The Mushroom Kingdom Wars

Chapter 28

The dimly lit throne room in Bowser’s castle was thick with tension. Flames flickered in sconces along the stone walls, casting eerie shadows that danced across the faces of the assembled villains. While Ganondorf paced furiously and Andross’s hologram sputtered above the table, Dr. Robotnik stood off to the side, his focus entirely on the small device in his hand.

His goggles reflected the data streaming across the screen—scans he had taken during the battle near Peach’s Castle. He muttered to himself, intrigued by an anomaly he had detected: a massive power signature deep beneath the castle. The energy readings were unlike anything he had encountered in this dimension, a source that could potentially tip the balance of the entire war. But its exact nature remained a mystery, one he intended to solve.

As Ganondorf’s boots echoed loudly against the stone floor, Robotnik’s focus shifted back to the room. He glanced up, tucking the device into his coat, saving his findings for later.

“This was not the deal, Bowser!” Ganondorf snarled, his voice cutting through the room like a blade. “We agreed to serve Mario, not you. You think I would have ever joined this ridiculous alliance if I knew I’d be following you?”

Andross’s hologram flared with flickering light, his mechanical face contorted in anger. “Bowser, you have undermined everything we’ve worked for! Mario was the lynchpin in this entire plan. We were supposed to use him to solidify our power, and you’ve gone and turned him into a puppet! Now, thanks to your arrogance, Mario is dead!”

Bowser, sitting on his throne, leaned back with a smug grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. He twirled a clawed hand nonchalantly, seemingly unbothered by their accusations. “Dead? Maybe. But it was my plan that brought us this far! I was the one who figured out how to use Mario, to twist him into our weapon. Mario was never going to win this war. I am the one winning it.”

Ganondorf’s eyes flashed dangerously as he halted his pacing, fists clenched tightly. “You think this is winning? You’ve turned Mario into a corpse instead of the force we needed! We joined this alliance because we believed in Mario’s potential for conquest, not because of your delusions of grandeur!”

Andross’s hologram flickered again as he leaned closer to the camera, his metallic face snarling with frustration. “I wouldn’t have joined this farce if I had known I’d be following a buffoon like you, Bowser! You’ve failed so many times before, and now you’ve lost the greatest asset we had. What happens when your luck runs out, hmm?”

Bowser’s smirk faded slightly as he straightened in his throne, his fiery gaze locking onto his so-called allies. “You think this was luck? You underestimate me, Ganondorf. You too, Andross. It was my ingenuity, my planning that brought us to this point. Without me, we wouldn’t be on the brink of victory. It was me who figured out how to break Mario, and now look where we are—poised to crush the Mushroom Kingdom and anyone else who dares stand in our way.”

Ganondorf’s lip curled in disgust as he crossed his arms. “And let’s not forget, we could have taken Peach’s Castle already! Your decision to withdraw was nothing short of foolish—a complete waste of time! We had the upper hand, but you let them regroup. You threw away our chance for an easy victory, and now you sit there as if this was part of some grand strategy.”

Bowser leaned forward on his throne, the smug grin fading as he met Ganondorf’s furious gaze. “You don’t get it, do you? The castle wasn’t the prize, Ganondorf. If we had taken it, the fight would have dragged on, and our forces would have been spread too thin. You think I’m just after a few walls and towers? My eyes are on the bigger picture.”

Ganondorf’s lip curled further in disgust. “The bigger picture? What bigger picture, Bowser? Letting them prepare their defenses while you sit back and gloat?”

Bowser slammed his fist on the armrest of his throne. “No. It was about luring them into a false sense of security. By leaving the castle intact, they think they’ve won a small victory, that they’ve bought themselves time. But in reality, I’ve set the stage for their downfall. They’ll gather their forces, walk right into my trap, and by the time they realize what’s happening, it’ll be too late.”

Ganondorf’s eyes narrowed, clearly unconvinced. “A risky gamble. One that could cost us the war if you’re wrong.”

Bowser sneered, leaning back again. “I’ve been at this game longer than you. You may have conquered kingdoms, but I know how to break the Mushroom Kingdom. Trust me, when the time comes, they’ll fall right into our hands.”

Ganondorf’s mind lingered on the future. He was no fool—this alliance was a means to an end, but once Bowser failed, he would seize control. He wouldn’t let a brute like Bowser lead him into ruin. His eyes narrowed further, but he remained silent.

Andross’s hologram flickered as he interjected with frustration. “Bowser, you’ve lost the greatest weapon we had—Mario! What happens when your luck runs out?”

Bowser grinned coldly. “I haven’t lost anything. We’ve thrown the Mushroom Kingdom into chaos, crushed Mario, and united the most powerful forces in the world under one banner—my banner!”

The tension between them was thick, the air crackling with animosity. The alliance, though powerful, was fragile—held together only by the promise of shared power. As they stared each other down, it was clear that this uneasy partnership could crumble at any moment.

Suddenly, Dr. Robotnik’s voice cut through the tension with a gleeful chuckle as he stepped forward, no longer preoccupied with the scans he had been reviewing. His expression was full of smug satisfaction. “Ah, Bowser! Ganondorf! Andross! Now, now, no need to squabble like children. Bowser may have a point—look at where we are! We’ve done more in this alliance than any of us could have alone. And let’s not forget it’s thanks to my Robot Masters that we have this much firepower to begin with!”

Ganondorf’s gaze flickered toward Robotnik, his expression unreadable. “Your enhanced Robot Masters better be as powerful as you claim, Robotnik. If they fail, this war could tip against us.”

Robotnik waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, please! My creations are unstoppable. In fact, I’m sending them to the Kong Kingdom as we speak for a little test run. Consider it a trial by fire if you will. Once the Kongs fall, we’ll see who’s truly in control.”

Bowser grinned wickedly, the tension between him and his allies momentarily forgotten. “Good. Crush the Kongs, and then we’ll be one step closer to complete domination.”

Ganondorf watched the exchange, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Just don’t get too comfortable, Bowser. We may be allies now, but if you fail, I will not hesitate to take control. Don’t forget that.”

Bowser smirked, dismissing the threat with a wave of his claw. “Don’t worry about me, Ganondorf. I’ve got this under control. Soon, the Mushroom Kingdom and the Kong Kingdom will be mine, and there won’t be anyone left to stop us.”

As Bowser’s voice echoed through the chamber, the sound of marching troops rumbled from deep within the castle. His forces were preparing for an all-out assault on the Kong Kingdom, their weapons gleaming in the dim light as they readied for war. Robotnik grinned to himself. This would be more than just a test of his Robot Masters—it would be a declaration of power. If they could crush the Kongs, they could crush anyone.

Bowser leaned back in his throne, letting their words bounce off him. Let them doubt him. He’d prove them wrong when the kingdoms lay at his feet.

The villains may have been united for now, but the cracks in their alliance were beginning to show. And as they marched toward their next conquest, the question lingered—how long could this fragile unity truly last