Painting the Town Red:

Characters: Mario, Luigi, Waluigi, Wario, Peach, Daisy, Rosalina, Bowser, Yoshi, and Birdo

Victims: 1 Toad

Killer:

I knew it would be no easy feat to wrangle up the whole Mario gang, but somehow I managed.

True, I had to sacrifice a toad, but when all my targets arrive in the same place, it will be one, two, three from there.

Now it is time to play the death game.

I'm coming for you.

All of you.

One, two, three... Can you see me?

Mario:

Hastening his step with every stair, Mario bounded into the gazebo. The sun was barely setting, and it painted the sky a magnificent orange color. Indescribably beautiful despite the situation Mario was leaping into headfirst.

When he reached the top, Mario found the whole group was waiting for him.

Mario took a look around. He knew that most of the people here were coming. People such as the Princesses Peach, Daisy, (and Rosalina for that matter), were required by law to investigate any domestic abuse. However, there were some... not so pleasant faces, specifically Wario and Waluigi. Not to mention Bowser, who claimed he had seen exactly what had happened.

Everyone was speaking in excited, yet frightened tones. Mario took a step forward, lifting his hands over his head so as to be made seen.

The group looked his direction, and one by one, they all went silent.

Even before seeing the corpse, Mario could see the poor Toad's lifeblood splattered all over the walls and the floor, as if the killer had wished to announce his or her presence.

However, before Mario had the chance to see the victim itself, Luigi grabbed Mario by the shoulders. His eyes were wide and they were glistening with fear.

"Mario! I don't know what happened. One second he was sitting there enjoying the view, and the next, he... he was..."

Bowser cut Luigi off.

"Fortunately for all of you, I saw exactly what happened." Bowser laughed and crossed his arms. The wickedly sharp spikes on his armbands and his collar glittered densely in the setting light.Mario shook his head at Bowser and looked back to Luigi, who still looked concerned. He was biting his lip and flushing, whether from the light of the sun or from sudden adrenaline Mario couldn't guess.

Mario patted Luigi on the shoulder, gently removing his brother's gloves, and sighed.

"I know, Luigi. I know you called us as soon as you could." Mario stepped towards the toad, laying sprawled out on the oak planks.

Mario crouched next to the body to investigate further. The corpse was so mauled, Mario could hardly believe it had once been a toad. The throat had been slashed open, as if without care to a quick strike. The mouth and lower jaw bore a similar mark, slashing across the cheeks to give the corpse a gruesome smile. Its lower body held little markings, save for a few scratches where the toad may have been drug around in its struggle, but the mushroom shaped bulge on the toad was completely out of proportion. The outer flesh of the head had been cleanly skinned off, revealing muscle underneath still oozing with blood. By the looks of the tissue, which was found on the chair nearby, the toad must have been a blue one at some point. Finally, as if to give one more bitter stab at any loved ones or the investigation crew, the killer had removed the toad's eyes, leaving completely empty sockets wide open in shock.

It was at this point that Princess Peach stepped next to Mario.

"What do you make of it, Mario?"

Mario shook his head and looked away, sickened by the sight. He stood and paced for a few moments, wiping his forehead with his red hat.

Finally, he looked back towards the expectant group.

"I'd say we obviously have a murder case to solve and a psychopath to catch."

Mario looked around, raising an eyebrow.

"Anyone against me?"

The group all looked at Mario silently. Bowser was fiddling with one of his armbands, the Wario duo looked unamused, with Waluigi leaning on Wario's hat, the dating couple, Birdo and Yoshi, appeared to be sending telepathic messages to one another with a series of blinks, the princesses couldn't seem to decide what to do with their posture, shifting back and forth on their toes, and Luigi, through this all, was rocking back and forth on one of the benches, looking at the mutilated toad.

Mario waited a few seconds longer for anyone to object. No one did.

"Alright." Mario said, clapping his hands together, "This is a murder case. This makes all of you, suspects." He said looking sharply at everyone.

"Hold on," said Wario, raising a hand, "Just us?" He looked at everyone, who also had their gazes fixed on him.

"This is a murder trial, buster. All people are suspects. How do we know that you aren't going to give us the slip, letting us believe you are innocent. When in reality..."

Waluigi finished Wario's thought.

"You're a wolf in sheep's clothing."

Everyone murmured, mulling over this possibility.

"They are right, you know." Rosalina said. "Everyone, including the detective, is a suspect."

Mario tapped a foot. "What would I have to gain from killing one of my own friends?"

"Or I my own people?" Peach fiddled with her brooch.

Wario stomped a foot, making the planks shake with the impact.

"I don't know, but I don't care! Everyone has a motive, even if it is sickening. We are wasting time. One of us did it, that is enough to start with. The toads themselves would never do something like this, they would never work up the nerve or the gut to do it."

Peach nodded agreement.

Daisy piped up.

"Well, from what I hear, Bowser knows what happened. Maybe we should listen to him." She crossed her arms.

"Finally, someone pays attention to my presence." Bowser growled, lashing his tail.

"But what if you're the murderer darling?" Birdo drawled, "You could be leading us right to our deaths at your hand." She traced a finger down Yoshi's nose.

