Vol. 6, Ch. 3 - Shipping Out.

     Mario frowned.  There wasn't a chance he could have mistaken what he saw, but it didn't make sense.  How could the ball have sent the four of them back in time to the exact day and place they first arrived on Yoshi's Island?

     "Bro..." Luigi whispered, but Mario didn't notice.

     "Bro.  Mario.  MA-rio!  We have a problem!"

     Yoshi was approaching the group, evidently as a friendly stranger.  Before Mario could react Wario jumped out from behind the bush and began punching the air menacingly.  "Go on!  Get outta here!" he yelled at the startled Yoshi.  Rather than run, however, Yoshi just stopped walking and peered at his opponent questioningly.

     "He doesn't recognize you," began Luigi.

     "I know that!  I'm not even supposed to be here.  It's your fault!  If you and that stupid rubber ball hadn't got so excitable we wouldn't be on this island in the first place!"

     "If I hadn't?!?  Waluigi was the one trying to grab the thing out of my hands!  Why don't you thank him for this fiasco?"

     "WHAAA!??!" Waluigi turned even more purple than usual with rage.  "Don't you start any of that blame game stuff!  It was your fault..."

     As the group continued to argue Mario snuck out from behind the bush and looked at Yoshi, who's attention was now fixated on the squabble.  It was evident, even from a distance, that he was enjoying the show more than anything else.  Mario knew Yoshi would recognize him, since Yoshi had rescued him as a baby before, but could he actually talk to Yoshi, knowing what he did about the events about to take place, without harming the future?  At any rate, Yoshi was now approaching the squabbling group steadily.  Suddenly Mario realized why Yoshi kept coming.  The first time Peach had originally visited she had booked a tour.  Yoshi was supposed to be the guide, and he probably thought he was looking at his group now.  It had taken a while for him to find Peach and the Bros. the first time, and now it would take even longer!  Every second that Yoshi was distracted by Luigi and the others was a change in the future and conversation Yoshi would have with the arriving party- and if he noticed Luigi was in both groups...Mario began to sweat at the thought.

      Suddenly he heard a strange wheezing, groaning, noise.  He thought he had heard that once before, but it seemed like a dream, far too long ago to remember correctly.  Yoshi seemed to notice it too, and he paused uncertainly.  Then suddenly, he turned around and walked away.

     Mario breathed a sigh of relief and dashed to the group, which was still fighting.

     "Hurry up already!" he yelled, pushing them towards the beach.

     The group was too stunned at his sudden frantic emotion to argue, and they began running towards the beach as quickly as they could.  The ship from which the other Mario, Luigi, and Peach had disembarked was still at the dock, signaling its readiness for departure.  Mario and Luigi stopped once they reached the dock, but Wario and Waluigi jumped on to the anchor as it was hoisted.

     "Hey, wait!"  yelled Luigi.  "You can't just leave!"

     "Watch us!" replied Waluigi.

     "You could mess up the future!  Destroy all sorts of things and events!  Stop!"

     It was too late.  The ship sounded its final call and began sailing away with the two troublemakers on board.  Luigi looked at Mario and shook his head.

      "We can't follow them, can we?  The crew will get confused.  Who knows what might happen?"

      Mario nodded.  On the other hand, what would happen now?

(Continued next week)

Vol. 6, Ch. 2 - Action Replay.

Author's Note:  Apologies for being a week late!  Going back to college from vacation threw my sense of time off by a week...anyways, thanks for waiting!

     Mario chuckled.  He knew Wario and Waluigi's distinctive voices at any audible distance.  The two seemed to have committed themselves to opposing him and his brother, always unsuccessfully, but persistently.  Why they were here was a mystery, to be sure, especially since they sounded like they'd already heard some of the brothers conversation.

     "You get the door, eh, Mario?  I don't think I have the patience to put up with Tubbo and Daddy Longlegs.  Er..." he blushed as Mario looked at him disapprovingly.

     Mario walked to the door and looked out the window.  Sure enough, it was the two troublemakers, apparently waiting patiently.  Why would they want to help with a yard sale.  He cracked the door open.

     "Hello?"

     "It's freezing out here!" cried Waluigi.  "You gonna let us in or what?"

     "C'mon, Mario!" Wario laughed, pushing the door open and brushing past Mario, Waluigi following.  "You're acting like you weren't prepared for our visit!"

      "He wasn't," replied Luigi from the attic.  "Neither one of us expected you."

      "That's odd..." Wario scratched his stomach, "I know we received this." He handed a letter to Mario, evidently written in Luigi's handwriting, asking the visitors to come on exactly that time and day.

      Mario glanced over it and frowned.  Where could the letter have come from?  Neither Wario nor Waluigi would have been able to forge Luigi's handwriting, and although it was hard to tell with the constant sneer on their faces, the two seemed genuinely surprised at the bros.' surprise.

