Super Mario Brothers: Epidemic

(A/N: It's been a long time since I last did a Mario story, and I have a request from one person still pending from a year or two, or three, ago. For that I'm sorry, both to the reader and to the people who liked my stories. I'll try to fit that request into this one. It's sort of a darker take than usually do, but then my last Mario story was darker as well, so it's not a huge shocker. I link all my Mario stories so this is a continuation. I might go back, someday, to the last three I did and make some majorly needed corrections to them. I've developed quite a bit as a writer since I started writing on Fan Fiction, my first ever story being Super Mario Galaxy: Reach for the Stars. Anyway, a lot of my older stories need revamping.

This one will be labelled horror, but it's not the kind of horror you're used to reading with other writers on this site doing Mario slasher type things. For instance, I cut out gore for the sake of character development and story progression, so this will likely move way slower than most other zombie/slasher Mario stories on this site, though there are a few that aren't gore and death driven. There will be people 'dying' in this yes; however, seeing as I'm going for a series like continuation with this, and always have, the chances they'll stay dead forever are low. Other than that, it's pretty well still a 'who will survive who will die' feel. I've always wanted to read a horror where a certain group of four lives to the end, or even a different certain group of eight or nine, but haven't found one as of yet. So here I am, attempting to make one. Anyway, it's sort of a practice in a way. Those of you who have read previous Mario stories of mine probably will have a good idea as to who will survive the longest and who won't, though to be honest a lot of the characters I really like and work with will end up falling pretty early on. Anyway, I hope you enjoy.)

The Infected

The Mushroom Kingdom was quiet. Shops were closed left, right, and center. Hardly anyone could be seen milling about on the streets. If they were out for any reason it was to buy medicine for themselves or loved ones. Warning was flying around about an outbreak. The hospitals were packed, overflowing even. Peach was at a loss. It had only been a week since the Mario Kart race when it had all started. She sighed in frustration and looked to the blank sheets of paper on her desk. She went to them. For a moment she observed, then her eyes became resolved and she sat, picking up a quill. It was time to write to her friends. Surely some remnant remained alive and uninfected. If this was so, she wanted them near to her; preferably in her palace where they could be protected.

SMB

Luigi stood under the brown sky, eyes closed. Suddenly he opened them and said, "So we meet again… Waluigi."

Waluigi's eyes opened slowly and he evilly chuckled, eyes glowing a wicked purple. "Luigi, you're a getting in over your head."

"Let's end this," Luigi challenged, leaning forward.

"Gladly!" Waluigi shot. There was a tense pause then suddenly the two sprang! They rolled on the ground fighting and insulting each other until suddenly they heard a car horn being blared! They looked up from the battle in time to cry out in alarm and cling to each other, eyes shut as it bore down on them.

To their surprise, they only felt wind as the car blew right by. Angrily the driver shouted, "Get off the road!" Luigi and Waluigi managed to open their eyes and look blankly after it as it went down the hill into the lower part of the suburban area. The two then noticed they were holding each other and let go in horror, brushing themselves off.

They rose, looking out over the empty land, feeling the muggy air pressing down on them beneath the dusty and sickly looking, sky. Not even the clouds were smiling anymore, and that was saying something. They were, in fact, shades of black, red, grey, and brown, not even a fluffy white anymore. In the distance stood the silhouette of the palace. Luigi frowned. They hadn't seen anyone from there since the Mario Kart race a little over a week ago. In fact, Daisy hadn't even visited yet, which was odd because though she had a kingdom to run herself, she made it a point to visit at least once every week. He couldn't understand it. Unless her father ordered her to stay in Sarasaland… but why would he do that? Rosalina hadn't made an appearance either, and Mona's absence from Wario Ware in Diamond City was definitely getting on Wario's nerves.

Waluigi began grumbling. He had been more restless, rebellious, quiet, and distant than usual after a fight with Rosalina at the tracks, Luigi knew. Rosalina who had sharply and mercilessly put him in his place while somehow still managing to remain sounding sympathetic yet monotonous, after the purple clad man had attempted to drown Luigi in a fountain. The oddities occurring now were making it steadily worse. Currently the cousins were gathered at Mario's house. Now that would normally never ever happen in a million years unless some dire life-threatening situation manifested itself, but with so many strange things going on… Let's just say it was a hint of normality in a world they hardly even knew anymore. Diamond City had been unusually quiet as well. So had Kong Island, Bean Kingdom, the Darklands, and any other lands that they'd ever heard of. Reports were pouring in from everywhere. This pandemic had gone global.

