Act 24 -
Date: 16 September 1992
Section
2: The
Part
5: The Reunification of VideoLand
Chapter
2: The Lure of the Triforce
Characters: Mario-Team, N‑Team Base, Mason-Team,
Brain-Team Base
September
16.
Royal
Kitchen, Throne Room,
|
T |
he next
morning, at the
“Good
morning, Kevin,” Link said. “We came for
a visit.”
“What about
the Triforces?”
“We left
the sentries to guard it,” Zelda said.
Lana came
out onto the balcony. “Good morning,
Zelda and Link.”
“Hello,
Lana. We came for a little visit.”
“I’m glad
to see you. What about the alarm on the Triforces, though?
You said it’s been going haywire.”
“We turned
off the alarm and left the sentries to guard the Triforces,”
Link said.
“Metroid?” Kevin asked.
“If it were
up above Hyrule,” Link said, “it would have been
detected. They’ve never gotten their
cloaking device, or whatever they call it, working right.”
* * *
That
evening, at
Outside the
castle, ‘Admiral’ Ludwig von(Bowser)Koopa and
‘General’ MotherBrain came along in their huge
tanks. The guards outside woke up, and
their eyes widened with horror at the two villains.
“Knock,
knock,” Ludwig said.
“Who’s
there?” asked MotherBrain.
They
blasted open the door with their cannons and scared away the guards. “Admiral
Ludwig von(Bowser)Koopa and General MotherBrain, that’s who!” They laughed almost convulsively.
Inside,
Eggplant Wizard and King Hippo heard their malicious laugh. “It’s Prince Ludwig and MamaBrain,”
Eggplant Wizard cried. “Let’s get out of
here.” The bonds that connected the Triforces broke, and the three Triforces
fell onto the floor, dumping Eggplant and Hippo to the floor as well.
* * *
Meanwhile,
at the
“Very
funny, Kevin,” said Simon, taking himself far too seriously. “You’re exaggerating.”
MegaMan laughed. “Other than one or two centimeters, he’s
mega-right on the button.”
“Right,”
Kid Icarus said.
“Not too much exaggeration‑icus on his
part.”
Zelda
suddenly buckled from a powerful strain.
“Aaah!”
“Zelda,
what’s wrong?” Spike asked.
“Something
has happened to the Triforces,” said Link.
“How does
Princess Zelda know what happens to the Triforces?”
Ludwig von(Spike)Koopa asked.
“There’s a
bond between them. If all three Triforces are destroyed, the impact could kill her,” Link
said. This concerned everyone.
* * *
Back at
“We’re
stealing the Triforces for you, Prince Ludwig,” said
Eggplant Wizard.
“Truly? You two deserve a raise for this.”
“With these
gizmos, you’ll have the power to control all the galaxy.”
MotherBrain moved her tentacle over to the
vegetable. “I know that,” she said. “Give them to us, garbage-face.”
“You can
have whatever you want,” King Hippo said.
“What we
want are the Triforces, pebble-brains.”
“You can
fix the cloaking device and have infinite invisibility,” said Eggplant Wizard.
“Give them
to her, you infinite idiots,” Ludwig said.
“You can have
infinite power,” King Hippo said.
Then,
looking into each other’s eyes, Eggplant and Hippo had a revelation. “We
can have infinite power!” they cried.
“Give them to me!” MotherBrain
wailed.
Eggplant
Wizard held the Courage Triforce away from MotherBrain’s tentacle.
“Why should we?”
King Hippo
held the Power Triforce away from her. “Yes.
With these, we won’t have to take your abuse anymore.”
“King Hippo
is correct! With the Courage Triforce, I can abuse you two.”
Ludwig
von(Bowser)Koopa picked up the Wisdom Triforce behind them.
“With the Wisdom Triforce, I can outsmart the
two of you,” he said. Eggplant and Hippo
whirled to him. While they were
distracted, MotherBrain snatched the Power and
Courage Triforces.
“Hey,” King
Hippo cried. “Give those back!”
Ludwig von(Bowser)Koopa pointed his deactivated laser saber at King
Hippo. The boxer suddenly froze. “She never will, King Hippo. You did a great job procuring these. I do not like mutineers, though. If you want us to go easy on you, you will
not try to be mutinous again.”