     At that moment Luigi came down the ladder with what looked like a glowing rubber ball.  "Any idea what this is, Mario?"

     "It's shiny!" said Waluigi reaching eagerly for the object.  "Can I see it?"

     "No way!  I need to know what it even is before I let you touch it," Luigi swung to keep the thing out of Waluigi's reach.

     "Ah, stop being so grabby!  Give it here!" Waluigi reached over Luigi's head and grabbed the thing, but Luigi held tightly to the thing.  "Mario!  Get this lunatic to let go!"

     Before Mario or Wario could get any closer the ball let off a squealing sound that made everyone cover their ears.  Luigi dropped the device and it rolled toward Mario, who instinctively (he didn't know why) jumped out of the way.  There was a blinding white flash, followed by silence.

     The four opened their eyes and looked around.  It looked like they were standing on a beach just a few steps away from the ocean.

     "Eh, look!" said Wario.  "I see Yoshis!"

     The group began walking towards them but Mario suddenly halted.

     "Mama-mia!"

     "What is it, Bro?"

     "It's a-me, Mario!"

     The others followed his gaze and realized he was telling the truth.  Just yards away Princess Peach and the Mario Bros. were stepping off of a boat.  They could hear the Princess talking to the others.

      "Ah, Dinosaur Land!  This is such a nice place for a vacation, don't you think?  Of course, it won't be called that much longer.  I hear that the natives are working on renaming it "Yoshi's Island".  Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

      Luigi motioned to the group, and they began slowly and quietly walking towards a bush.

      "Mario," said the Princess to the other Mario, "You look a little pale.  Did you see something wrong?"

      The other Mario stared for a second, then shook his head and smiled.

      "Let's a-go!"

      "Well this is another fine mess we've gotten ourselves into," complained Waluigi.

Vol. 6, Ch. 1 - Sorting for a Sortie.

Author's note:  This will hopefully be the last set of chapters published in this form!  For some time now development has been underway on a brand new look with new features and new avenues of creativity!  It's not finished yet, but I'll keep you posted!  Check it out @marioserials on Twitter!


     "You know, Bro," began Luigi, "I think it's about time we cleared some of our stuff away."

     He didn't notice Mario was napping, so it took a moment before he repeated the comment.  Then after a second long pause he glanced at his brother's armchair and saw Mario dozing.

     "He ought to wake up.  After all, it's a beautiful day out.  Mario.  Mario!" He shook Mario's shoulder gently.

      "Hm...oh?"  Mario opened one eye and gave a sleepy curious glance at his younger sibling.

      "C'mon.  I'm getting ready to a-clean up and I want a-your help!"

      Mario struggled to his feet and tried to blink himself awake as Luigi tapped his foot impatiently.

      "I mean it, Bro.  New year, new opportunities, time for new organization!  We've let enough stuff pile up around here to fill Peach's storehouse!  Let's clean this disaster area up."

      Mario continued to blink and shake his head until he noticed Luigi walking towards the attic and
stumbled after him.

      "Luigi..." he finally managed to say, "Whaaaa-" he broke off into a yawn.

      "Mario!  For heaven's sake!  Wake up!  We're cleaning out the attic and having a yard sale!"

      That jolted Mario into full consciousness.  "What?"

      "Don't you think it's a-time?  Look in the attic!"

      Mario ascended the latter and began peering through the first box he saw.  Medals he'd received from sports tournaments, star dust, and old photographs were all packed into the same space.  Another box had old postcards, ancient relics, and a recipe for spaghetti he'd once got from someone named Taste T.  It was a hodge-podge of old memories and adventures.

     Luigi had begun searching a different box.  "Mario!  I don't even remember competing in this Olympic Event, let alone winning the silver medal!  Let's face it- we don't even know all the stuff we have!  Let's begin sorting- things to keep, to throw out, and to sell.  We may have the biggest yard sale in the history of the Mushroom Kingdom!"

      Mario glanced at his box uncertainly.  Perhaps he could get rid of a few things.  After all, some stuff was completely unnecessary from a practical point, right?  What good was a Spear Guy's tribal shield or a random key that used to open doors in Bowser's castle?

      "Okay," he said, turning to Luigi.

      "Then let's get started.  Say, I wonder if we could get some help.  Maybe the Princesses?"

      Mario shook his head.

      "Another diplomacy meeting, huh?  Well, what about Yoshi and his friends?"

      Another head shake.

      "They're celebrating the New Year still?  Boy, Yoshis sure know how to party.  Well, who's left and nearby?"

      "I am!" came a voice from the door.

      "And me!" came another.

      The brothers looked at each other and Luigi groaned.  "Why on earth are they here?"

(continued next week)