The Mushroom Kingdom Wars

Chapter 11

In the dimly lit war room of Bowser's Castle, the atmosphere was thick with tension, the air heavy with frustration and disbelief. Flickering torches cast dancing shadows on the cold stone walls, illuminating the long table that had seen many strategic discussions and many more failed plans. Mario paced furiously, his fists clenched tightly, his face flushed with anger.

“Ganondorf, explain to me how in the world you ran when the warp zone was right there! We could’ve taken it! You had them on the ropes!” Mario shouted, his voice echoing off the stone walls.

Ganondorf lounged in his chair, arms crossed over his chest, utterly unfazed by Mario's outburst. His glowing red eyes regarded the plumber with an air of condescension, the corners of his mouth twisting into a smirk. “I didn’t run, Mario. I withdrew. There’s a difference,” he replied slowly, deliberately. He leaned forward slightly, his tone almost mocking. “In case you missed it, we were up against a blue robot with an arm cannon aimed directly at me. I am many things, but reckless is not one of them.”

Mario slammed his fist onto the table, making the stone shudder under the impact. “It was just Mega Man! He’s a machine—he's not invincible!”

Before Ganondorf could retort, Dr. Wily, who had been listening quietly with an amused smirk, leaned in, adjusting his glasses. “Actually, Mario, Ganondorf has a point. Mega Man wasn’t bluffing. But”—he held up a finger—“what you fail to understand is that Mega Man follows the laws of robotics. He cannot, under any circumstances, directly harm a human. It’s the first law built into his programming.” Wily’s smirk widened. “Of course, my Robot Masters no longer have that limitation.”

Ganondorf rolled his eyes, his tone dripping with disdain. “And I was supposed to care about some silly machine rules? The ‘blue pest’ was aiming that cannon right at me, laws or not.”

Mario’s fists tightened, his anger boiling over. “I don’t care about laws, Ganondorf! We had them on the ropes, and you ran! You’re telling me you let a robot scare you off because of some programming detail?”

Bowser, sitting at the head of the table with arms crossed and a scowl etched onto his face, spoke up gruffly, “Then why were Gutsman and Snakeman afraid? They're robots. They should’ve fought.”

All eyes turned toward Gutsman, who shifted uncomfortably under Bowser’s glare. The hulking robot rubbed the back of his head, looking almost sheepish. “Look, it’s not that simple. Mega Man's beaten me... multiple times. Every time I see that charging light on his arm, I know what’s coming. I’ve been scrapped and rebuilt more times than I care to count. You’d be nervous too.”

Snakeman nodded in agreement, his voice shaky. “Yeah... and it's not just him. That Proto Man and Bass showing up didn’t help either. That trio's wiped the floor with Wily’s forces more times than we can count.”

Dr. Wily scowled, his pride wounded. “That’s enough from both of you! Mega Man may have beaten you before, but you were rebuilt to be stronger. Now pull yourselves together!”

Ganondorf, arms crossed again and oozing smugness, replied, “Regardless, retreat was the most tactical decision. We’re not here to waste resources or get scrapped in vain. We’ll hit them again when the time is right.”

Bowser’s fists clenched as he glared at the group, his fiery eyes narrowing. “Peach’s forces now have Dr. Light’s technology protecting the warp zones. They’ve reinforced their defenses. It won’t be as easy next time.”

Suddenly, the lights in the room flickered ominously. All heads turned toward the large screens at the end of the table. The image on the displays shifted, revealing a strange new symbol: a round head with a large curled mustache.

The group fell silent, confusion settling in like a dense fog. Ganondorf raised an eyebrow, Bowser leaned forward with a growl, and Mario stared at the screen, fists still clenched in anticipation.

“Who’s this? Show yourself!” Mario demanded, his voice a low snarl.

The voice that echoed through the chamber was dark and mocking. “Patience. You lot may have numbers, but you're clearly in over your heads. You think Dr. Light’s shields are impenetrable? Ha! I can break them.”

The group exchanged wary glances, unease creeping in. Wily frowned, eyes narrowing. “And who exactly are you supposed to be?”

As if in response, a golden ring-shaped portal materialized in the center of the room, humming with strange energy. From it stepped a rotund figure clad in a red and black uniform, goggles perched on his bald head, and a sharp, twisted mustache curling upward.

“Allow me to introduce myself. I am Dr. Ivo Robotnik... but you can call me Eggman,” he announced with a flamboyant flourish. Adjusting his goggles, he eyed them all with a gleam of arrogance. “I believe we have some common goals.”

Wily scowled at the newcomer but remained silent, clearly trying to gauge him. Bowser crossed his arms, unimpressed. “You talk big. Why should we believe you can do any better than what we’ve already got?”

Robotnik's grin only widened. “Because while you’re focused on brute strength, I’ve built machines capable of bypassing the very defenses that keep you out. Dr. Light’s shields? Child’s play for someone like me. I’ve done this before in my world, and I can do it again here.”

Mario clenched his fists tighter, feeling the anger bubbling just beneath the surface. “Let’s say we accept your help. What’s in it for you?”

Robotnik’s voice dropped low and menacing. “All I want is to see them fall—Peach, her kingdom, Hyrule, all of them. In return, I ask for control over this world’s technology and infrastructure once it’s under your rule.” His grin widened, revealing his true ambitions. “Imagine what I could build with your resources.”

Ganondorf leaned forward with a dark smile. “I think... I like this proposition.”

Mario, still hesitant, looked from Bowser to Ganondorf, trying to gauge their reactions. “Fine. But make sure you can back up your claims, Eggman. We don’t have time for empty promises.”

Robotnik's grin widened, a gleam of malice dancing in his eyes. “Oh, don’t worry, Mario. You’ll find I’m quite... reliable when it comes to destroying my enemies.”

With that, the alliance was strengthened by a new, dangerous player. The air crackled with unspoken possibilities, and though uneasy, they all knew one undeniable truth: this war was about to escalate far beyond anything they had imagined. The balance of power had shifted, and the shadows of alliances loomed large over the Mushroom Kingdom, Hyrule, and beyond.

In the darkness of Bowser's Castle, a new chapter in their conflict had begun—one that would reshape their worlds in ways they could scarcely predict.