Eggplant
Wizard and King Hippo looked at each other for a moment. “You have it, Prince Ludwig,” Eggplant said.
“I second
that,” King Hippo said.
Ludwig put
his laser saber away. “Bright lad. Let’s go and wake up Ganon.” They took their leave in Eggplant Wizard’s
squash rocket.
* * *
Later, the
N‑Team arrived at
“Uh, oh,
guys,” Larry (Spike)Koopa said. “The Triforces are
gone.”
Spike
rushed to the throne and picked up a hair.
“Oh, no. And I know who took
them: my nephew Ludwig von(Bowser)Koopa. Look. Here’s one of the hair follicles.”
“Why, the
contemptible corpuscle,” Mario said.
“This is low, even for
him.”
“So now
what do we do?” asked Lana.
“There is
only one thing to do,” Kevin said.
“Break into Metroid and get the Triforces back.”
* * *
Little did
they know that the robbers, MotherBrain, Ludwig,
Eggplant Wizard, and King Hippo, had not left for Metroid. Still traveling in the squash rocket, Ludwig
von(Bowser)Koopa called King Bowser Koopa, who was still on Metroid. “And we need you to stop the N‑Team in
the manner that I have just described,” Ludwig said.
“Will do,
my smart, despicable prince,” Bowser said.
“And be
sure that Wily and Mouser keep working on the cloaking device. It’s barely functioning as it is.”
“Right. Over and out.”
* * *
Control Room, Metroid.
When Bowser
had hung up, his number two son, Larry (Bowser)Koopa,
approached him. “O bad dad of
despicableness?”
“What is
it, my sneaky boy?” Bowser asked.
“Those
goody-good plumb-scum and their N‑Twerpy
friends have just warped into fabulous downtown Brinstar.”
“Perfect. Morton, commence the game sequence entitled,
‘Get Rid of the N‑Team.’ ” He
laughed. “Winner receives fifteen
million VideoLand pounds.”
“Sure
thing, King Dad,” Morton (Bowser)Koopa said. Without launching into a diatribe, he pressed
a button on the control panel.
* * *
Brinstar, Metroid.
Samus Aran led the N‑Team
through the rocky area of Metroid known as Brinstar. She
noticed movement not far away. “Uh,
oh. Look!”
“It’s a
mega-pack of Rios,” MegaMan said.
“My saber
will stop them,” Ludwig von(Spike)Koopa said. With several swift and accurate slashes of
his steel saber, he destroyed the Rios.
Everyone was impressed by his skills.
“Nice
swordsmanship,” Samus said. “Let’s keep going.”
* * *
Ridley’s Lair, Norfair, deep in Metroid.
A while
later, the N‑Team reached the lair of Ridley—or, as usual, a facsimile of
Ridley. “I can hardly believe that we
made it here with only a little loss in energy,” Samus
said.
“That’s
what comes of having a good team working with you,” Kevin said. “Now, then, let’s get in there and smoke
Ridley.”
“Good
idea. Mario, have you any Starmen?”
Mario
searched his pocket. “As a matter of
fact, I do. Two Starmen
coming up.” He handed a Starman to Samus and one to
Captain N. As soon as the two entered
Ridley’s chamber, their invincibility commenced.
“Let’s
smoke this guy, and fast,” Kevin said.
“The invincibility does not last long.”
They went down in the lava to avoid Ridley’s fiery blasts, which would
block their shots. Thanks to the Starmen, the shallow lava did not hurt them. With nothing to block their shots, Captain N
and Samus made short work of the fire-breathing
menace.
“Excellent
work, Kevin,” Samus said. “We gave him the boot.”
* * *
Control Room, Tourian, Metroid.
In MotherBrain’s chamber, King Bowser and his Koopalings were feeling extreme brain pains while watching
on the monitor. Bowser screamed. “Thadoesit! Mouser. Try‑Clyde. Koopa-Troopa. Get in here now!”
Mouser, Try‑Clyde,
and a black-shelled Koopa-Troopa quickly
entered. “Oh, I
didn’t know that you were such great dancers,” the Koopa-Troopa
said. He started dancing, unaware that
the Bowser Koopas’ gyrations were a response to
extreme pain.
