Something suddenly clicked! Perhaps Bowser had something to do with it, that fight was probably a diversion for his real plan!

Me: Do you guys have some kind of shortcut to get to World 8? Just so we don't have to walk the whole way there? I have a good idea as to who's behind this.

Mario and Luigi said no, so unfortunately we had to walk the whole way. I sighed.

Me: Okay, we can just go then, just hope Bowser's not planning anything serious.

We headed off for another long way to World 8, it seems shorter in the games, but since I'm here in real life, it might be a lot longer than usual. To pass the time, I went to Spotify on my phone and played a song.

https://youtu.be/3jepHJ_seQg

Uh-oh, running out of breath, but I

Oh, I, I got stamina

Uh-oh, running now, I close my eyes

Well, I, I got stamina

And uh-oh, I see another mountain to climb

But I, I got stamina

Uh-oh, I need another lover, be mine

I, I, I got stamina

Don't give up, I won't give up

Don't give up, no no no

Don't give up, I won't give up

Don't give up, no no no

I'm free to be the greatest, I'm alive

I'm free to be the greatest here tonight

The greatest

The greatest, the greatest alive

The greatest, the greatest alive

Uh-oh, running out of breath, but I

Oh, I, I got stamina

Uh-oh, running now, I close my eyes

But, oh, I, I got stamina

And oh, yeah, running to the waves below

But I, I got stamina

And oh, yeah, I'm running and I've just enough

And uh-oh, I got stamina

Don't give up, I won't give up

Don't give up, no no no

Don't give up, I won't give up

Don't give up, no no no

I'm free to be the greatest, I'm alive

I'm free to be the greatest here tonight

The greatest

The greatest, the greatest alive

The greatest, the greatest alive

Oh-oh, I got stamina

Oh-oh, I got stamina

Oh-oh, I got stamina

Oh-oh, I got stamina

Don't give up, I won't give up

Don't give up, no no no

Don't give up, I won't give up

Don't give up, no no no

I'm free to be the greatest, I'm alive

I'm free to be the greatest here tonight

The greatest

The greatest, the greatest alive

The greatest, the greatest alive

Don't give up, I won't give up

Don't give up, no no no

Don't give up, I won't give up

Don't give up, no no no

Don't give up, I won't give up

Don't give up, no no no

Don't give up, I won't give up, no

It felt like days, but it wasn't that bad, just a few hours, but we made it, now to confront Bowser face to face, which wouldn't be nearly as bad as what I experienced last time I was here.

Bowser: What are you dweebs doing here?

He immediately recognized me the minute he saw me.

Bowser: You again! This time I'll see to it that I-

Me: Stop right there, bozo! First of all, my geode only works for me, so you've got no luck trying to steal my speed. Second of all, WHAT'S YOUR PLAN?!?!? WHERE ARE THESE DARK SHADOWS AND CREEPY GHOST VOICES COMING FROM?!?!?

Bowser: What are you talking about?

Me: Don't play games with me, bozo, we know you're behind this mess, now what are you planning?

He still didn't tell us.

Bowser: I have no idea what you're talking about! Sheesh, are you gonna accuse me of everything because I'm a villain?

Me: Uh...duh! It's always you, so yeah.

?: Mario, help!

We heard a voice calling for help, I was sure Bowser was at it again, but it wasn't him. When I looked up, I saw that that strange shadowy figure I saw earlier had kidnapped the princess!

Me: You've gotta be kidding me! Let her go, you jerk!

?: You have a lot of fight in you, but are you sure that'll help you win?

Me: What the-OF COURSE IT WILL!!!

I was suddenly levitated, what was this guy thinking?!

?: Deep inside, you know you're afraid, child, you use action and bravery to hide it. After what you've experienced since the Summer Festival, there's fear in you, you know you're afraid.

How could he possibly know that?! That was almost 2 years ago! Surely everyone forgot about that by now!

Me: Put me down, loser! I'm not afraid of you!

?: As you wish, my dear.

I was suddenly thrusted outside, I landed hard on the ground and everything suddenly went black.