The sky began to darken. Luigi's smirk fell. It was getting darker and darker, and was that a twinge of blood red he was seeing? He didn't like it, he didn't trust it. It frightened him and made everyone else uneasy. When animals began fleeing you knew something was wrong, and pets had been going missing steadily. The wildlife was virtually nonexistent anymore. They heard a crow cawing darkly and looked up at an oak tree. Both younger men shivered. That oak used to be the most beautiful tree in Toad Town. Now it was the single most terrifying thing around. The crow glared at them and they paled. Its eyes were red! They'd come to learn quickly enough that red was the sign of the virus, or whatever it was spreading throughout their world.

Waluigi paused mid-grumble to stare open mouthed as a large dog limped out of the woods, growling and foaming at the mouth! It had gone missing only yesterday. There had been posters posted everywhere asking if anyone had seen it. Luigi was shaking now. The green clad plumber could hardly gasp before the dog began to viciously bark and charge at them! "Wa!" Waluigi exclaimed in shock.

"Run!" Luigi cried out in terror. The two exchanged glances then tore down the hill towards Mario and Luigi's!

SMB

Mario and Wario, meanwhile, were standing outside of the house. Right now Mario and Wario were working on Wario's bike and Mario's car. Mario was scratching the back of his head looking puzzled while Wario bent over the car's engine looking intent yet still confused. Finally he smiled, chuckled, did some quick work, then stood up straight slamming down the lid and wiping his hands on a cloth. A satisfied grin spread across his face as Mario looked on in shock. He had to give his rival credit. When it came to mechanics, Wario completely lost his stupidity persona and in fact showed degrees of brilliance. Perhaps he would even dare say genius. His yellow hatted rival may have played the idiot in most regards, but this type of work and treasure hunting was his element. When properly motivated, Wario showed the true extent of his mental capacities.

Suddenly the two heard their brothers' screams and sharply looked in the direction of the voices, instantly alert. "Mario, Wario!" the two were crying out in terror as they raced up to them.

"What's-a going on here?" Wario wondered.

"It looks important," Mario replied, though he was at as much of a loss as Wario was.

"Mario!" Luigi exclaimed as he and Waluigi slid to a halt. "B-big dog, infected, foaming, chasing!"

"There it is!" Waluigi cried out, pointing back.

"Mama Mia!" Mario exclaimed. Sure enough there, racing towards them, was a huge dog!

"Oh no," Wario said. "We can't-a even get a vacation?" They braced themselves when suddenly soldier toads swept in from nowhere, dropping a cage on the beast. The four cried out in terror. Wait, the Toad soldiers? The military? They felt sick suddenly. Peach never sent them out, ever, unless the situation was truly dire. What did the girl know that they didn't?

SMB

"What's-a going on here?" Mario asked.

"Princess's orders, Mario. Curfew is in effect, soldiers have been given almost complete authority over everything. Diamond city has been under control of the military for some time already. The beans are reacting the same, and the Yoshi's and the Kong's. Sarasaland is under martial law as well," the toad declared gravely.

"M-m-martial law?" Luigi tightly asked.

"Within reason," the toad confirmed solemnly. "This outbreak… it's worse than you know. People are going crazy and attacking others, limping like… like they're in a trance. Like they're dead but not. No one's died, Mario, no one! They're just… semi-dead? If that makes sense."

"The undead," Waluigi eerily said, trying to freak out a now cowering Luigi. Luigi groaned and pulled his hat over his eyes, shrinking behind Mario. Mario shot Waluigi a warning look.

"The thing is spreading through… through bites, Mario, bites! They bite and scratch and claw until their victim is near dead. Then they stop, and the person rises again, one of them," the toad said, shaking more and more; which was sad considering he was the head of the soldiers. "There's no mercy, no mercy! Anyone even thought to be infected is to be quarantined until something's figured out. The ones who are already turned… We don't want to kill them, Mario, but if this keeps up, we might have to. The infected are beginning to kill off people too.

SMB

Wario looked nervous now, thinking back to Diamond City and all his employees. Professor Crygor would have the common sense to shut down should anything happen, he knew, but still… "Waluigi, we're a going to Diamond City," he suddenly declared.