Larry
(Bowser)Koopa fired a sharp blast at the Koopa-Troopa and missed.
“Shut up, fool.”
The Koopa-Troopa stopped moving. “Oh.
Right.”
When the
brain-pains vanished, Bowser sighed with relief. “The N‑Team destroyed the Ridley
clone. Who among you can sword fight?”
“I can,”
Mouser said.
“I can,
too,” the Koopa-Troopa said.
“Good,”
Bowser said. “Take two of Ludwig’s laser
sabers. Fix those N‑Twerps
good.” Mouser and the Koopa-Troopa each took one saber.
Mouser held
the open part of the handle out away from everyone. “Let’s see.
Press the button—” He pressed the
button, and the laser blade came out.
“—makes the laser blade come out.
Press it again—” He pressed the
button once more. The laser blade
disappeared. “—and the blade
retracts. We are ready, King Bowser the
Terrible.”
“Good. Now, get into position, and wait for my
command to go chop the N‑Team to pieces.”
Bowser laughed.
* * *
Kraid’s Lair, Brinstar, Metroid.
Before
long, the team wended its way through an underground jungle area. “According to this map, we’re nearing Kraid,” Samus said.
“Good,”
said Kid Icarus.
“I was ready for a little target practice with my new super
arrows.” He drew his bow.
“All
right. Kid Icarus
and I are going in. Are there any other
volunteers?”
“None, I
think,” Kevin said. “Two should
suffice.”
“Wait,”
Mario said. “I have two more Starmen.” He gave
the Starmen to Samus and
Kid Icarus.
“Thanks a
lot,” Kid Icarus said. He and Samus went
in. When they saw Kraid,
the Starmen took effect on them. They quickly blasted the ugly creature to
oblivion, thanks to Kid Icarus’s new super arrow.
* * *
Control Room, Metroid.
Bowser nearly collapsed to the
floor from the brain pains. “Not
again! Yeouch! Those N‑Team fools are dead.” He snatched a microphone. “Evil Koopa pack,
attack.”
* * *
As the N‑Team
was preparing to enter Tourian, where the control
room could be found, Mouser and the black-shelled Koopa-Troopa
barred their way. “Where do you think
you are going, N‑Team pests?” Mouser asked.
“We’re
going to MotherBrain and getting back the Triforces,” Kevin said.
“Well,
you’re out of luck,” said the Koopa-Troopa. “She isn’t taking visitors.” Mouser and the Koopa-Troopa
drew their laser sabers and activated them.
“Be careful
with those,” Kevin said. “You might lose
a prehensile tail.”
Us? Ha! I
learned from the best in VideoLand, the one who
trained your Ludwig von(Spike)Koopa. I learned under an assumed identity.”
“So did I,”
said the Koopa-Troopa.
“I fear
that I haven’t fought against laser sabers before with my sword,” Ludwig
von(Spike)Koopa said.
“You won’t
have to,” said Kevin. “My Zapper will
toast these freaks.” Captain N fired his
Zapper and knocked the laser sabers out of Koopa-Troopa’s
and Mouser’s hands. The laser blades hit
the ground first and burnt some organic elements in the floor, perhaps causing
more brain attacks for Bowser and his Koopalings. Spike and Ludwig von(Spike)Koopa rushed in and grabbed the sabers.
“Aha,”
Spike said. “Now we have your laser
sabers.”
“Let’s get
out of here,” cried Mouser.
“King
Bowser will kill us,” Koopa-Troopa said.
“You think
that’s bad? If we stay, the N‑Team
will capture us.”
“Good
point.” Mouser and the Koopa-Troopa retreated into the control room.
* * *
Bowser
could not contain his anger when he heard Mouser and the Koopa-Troopa’s
report. “They did what!?”
“They
grabbed our laser sabers,” Mouser said meekly.
Bowser
grabbed Mouser and held him over his head.
“Shut up, you bag of moldy
cheese-breath.” He flung the
rodent hard into the wall, causing a multitude of dud bombs to pop out of
him. “Larry, Roy, Morton, Wendy, Lemmy, and Iggy, get back in here now.”
