Unwritten: Diary of a Lean Green Plumber

Never Forget

11 September 2001

MK

Dear Diary,

Today started as an ordinary morning. An ordinary Tuesday morning on the cusp of autumn in the Mushroom Kingdom. Mario and I still had our senses on high alert, because as I've said before, this was one of Koopa's invading days. We were expecting to see his airships on the horizon. We were expecting to see him make some dramatic entrance on the castle grounds to grab Peach. We were expecting the start of another adrenaline-packed journey through eight worlds, culminating in a climactic battle on the bridge. And then Peach would greet us, barefoot and with barely a hair out of place (though we knew why), and then her Toad retainers would take us all back to her castle, and the MK would celebrate and hail Mario as a hero while I graciously smiled on. That was the only disturbance Mario and I were expecting today.

But not this. Not this.

Mario and I woke up at around 6:30a.m. Fifteen minutes later, Peach invited us to her castle, and we accepted. We knew that she was also anticipating Koopa's "visit". So, we dressed and hopped down the Warp Pipe to Peach's Castle. A group of Toads waited for us there.

We walked inside, where we were greeted by both Peach and Daisy. Breakfast was still being prepared, so we all sat around the TV, sipping mimosas and making small talk. Yoshi showed up about five minutes later, apologized for being late and made himself comfortable. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mario stiffen every time we heard a "thud", as it could be one of Koopa's cannonballs. It was actually coming from the kitchen, but still.

Around 7:15a.m., breakfast was ready. We all sat around a circular table in the banquet hall, watching as plates piled high with sausage, hash browns, French toast and pancakes were brought out and set in front of us. As we dug in, another Toad passed out slips of paper and pens, so we could have omelets cooked to order. The omelets came out at 7:45a.m., nice and piping hot.

Breakfast concluded with—what else—cake! A variety of cakes, with tea or milk to wash them down. The cakes were brought out at approximately 8a.m. Shortly thereafter, the remnants of our breakfast were cleared away, and we all sat with our cake and beverages, discussing local happenings.

A quiet, ordinary Tuesday morning, and not a single airship or Koopa Troopa in sight.

"We like quiet," a morning talk show host was saying, "but not TOO quiet..."

Too quiet? I preferred this over the cacophony of Koopa's invasions. There was a light breeze blowing, and distant car horns as people headed to work, but other than that, everything was still. Mario and I still had our guard up, though.

Eventually, Mario, Peach, Daisy and I went to a room away from the TV so we could talk in private. Yoshi went outside for his morning exercise. We heard the Toads bustling about the castle, cleaning up the kitchen. I think some were also preparing for a Koopa visit. I was a bit worried about Daisy's presence, but she assured me that she'd fight off that turtle; she wasn't afraid of him. She was a tomboy through and through.

At 8:50a.m., a Yellow Toad burst into the room, looking pale. "Mario—Luigi—I—I think you two need to see this," he said.

"Koopa?" asked Mario.

"No," said the Yellow Toad. "It's much worse!"