#10: The Antechamber
By Emerson Kluge

The lock to the tower's antechamber rattled heavy, echoing in the now quiet top floor.

Mario's hands shook. He dropped the key and gripped the heavy iron ring, strain pulling at the taught muscles down his lower back, past his shoulder and into his arm as he heaved the door aside. The mass of steel and wood complained loudly against the movement, doing all it could to stop him but yielding under Mario's constant tension nonetheless.

Pungent, stinging dust flew in the air currents. Mario blinked to make out the room through watering eyes. A blurry shaft of brightness lanced from a high window, illuminating the chamber's center and a rough wooden chair occupied by a dark, round shape.

Mario advanced, racing thoughts of Peach hurt by Bowser and hunched over in pain occupied his mind simultaneously with flashing images of the incredible revenge he would wreak. His heart burned.

"Peach?" he asked, his formerly burly voice now timid and weak. He drew closer, wiping the water from his eyes, but as he did the illusion dissolved to the terrible reality.

The figure in the chair sported a stubby legs, a poka-doted head, and a scepter. The staff lay across his lap. "Not here." Toad slowly lifted his head. "Thank you, Mario, but our Princess is in another castle." He could barely contain his glee.

Tears of pain refilled Mario's eyes. "You... you..." he stuttered.

"Yes, it's me." Toad picked loose rope from the floor. He examined it, scratching a sawed portion as he talked. "And I'm afraid she had almost escaped when Bowser came for her."

Mario's grip on his fire flower tightened as the already sizeable lump in his throat grew.

"I mean, I tried to delay him, but he just wouldn't have any of it." Toad grinned and snerked a laugh. "And then I saw you coming." He chuckled to himself, barely holding his composure. "And I felt..." Toad burst out in laughter.

The pressure in Mario's throat grew. With tingling itches in his heart and lung he clenched fists, knuckles white.

Toad's laughter waned to a chuckle and then simply heavy breathing. He wiped a tear from his eye and looked up.

"Traitor!" Mario bellowed. He charged, grasping instinctively at his fireflower.

The joy dropped from Toad's face. He bounced his scepter from his knee to his hand and gripped the diamond, pushing the sharp metal endpoint toward Mario's neck.

The plumber skidded to a halt, just in time, the spike indenting his stubbled throat. Mario's fingers twitched on a pedal and he felt it warm in his hand.

Dust flew through the light as they stared at each other.

Toad's eyes narrowed. He sneered and twisted the scepter.

"Traitor." Mario rasped, whispering.

Toad pushed on the diamond. "That's not how King Toadstool will see it. You're getting in the way of my negotiations. You're jeopardizing a diplomatic mission and Princess Toadstool's life."

"Lies." Mario's voice almost failed from the pressure on his throat. "Lies from a traitor."

"Do you really think that matters?" Toad shot back, his voice edged with growing anger. "You have no choice in this matter. You are not me. You'll do as you're told."

Mario inhaled to speak.

"You will listen now, servant!" Toad pressed the spiked scepter again, digging it deeper into Mario's neck. "You live at my pleasure, my will," Toad screamed. Drops of spittle drew bright lines as they arched to the floor. "Everyone's life belongs to me!" He took a few breaths, calming himself before continuing in a lowered tone. "Mario. If I'm killed, no, even hurt while I'm here, you'll be responsible and Peach will pay the price." Toad slackened his pressure on the scepter. "Now shoo."

Mario stepped back and huffed, turning toward the door. The fireflower petal warmed more between his fingers. A step away from Toad he turned with a guttural scream of rage.

Toad started and shock replaced the dark satisfaction on his face. The flaming pedal flew past his head and burst against the back wall. A cloud of thick, black smoke erupted as the petal's liquid dripped down, tracing lines of fire between the stones.

Mario stared at Toad a moment longer. "If Peach is hurt here," He said, his voice clear and cold. "It will be your fault, and you'll pay the price." Mario turned his back and walked to the door, pausing at the threshold. "And no one in Koopa's army or the Mushroom Kingdom could stop me."