Larry
(Bowser)Koopa led his siblings into the control
room. “What is it, Dad?” he asked.
“Larry,
we’re leading an attack against those N‑Twerps. If I fall, you take charge. Dr. Wily and ProtoMan,
drop your work on the cloaking device and come here.”
In a
moment, Wily and ProtoMan were in Bowser’s
presence. “What is it, King Bowser?”
Wily asked.
“Do you
know how to operate my son’s computer?”
“Yes.”
“Do you
know a command that will make me and my six youngest Koopalings
as good sword fighters as Ludwig?”
Wily
wheezed. “Yes, but are you sure, Your
Majesty? Ludwig told me he’s never had
the chance to test that function yet.
The side-effects—”
“We’re
testing it right now,” Bowser growled.
“Very well,
King Bowser.” Dr. Wily did as told. After King Bowser and the six Koopalings had been charged with the powers, they got seven
of Ludwig’s laser sabres off the wall.
“Koopa pack, attack!”
Bowser and the Koopalings charged out.
* * *
Back in the
corridors of Tourian, Metroids
attacked the N‑Team. “Uh, oh,” MegaMan said. “Metroids!”
“MegaMan and I shall freeze these menaces,” said Samus. “You guys
make a run for it.” Samus
used her Ice Beam and MegaMan his IceSlasher
to freeze the Metroids.
* * *
Soon, the N‑Team
arrived at the door to the control room.
Bowser and his children were blocking the way. “Great,” Kevin said. “Look.
It’s King Bowser and his six younger Koopalings.”
“Right
first time, Captain N,” said Bowser. He
drew and activated his laser saber.
“Now, do you want to leave in peace, or do you want to leave in pieces?”
“I’m not going to let this
crazy uncle talk to us like that,” Ludwig von(Spike)Koopa
said.
ProtoMan ran out of the control room. “King Bowser, Wily just received a
transmission from Eggplant Wizard.”
“Whisper it
in my ear,” Bowser said.
ProtoMan whispered in Bowser’s ear,
“Actually, it was Ludwig who called. He
said he’s reached the temple where Ganon is
resting. And, of course, he said to work
on the cloaking device.”
Bowser
laughed aloud. “Ludwig von(Spike)Koopa, en garde!” Without
saluting, Bowser lunged for Ludwig von(Spike)Koopa.
Ludwig
von(Spike)Koopa stepped aside to avoid Bowser’s
lunge. “You uncivilized brute,” he
chastised with disdain. “You salute with
your sword like this before beginning a sword fight.” Ludwig von(Spike)Koopa
made the traditional salute with his sword.
Then, he and Bowser started sword fighting. Even though Bowser had told Dr. Wily to input
a command that made him a better sword fighter than Ludwig, Ludwig scored a
point by stopping his saber within a millimeter of Bowser’s chest.
“What?”
Bowser cried. “ProtoMan,
I thought that I told Wily to enter a command on my son’s computer to make me a
better sword fighter than Ludwig von(Spike)Koopa.”
“He did,” ProtoMan
cried. “I can’t understand what went
wrong.”
“What about
the old saying, ‘Practice make perfect’?” Kevin said. He ran over and grabbed Bowser’s saber. “Sword-fighting is an art I have not even
begun yet.”
“Be careful
with that, Kevin,” Spike said.
“No sweat,
King Spike.” Kevin pressed the button
that made the laser blade retract.
“Aw, come
on, Captain N,” Larry (Bowser)Koopa taunted. “I dare you to sword fight with me.”
“Sorry,
Larry, but I do not take dares or double dares.
However, it will please me to Zapper you.” He drew his Zapper and fired it, knocking the
saber handles out of all the Koopalings’ hands. Yoshi grabbed the
saber handles with his long tongue.
Mario took
all six saber handles from Yoshi. “Nice going, Yoshi.”
“Relinquish
those sabres,” Bowser snapped.
Spike
pointed his steel saber at Bowser’s neck.
“Who is going to make us, dear brother?
You seem a little hot. How about
I give you some ventilation?” Spike
carved ‘KSK’ in Bowser’s king suit.
“Why,
you! I just had it fixed!”
