Night of the Weremario

## **Plot**

Mario decided to chaperone Squirt's class to a field trip to the museum. They come across a green emerald artifact that is said to have a dangerous effect and misfortune for whoever touches it. When asked why it is even in a museum in the first place, the curator bluntly responds that he does not even know himself. Along the way, Squirt tells Mario about how nervous he is to let Toadette know that he has a crush on her. Mario tells him that he shouldn't feel like time is rushed for him and that there is never really a right time to ever ask so he should just ask whenever he can, but the sooner the better. Squirt takes this advice well and is about to go and tell her at that very moment until he steps over an area displaying where nobody is allowed to be. The museum enters a lockdown and security comes out to seek the danger. Two darts come out of the wall towards Squirt but Mario grabs him out of the way just in time. However, the two darts end up hitting the glass containing the green emerald and Mario goes to grab it just before it breaks on the ground. The group and everyone else gasps at the sight of Mario having touched the emerald but he assures them he does not feel anything and they should be happy it didn't break. They all relax and think that the emerald's backstory was a hoax and lie.

That night, Mario begins to twitch and scuffle around in bed, he then opens his eyes which have an ominous green glow to them and he transforms into something horrifying.

The next morning, Mario comes out of his room to find the entire castle ripped open and furniture all over the place. The police believe it was a break-in and begin to search around the kingdom for the prime suspect. Peach is appalled at the sight of her favorite gallery portraits being ruined. The team is confused about what could have possibly caused the unfortunate incident. Mario suggests they should go to the nearby bar for some ice cream. Gary, the head of the restaurant/bar asks them about what happened at the castle to which they could only answer with more questions. Squirt goes home to tell his mom about the situation, his stepdad suggests it may have been just a very bad robbery but Squirt insists that they have tight security and there is no way they would've let someone in. Richard teases Squirt and says that he must not be that good of a butler or any guard if the castle was left in that state. Squirt begins arguing with him and they both come to a close once his little brother Luis begins to cry. Mario and Luigi begin having a talk about the incident themselves but lead to nowhere, only arguing about unrealistic situations. Mario then has an outburst on Luigi, his voice deepening and his eyes flashing green. Luigi is horrified on what just happened and Mario is unsure about what just happened. He suggests he probably just needs some sleep.

Later that night, Luigi becomes more and more suspicious of Mario and decides to investigate. He is horrified to see a silhouette of a large beast eating something out of the refrigerator. When Luigi calls out Mario's name, he quickly turns around to reveal his monstrous form and horrify Luigi even more. Mario darts back to his room all the while making low grunt noises and growling.

The next morning, Luigi is at the breakfast table completely terrified of what he just saw. Mario comes to the table to see his expression and asks him what is wrong and he responds that nothing is wrong but is clearly shaken up. He begins to sweat excessively, so much so that some drops in Mario's cereal, making him a little angry, and lets out a low growl. Mario insists he lost his appetite and leaves. Peach and Squirt ask Luigi what is wrong to which he blurts out that Mario is the one who destroyed everything because he is a monster. Peach and Squirt of course don't believe this claim but Luigi says that he believes he became one because he touched the green emerald that was said to house a terrible misfortune to those who touch it. Peach explains that it was only a myth but Squirt jokingly replies that everything they have been told in their lives that was considered a "myth" has been proven otherwise thus far. Peach realizes this and suddenly dashes to Mario's room but finds him sleeping away. The three of them decide to devise a plan to capture Mario in a trap to see how he would react against it that night.

Night arrives and Peach sets a rope that if touched will capture whoever is unlucky enough to be in the area. Luigi and Squirt begin to argue that if Mario really was a monster he would've eaten all of them by now. Peach tells them to quiet down but suddenly something is caught in the trap. However, it is Mario but he is completely normal. Peach and Squirt begin to batter on Luigi, accusing him of making the whole story of seeing Mario as a monster. Mario questions why they wanted to capture him but gets no answers, this infuriates him, so much so that he begins to transform into the beast. He darts for Peach but Luigi and Squirt throw pans at him. Mario suddenly switches targets and heads towards Luigi and Squirt who bolt out of the castle. Mario chases them throughout the town streets but they end up behind Gary's hub. Luigi tries to tap into Mario's inner self once more and succeeds in reaching him, telling him his soul has been corrupted. Mario understands, and transforms back to normal, although his overalls have been ripped leaving him almost naked. They quickly get him home.

The next morning, when the public and police demand an answer for the recent disturbances, the team replies that it was a random wolverine on the loose but has been caught.