light erupted from below the two, and Bowser glanced behind him. He winced and slowly closed his eyes, unable to see much else, but worried about the ending.

Smashing down onto the ground, Bowser grunted out as dirt and dust shot out around him. His eyes slowly opened up, spotting the cracks from the crater he formed in the ground.

Wait, ground, as in earth?

Eyes snapping fully open, Bowser scanned the area around him. Hadn’t he fallen through a dark mountain cavern? Why, then, was the area surrounding him…a lush, grassy field?

...

There was air here, wherever it was, with a soft flow breezing by. It wasn’t hot, though not quite cold; just cool enough to be refreshing. Flowing water sounded in the distance, evoking the flow of what must have been a running river. So much of this area was contrary to the lands they had just left, so much around here was…alive.

“Are we dead?”

Blinking a bit, Bowser glanced down to Mario, flopped across his chest and stomach. Their rainbow auras flickered a bit longer before dissipating. Bowser’s arms were around Mario’s back, having kept him in place for their landing.

Facing him, Mario blinked as well, his cheeks getting rosy as he stared at Bowser. His blue eyes were rather soothing amidst the greenery around them.

Growling and pushing Mario back, Bowser forced himself up from the ground. He rubbed at his burning face and shook his head, looking around the land around them again.

... ... ...

Quite a bit going on there, huh? From battles to big fallouts, and then more to mysterious lands beyond wonder! 

If you’re eager to try learning more, feel free to click the link! It’s not too long of a story overall, and makes for a nice read. (Especially if you like the idea of Bowser and Mario being study nerds together and maybe holding hands!)