“Bowser,
you look like you could use a fencing lesson,” said Link. The Hyrulian hero
fired a blast from his sword that tied up Bowser, his six Koopalings,
Dr. Wily, ProtoMan, Mouser, Koopa-Troopa,
and Try‑Clyde in magical ropes.
The N‑Team
ran into the control room. “Where are
Ludwig, MotherBrain, Eggplant Wizard, and King
Hippo?” Kevin asked.
“They are
not here, Captain Numskull,” Bowser said.
“They’re going to awaken Ganon in the
“Uh,
oh. We have to get over there right
now. Tragg and
Andy, cover the Koopas.”
“If you
move, Bowser Koopa, you’ll be placed under arrest,” Tragg said.
“Lieutenant
Tragg and Lieutenant Anderson, stay here with these
royal pains in the neck while the rest of us stop my nephew’s plot,” Spike
said. “There are the cloaking controls
over there. Destroy them while you’re
here.”
“You have
it, King Spike,” said Andy. “No way
shall we let these do-badders out of our sight.”
“Wait a
minute,” Kevin said. “Good Ludwig, can
you operate the evil Ludwig’s super computer?”
“I can give
it a shot,” said Ludwig von(Spike)Koopa. “Just give me a minute.” He went over to the computer and fiddled with
it a little. “Yes, I can operate it. Now, what would you like, Kevin?”
“I want to
be able to handle the sword as well as you and your father.”
“Now,
Kevin—” Lana began.
“I have to
keep my options open, Princess. I can’t
stick to just one weapon all the time.
I’ll practice.” Lana nodded.
Ludwig
von(Spike)Koopa entered the desired commands on his cousin’s
computer. “Ready when you are, Kevin.”
“Let ’er
rip.” Ludwig von(Spike)Koopa pressed the ENTER key, and the computer entered all
the sword fighting skills of Ludwig von(Spike)Koopa
and King Spike into Kevin’s brain within minutes. “That felt funny. Let’s see if this computer is worth its
weight in gold. Open us a warp to the
“Right‑o.” Ludwig entered a command into the computer,
and a warp opened. This warp led to the
“That’s our
warp,” Mario said. “Let’s go.” All N‑Team members, except for
Lieutenant Tragg and Lieutenant Anderson, entered the
warp.
* * *
They
emerged from the warp at the
Kid Icarus laughed.
“That’s Eggplant Wizard’s squash‑ious
rocket‑us. Looks like it’s out of
fuel.”
The rocket
crashed in front of the palace. MotherBrain, Ludwig von(Bowser)Koopa,
Eggplant Wizard, and King Hippo came rolling out. “We ran out of gas, you stupid bean-brain,”
King Hippo barked. “Why didn’t you bring
a bigger squash?”
“Don’t
blame me,” Eggplant said. “You’re the boot-head who got us lost.”
“Enough!” MotherBrain snapped.
“You aren’t
lost if you are looking for the
“Captain
N! What are you doing here?”
“What are
you doing with one of my laser sabers, Captain N?” Ludwig von(Bowser)Koopa asked. “You
don’t know how to use it.”
“On the
contrary, my dear cousin, I used your computer to make him as good as my dad
and I,” Ludwig von(Spike)Koopa said.
The evil
Ludwig looked repulsed. “You defiled my computer with your do-gooding hands?
Is nothing sacred?” He drew his laser saber. “I
challenge you, Captain N.” He
pressed the button that made the blade appear.
“Two can
play at this game, Ludwig,” Kevin said.
He activated his saber.
“First, we
shall make the traditional salute,” the evil Ludwig said. He made a salute with his sword, and Kevin
replied. “Very good, Kevin. En garde!” They
began fighting. “MotherBrain,
grab the Wisdom Triforce from me before I drop it,
and awaken Ganon.”
MotherBrain grabbed the Wisdom Triforce and entered the palace.
“Quick,”
Kevin said. “All of you go after
her. I’ll hold Ludwig off.” The rest of the N‑Team went in after MotherBrain.
“MotherBrain is outnumbered,” Eggplant Wizard observed.
“Ah, we’d
better get in there and help,” said King Hippo.
He and Eggplant Wizard went in after the N‑Team.
