Paper Mario: Destruction of the World
by Sonic 2 and Luigi Number 1

Authors' Notes: Hello, and welcome to this story! : )Thanks for viewing! We'd just like to say a couple things before we begin. First of all, this story takes place after Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, so if you haven't completed it, read at your own risk; there are some spoilers. Second of all, Sonic 2 has a word to say: "PLEASE review!"

Disclaimer: All characters, except Exxohman, belong to Nintendo and so does the Paper Mario franchise and some concepts related to Paper Mario (such as the X-Nauts, etc.). The plot of this fanfic, however, was thought up by Sonic 2, and we will both be highly offended if you copy off of this fanfic or use any of Sonic 2's characters without permission.

One Last Authors' Note: If you're a little confused about who's writing what, let me explain. Sonic 2, my little brother, thought up the plot, and will continue to make up most of the things that happen. He tells me what happens, and I write it down--Sonic 2 is the plot-maker and I'm the writer. So, basically, it's a collaborative effort. Now, on with the story!

Chapter 1: A Note and a Plan

It was a nice day in Princess Peach's Castle, which was located in the north side of Toad Town. Everybody was in a good mood, and the daily duties were going right on schedule.

Princess Peach was in her room (the make-up part of it), looking at herself in the mirror. Her personal servant, named Toad T., was watering the various flowers in her room.

"Toad T.?" said Peach, after she had finished brushing her hair and was checking herself over in the mirror. "I'm gonna spend some time outside, ok? I'll be back soon."

"Ok, Princess!" Toad T. replied cheerily.

Peach left her room, and entered the second level of the castle. The black-and-white checked floor had been freshly polished, and other Toad servants scurried around, finishing up their morning duties. Peach addressed the toad who was guarding her room. "I'm going to be outside; I won't be gone long."

"Acknowledged, Your Majesty," said the toad with a smile.

Peach raised her voice so all the servants could hear her. "The castle is looking splendid today! I really appreciate your commitment. Keep up the good work!"

With that, she entered the door to the first floor. Descending the staircase, she caught Tayce T., who was now working as the castle cook, as she was hurrying by. "Will lunch be ready soon, Tayce T.?" asked the Princess.

"Oh, yes, it's going very well, dear," replied the toad chef. "Expect it to be ready shortly!"

"Excellent!" said Peach. "I'll let you carry on."

Tayce T. hurried off to the kitchen.

Peach walked to the double-door entrance, and stepped outside. The two guards who were on duty greeted her. "Beautiful day, isn't it, Your Highness?"

"Off for a stroll, Your Majesty?"

"Yes and yes; it's a gorgeous day, and I am taking a little outing," Peach replied. "Expect me back soon!"

The first guard winked. "You got it, Your Princess-ness!"

The other guard called to her as she walked away, "Have a nice outing!"

Peach headed around to the back of her castle to her place in the Garden. She loved her garden because it was away from all the hustle and bustle of the castle--one of her favorite things to do was to spend time in it among the beautiful, multi-colored flowers, where it was serene and quiet. Today it will be especially nice because of all the sunshine, she thought happily as she glanced up at the cloudless, blue skies. She opened the small gate that led to her garden, and shut it behind her as she went in.

After a while, Peach decided it was time to leave. She had many things to do in the day, and she knew she couldn't be idle for too long. As she stepped outside, and turned to close the gate behind her, a shadow fell across her. The last thing she saw was a dark image , then she was knocked unconscious.

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When Peach awoke, she was in a small, square room built out of metal bricks, and there seemed to be no way out--there wasn't even a door! Where... am... I? As Peach sat up, she felt her head throb faintly. The last thing I remember was... waking up, and then going to my garden. How did I get here? What's going on?! It was then that she noticed a piece of paper laying on the floor. Curious, and because there was nothing else to do, she picked it up. This is what it said:

"Go to the wall this paper is facing, and pull on the third brick up on the right side of the wall."

Well, there's nothing else I can do, she reasoned.The Princess stood up, and walked to the wall the paper had been laying closest to. She saw that the brick the letter had said to pull stuck out a little from the rest of the bricks. With a little effort, she managed to pull it out.

She peered through the hole where the brick had been, and saw a long, wide room. There was something vaguely familiar about it... But what? Then, it came to her--this was the same room that Grodus had always dwelled in! Yes, there was the control panel, with the two double-doors on the other side! Peach's head cleared more, and the throbbing decreased. On the far side of the room was a throne, with lots of henchmen lined on either side of it. She gasped in shock: on the throne sat none other than Bowser!

Peach quickly drew back from the hole, hoping the Koopa King hadn't noticed her. Bowser! What is he doing here?! I thought this place had been destroyed after that ordeal with Grodus and the X-Nauts... He must've rebuilt it... but why? And why am I here? Who brought me here?

Peach took another look through the small, rectangular hole in the paper walls. Bowser sat in silence with a grumpy expression on his face, drumming his claws on the throne armrest. His chin was resting on his other paw. He hasn't seemed to notice me yet... Does he even know I'm here?

She looked over the lines of Goomba's, Koopa's, and Magikoopa's. She was surprised when she noticed an X-Naut standing among them. A traitor of Grodus?

The Koopa King began to speak. Peach listened eagerly, hoping that she'd hear something about his plans. "Attention, all henchmen--tonight, our plan has begun. I will allow Exxohman, second-in-command, to explain the plan. So you better listen!" His impatient growl echoed around the room. His followers stood to attention. He's obviously not in a good mood, thought Peach.

The X-Naut Peach had seen earlier stepped forward from the ranks of henchmen. Peach assumed he was Exxohman. "The Orb we obtained will destroy Earth in thirty days. Now, as you all know, we are safe here on the moon, in what used to be Grodus's secret base. But we repaired it-"

Bowser interrupted, trying to suppress his impatience. He spoke through clenched teeth. "They already know where we are--just get to the point."

"I was just explaining the point," said Exxohman. Then he quickly added, "Sir."

"Just go on!" Bowser roared.

Exxohman did. "Bowser just recently re-progammed TEC and made sure he wouldn't betray us. TEC is giving energy to the Orb. And, in thirty days, the Orb should have enough energy to destroy the earth!"

Oh, no! I have to get out of here and warn Mario! Peach thought desperately. She looked around the small, square room again, hoping to find a way out that she hadn't noticed before, or another note--anything! But she noticed nothing.

Frustrated, she turned back to the hole in the wall. The henchmen were all cheering loudly. They're probably scared not to cheer..., the Princess thought. I don't blame them. Who knows what that beast will do when he's in a mood like this?

Suddenly, Bowser noticed the hole from the brick Peach had removed. Growling angrily, he stood up, and walked down the steps, shoving the cheering guards out of his way. "Move it, you fools!"

Peach knew she had been noticed. She leaned up against the wall to the right of the hole. She was unaware that Bowser held a bottle of sleeping gas in his large claws.

Quick as a flash, Bowser uncorked the bottle and threw it through the hole the removed brick had left. He shouted at the guards, "Get outta here, all of you, unless you want to be knocked out by the gas!"

The henchmen, with Bowser following behind them, scurried for the door, and in no time, the room was empty.

Green gas came from the opened bottle in the small room Peach had been spying in. The gas filled her lungs, and she coughed. Her vision started going black around the edges. Her last thought was, No, no, I don't want to go unconscious again! Then she collapsed on the floor.

To be continued...