"You're leaving?" Mario asked in surprised.

"Not a good idea. Road blocks everywhere. You should stay together," the toad stated firmly. "It's like this in all the movies! If you separate, you pay for it."

"Oh please. What's-a gonna happen?" Waluigi demanded.

"But Waluigi, Wario…" Luigi began. The two ignored and hopped onto Wario's bike, Waluigi settling into the side cart.

"We need to go get Mona," Wario declared. Waluigi cringed and shrunk down. That meant possibly facing Rosalina, whom Mona would have likely been in close contact with over this last week. It left an unsettling feeling in his stomach. He didn't like it. It made him incredibly depressed. He didn't trust depression, especially after seeing its effects on his rival. In fact, he'd even admit the thought frightened him. Why didn't it terrify his cousin, he wondered? It should. Anyway, suffice it to say he disdained the very notion of having to speak to that Cosmic Queen. They weren't on good terms since the Kart race.

"I… wouldn't advise it," the toad said.

"Why not?" Wario demanded angrily.

"Because the infection's spreading through Diamond City faster than you could believe," the toad timidly admitted. "This Mona you're looking for, she's probably already gone. The infection works fast. Tayce T., in Princess Toadstool's castle, hasn't woken up for days. Not since Toadsworth bit her and she fainted. She's been quarantined." Wario visibly blanched. Mario looked sick. Toadsworth? No… What had happened? Come to think of it, though, at the race Toadsworth had mentioned being bitten by feral rats.

"No!" Luigi exclaimed.

"That's not the worst. Princess—or is it Queen?—Rosalina's friend Polari, the chocolate luma, he had bite marks on him, but he didn't fess up. Or he wouldn't. He disappeared, fled. Rosalina… she's afraid he may have gone to the observatory and that he infected the lumas accidentally," the toad General declared. "Rosalina went after him to check on her lumas and never came back.

"We're going home, now," Wario stated.

"Mona or no Mona," Waluigi firmly stated, glaring at his brother. Wario looked ready to protest, but finally he looked away and closed his eyes, starting the bike. Without a word more he drove off.

SMB

"G-guys…" Luigi stammered after them, reaching out helplessly though he knew they wouldn't respond. Quickly turning to Mario he exclaimed, "Mario, Peach is still in her castle, and Daisy is still in Sarasaland!"

"There has to be a way to get in to see Princess Peach!" Mario pled with the Captain of the guard. If anyone had tabs on the rest of their friends, it was her.

"No, Mario. Anyone trying to enter will be killed," the toad exclaimed in alarm.

"We-we need to contact our friends. We have to see if they're all right," Mario tightly declared.

"You can forget about the Bean Kingdom," a toad lieutenant suddenly said, getting off a radio. "It's all over. Everyone's gone. The military has failed. Same with the Darklands. There's… there's nothing. All infected. And the royal family has disappeared into thin air."

"Typical of Bowser to run away during a time of crisis," Mario bitterly said.

"Mario, he has eight children to worry about protecting," Luigi defended.

"It was probably them," Mario stated. "They have to have done this."

"I don't think this is something even Bowser would do on purpose," Luigi argued. Mario paused and looked from Luigi to the toads and back. Bowing his head he turned without a word and went back into the house. Luigi cringed and followed, apologetically dismissing the soldiers. Curfew was in effect in about five minutes anyway.

SMB

Luigi cautiously approached his brother. He knew this Mario all too well. This was his helpless persona. The one he had when there was absolutely nothing he could do for anyone he loved. "I can't believe how fast everything went to… you know," Mario remarked, looking out the window numbly. "Right under our noses… We didn't even notice. Now it's too late."

"Come on bro, it's never too late for the Mario brothers," Luigi argued, trying to be optimistic. Usually he could switch between optimist and pessimist on a dime, at least he told himself so, but now that was proving to be incredibly difficult.

"Luigi, what are we supposed to do?" Mario asked. Luigi stared out the window at the darkening streets. They heard moaning and groaning from next door. They heard screams some doors down and shots from the soldiers.

Luigi cringed and replied hollowly, any hint of optimism gone, "Board up the windows and bolt the doors?" Mario half laughed half sobbed. Quickly the two brothers moved to do just that.