“Okay,
Ludwig,” Kevin said. “Now it is just the
two of us, mono e mono.”
“Right,
Captain N. And soon, one mono shall fall.”
As the laser
blades snapped and sizzled outside, MotherBrain made
it to the altar on which Ganon was resting. “Ganon, I got here
as quickly as I could.”
Agahnim ran in, his robes billowing behind
him as he rushed to the altar. “MotherBrain, have you the Triforces?”
Agahnim asked.
“Yes, Agahnim.”
“Then I
shall be able to begin casting the spell that will awaken Ganon.”
Link came
through the doorway. “Not quite, Agahnim.” He fired a
beam from his sword that knocked the three Triforces
out of MotherBrain’s tentacles and onto the floor.
MotherBrain cried out. “Stop him!”
“So, you
wish to be destroyed, eh, Link?” Agahnim asked. “Well, I can make your wish come true.” Agahnim fired a
powerful spell at Link. Link dodged
this.
“Try reflecting
his magic back at him, Link,” Zelda said.
“A good
idea, Zelda, that I was about to try,” Link said. Agahnim fired
another powerful spell at him. This
time, Link struck it with the Master Sword and reflected the magic back at Agahnim, whom it hit.
Agahnim cried out, fell to the floor, and
passed out.
“Agahnim,” cried MotherBrain.
“Give
. . . me . . . the . . . Triforces,”
Ganon grunted.
Ludwig
von(Bowser)Koopa raced into the room. He was firing blasts from his fingers at
Kevin, who dodged them each time. “I am
here Ganon.”
He took all three Triforces before the N‑Team
could grab them, and he handed them to Ganon.
“No!” Zelda
cried.
Ganon awakened and immediately grew big and burly with
piggish laughter. “Thank you, evil
Ludwig.”
“Oh, no,”
said Kevin.
“Link, how
nice to see you again,” said Ganon. “And you have brought your friends for my
coming-out party. Ludwig, let’s toast
these do‑gooding bozos.”
“Nothing
would please me more, Ganon,” Ludwig said with
malevolent laughter. Ganon
and Ludwig fired numerous evil spells at the N‑Team. It was all the team could do to evade the
blasts.
A magical
flame singed Link’s sleeve. “Yaaah!” He managed
to douse the flame. “Ganon’s
power is multiplied greatly with Ludwig von(Bowser)Koopa’s
help.”
“Nothing
can withstand the power of the Triforce,” MotherBrain said. “VideoLand is the Brain-Team’s!” The hall echoed with her laughter.
“Yes, MotherBrain,” Ganon said. “Link, not even the puny Master Sword can
defeat Ludwig and me.” The last time MotherBrain had helped him, he betrayed her. However, he lost against the N‑Team, so
MotherBrain punished him severely and
unpleasantly. Thus, he would obey her
this time.
“That is
what you think,” said Link. “Fire your
best shot, Ganon.”
“He who
dares to defy Ganon shall pay the ultimate
price.” He fired a shot at Link. However, Link reflected it back to Ganon with the Master Sword, and it engulfed the evil
hog. “No! I am defeated!” He shrank back to a small size and fell
asleep on the altar.
Ludwig
von(Bowser)Koopa was infuriated. “So, Link.
You think that you can defeat me with that relic? Not even the mighty Master Sword can defeat
all three Triforces.”
He laughed as he held the Triforces high. They began to glow with his malevolent
intent.
Ludwig von(Spike)Koopa drew and activated his laser saber. “Maybe not, but I have an idea.” He tossed it so that the laser blade hit
Ludwig von(Bowser)Koopa’s leg.
“Yeeowch!” In sheer
pain, Ludwig von(Bowser)Koopa dropped the Triforces.
Before MotherBrain could react, the three royal women rushed
in. Zelda grabbed the Wisdom Triforce, Peach grabbed the Power Triforce,
and Lana grabbed the Courage Triforce. Energy links rejoined the Triforces.
Ludwig
frowned as he saw this. “I think it’s
time to cut and run. Everyone, with
me!” He led a charge to the door, but
the three princesses blocked his way.
The power of the Triforce centralized around
Zelda, who stood in the center with the Wisdom Triforce.
