25m Distance Between Us

The Princess and the Showgirl

Mario had just arrived in New Donk City when people were in a sense of panic.

The red-clad plumber managed to grab a running man by his jacket, and turned him around to talk.

"What's-a going on here?" the Mustachioed wonder asked in sheer concern.

"GIANT TURTLE DRAGON! RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!" The man cried as he escaped Mario's grip and continued on his flurry of panic.

Mario knew all too well as to who it could be. As odd as it would seem, after how much time has passed, the first thought that came to the small Italian plumber's mind was Pauline's whereabouts. He worried whether or not she was in the City to begin with, or if Bowser had somehow found out about her and attempted her life to spite him.

Or, worst-case scenario, Pauline would have opened her mouth and gotten herself in trouble, as she was always the headstrong type. Would Bowser kill her? Maybe not in front of Peach. Would Pauline maybe have slept in this morning and not have left her apartment? Does she even live in the same apartment?

So many conflicting thoughts and concerns flying through poor Mario's head. He had to sit down on a bench, very much unlike his usual self. When he collected his thoughts, the objective returned: save Princess Peach and enjoy a nice slice of cake afterwards, and never return to old New Donk City again.

Honestly, he preferred the Mushroom Kingdom. When it wasn't being invaded, it was far more peaceful than New Donk City.

Mario stood up quickly and continued to parkour his way through the bustling city, leaping off peoples' cars and ignoring the agitated drivers screaming at him to "fuck himself" and making obscene gestures with their hands and arm. He swung on lampposts and made his way onto the sides of the buildings, and that was when it caught his eye; it was unmistakable.

A flying battleship with Bowser's hideous face on it. Leaving from the direction of the Town Hall, where people were fleeing by the dozens. The Airship caught sight of Mario, seemingly, as a barrage of Bullet Bills rained down towards the plumber.

Mario quickly ran around the other side of the building, still on the ledge, as windows were blown to bits by the Bullet Bills. His foot slipped and he fell of the 7th story. The situation escalated almost immediately, as another Bullet Bill came straight down for him, and he had nowhere to go to avoid it.

Mario gripped his hat, and in an act of desperation, tried the technique that the Hat spirit creature told him about before arrival; he threw it onto the oncoming Bullet Bill, and somehow found himself in the air again. He then figured out that he had just become the Bullet Bill.

He flew around towards the Town Hall and flipped himself to angle Bowser's Airship and immediately released his hold over the Bullet, causing it to continue on its trajectory right into the ship, blowing the side of it.

The ship was rattled, and Pauline was almost tossed over in the Cargo hold.

This was getting ridiculous. The angry brunette stood back up, and aftershock sent her back on her ass. A loud rip was heard, and she noticed that her left sleeve had been torn wide open.

"Fuck!" Pauline cursed in rage. "This blouse cost me an arm, a leg, and a tit, and now it's ruined! Oooh, that turtle is going to pay for this!"

"It's easier to cope with it if you don't think about it." came a voice.

Princess Peach was in the back of the cargo hold, locked in a cage like a songbird.

Pauline was disgusted by this. The ship stabilized in its flight once again, and she up and walked over to the captive Princess in her gilded prison.