Eggplant
Wizard and King Hippo clung to one another in terror. “Please don’t hurt me,” Eggplant whined.
“I want you
evil-doers out of the Empire of Hyrule,” Zelda
proclaimed. “Now!” Ludwig von(Bowser)Koopa,
MotherBrain, Eggplant Wizard, and King Hippo were
warped to Metroid.
Ganon and Agahnim,
presently unconscious, were laid upon the table.
* * *
Triforce Chamber,
After the Triforces had been restored to their position, Zelda
reactivated the alarm. “We’ll never turn
this off again. Looks like I need to get
Dr. Wright to install a security camera in here.”
Lieutenant
Anderson and Lieutenant Tragg entered. “I hope that we’re not too late,” Tragg said. “We just
barely got out before Ludwig and MotherBrain got
back.”
“You’re
just in time, Tragg and Andy,” Perry said.
“Thank you
all for helping me get back the Triforces from those
renegade evil-doers,” Zelda said.
“Don’t
mention it, Zelda,” Spike said.
“Even
though Bowser was most displeased, Tragg and I
destroyed the cloaking device controls,”
“Good,” said
Kevin.
“I wonder
how Ludwig will react to that,” Peach said.
* * *
Control Room, Metroid.
Back on Metroid, Ludwig was so angry that the air around him
vibrated with menace. He turned to
Eggplant Wizard and King Hippo. “You two pea-brains. Why
did you let the N‑Team escape with the Triforces?”
“It’s not
our fault, Prince Ludwig,” King Hippo
said. “It’s not our fault that we have
no brains.”
“If that
excuse were any less valid, I would destroy both of you.”
“What are
you going to do to us?” asked Eggplant Wizard.
“I would
shock you, but I don’t trust my self-control enough to prevent me from doing
you permanent harm. MotherBrain,
hold me in mid-air behind these fools.”
“My
pleasure, Ludwig, my dear.” She did
so. With his feet, Ludwig kicked
Eggplant Wizard and King Hippo’s rear ends several times.
“The worst
part about this caper is that my bloody cloaking device still does not work right!”
* * *
Courtyard,
A few hours
later, a large audience had gathered in the
“As you all
know, Hyrule seceded just before Ganon
had overtaken the government of the kingdom,” she continued. “The Mushroom World seceded when my father
and Princess Peach’s father, neither of whom is still living in this universe,
deemed it appropriate to keep MotherBrain and King
Bowser apart. That is clearly no longer
possible.
“A couple
of years ago, when Link had recovered the Triforce of
Courage, the reunion of VideoLand with Hyrule took place, but formal reunification did not. Back in July, the reunion of VideoLand with the Mushroom World took place.
“At the moment,
the three lands are separate. The
Mushroom Empire is the largest.
Combined, the Hyrulian Empire and the
“Today, the
“I,
Princess Zelda, rule the
“As ruler
of the
“Thank you,
Princess Lana.”
“In this
matter, I yield my authority to Prince Ludwig von(Spike)Koopa,”
Peach said. “I was ruler only of the
Kingdom of the Mushroom World, and King Spike was ruler only of the Kingdom of
the Good Koopas.
Prince Ludwig is now the chief executive and head of state of both
kingdoms, which now comprise the Mushroom Empire. I now give way to him.”
Prince
Ludwig von(Spike)Koopa came up, revealing the
birthmark on the bottom of his foot in a now-customary fashion. He got used to it quickly because it was the
only clear physical evidence separating him from his evil cousin. “Thank you, Queen Peach. As ruler of the Mushroom Empire, comprised of
the Kingdom of the Mushroom World and the Kingdom of the Good Koopas, the latter of which is comprised of most of the
sixth of the galaxy that the Mushroom World did not control under Queen Peach,
I declare loyalty to Princess Lana of the Kingdom of VideoLand.”
“I accept
the loyalty of the Mushroom Empire,” Princess Lana said. “I endow it with any economic support and military
protection it may require. All citizens
of the Kingdom of the Mushroom World and of the Kingdom of the Good Koopas are now citizens of the
“Thank you,
Princess,” Prince Ludwig von(Spike)Koopa said.
“The
reunification is complete,” Lana said.
“This meeting is adjourned.”