"Do you even pay attention!? You aren't even looking my direction! What if your sweetheart is after you next!?" Bowser roared, flames flickering through his bared fangs.

Birdo swiveled to face Bowser, eyes cold with sudden malice.

"How DARE you accuse my Yoshi of being a killer! He wouldn't harm a fly." Birdo stroked Yoshi's small spines as he gazed at her with soft eyes.

"Would you sweetheart?" Birdo asked. Yoshi nodded in a half-trance.

Mario shook his head and he heard someone snicker.

Luigi finally stood and walked towards Mario.

"I think the princess is right, bro. If Bowser has evidence, we should hear it."

Bowser laughed.

"Oh, that's rich coming from you, Green Stache. I never would have expected you to be in my corner!"

"The stars are beginning to appear. We should bury the dead before my children become afraid of what is to come." Rosalina said, looking at the moon beginning to rise.

She was right, as Mario observed. The stars were just barely flickering to life, finally visible through the veil of the day.

"What are we waiting for?" Daisy put her hands on her hips, "Time is running out! I'll bet my bottom dollar that toads are not the only thing the murderer is after."

Peach:

One of her people killed was already too much to bear, but to have them mutilated in this way just broke Peach's heart. She loved all of her subjects. Even the Goombas, the strange, mutated looking mushrooms commanded by Bowser were dear to her in a sense.

Above all, Peach was concerned for Mario's sake. It was true that he was the hero of the kingdom. He and his twin, that was. But if the murderer was doing what Peach suspected it was doing, it would go after Mario without a second thought. Without the support of her hero, the kingdom and herself would be completely defenseless.

If the murderer was anyone, Peach bet it was Bowser. He had harassed the kingdom for years on end. It would be just like him to do something like this. However, why would he stick around to say that he had evidence or hesitate to immolate them all in fire if they were all collected together?

Unless he was playing a game.

Bowser was the gambling type.

"Well, why don't we hear what you have to say, Bowser. Maybe we can nip the flower in the bud." Peach said aloud.

Bowser nodded, "Alright, fine. Here's what I've got."

Bowser:

He looked around the gazebo to make sure he had everyone's attention. It would be hard to miss him. He was towering over everyone else.

"Remember, the only reason why I'm helping you losers is because it's in my interest to leave here alive as well."

Everyone stared at him silently. Just the way he wanted it.

Bowser began:

"This was hardly ten minutes ago, right? Well, I was hanging around the town because I was meeting with a friend." Bowser narrowed his eyes, "No questions to be asked there. I was just about to head out when I spotted something I thought was peculiar."

Wario took this moment to point a finger at Bowser, "What? You mean something other than..." He hesitated. Bowser tapped a foot, irked by this fool's outrageous act of interruption. After a few seconds, Wario dropped his hand.

"I got nothing."

Waluigi sniggered. Rightfully so for trying to embarrass the Koopa king in his full glory.  Bowser grinned a toothy smile.

"Any other interruptions?"

Crickets answered him, beginning to sing their song as the silver light of the moon shone on the tall grass, whistling with a night wind. It was at this point that Rosalina, Daisy, and Luigi began to gingerly pick up the corpse and made their way down the steps to bury the poor creature.

'Probably have weak stomachs.'  Bowser thought, 'Unlike me!'

Bowser continued, ignoring the small burial party.

"First of all, why do you even have a gazebo? That's like asking for a murderer to step in. Secondly, who stays out at twilight? That's really dangerous, especially if you had reports of someone running around killing like that."

Peach flushed a furious scarlet.

"I have heard nothing about murders in my kingdom save for now." She whispered with a hint of rage. "I had no control. I want to solve this for the sake of my own people." Bowser saw a glint of something in the princess's eye. A tear perhaps?

Bowser raised his hands in innocence.

"I meant not to arouse your anger or suspicions, Peachy. I am just offering way to... improve your rule." Bowser tried his best to smile sweetly. Something difficult to do with a mouthful of fangs.

His attempt to diffuse the situation seemed to work, though, and Peach slumped in defeat."I know, I just... I just want it to end."

Mario put an arm around the Princess. Despite trying to control himself, Bowser felt a flicker of jealousy. He, too, loved Peach, and Mario had always gotten in his way. What the princess saw in that short commoner, Bowser had no idea. He himself was a King. A king of the Koopas! Peach deserved someone like him to better herself.

Shoving aside the quick burst of anger, Bowser continued.

"Aside from the toad just sitting there, there was something in the road across from me. A shadow, nothing more. I was about to dismiss it, when it suddenly made a move towards the gazebo. Something glittered and I began to get the feeling things were heading West.  It moved so quickly, the critter never had the chance to gasp. It was quick, that was for sure.  And then I saw the killer's face."

Even Birdo and Yoshi looked at Bowser now. Waluigi and Wario stopped laughing. Peach hugged Mario tighter. Mario seemed to be shocked by both parties.

"Who was it?" Mario asked, brushing the princess aside.

"I'm not entirely sure, but I could have sworn I saw_"

A sharp sensation went through Bowser's neck. It didn't sting. It severed.

Bowser's legs went numb first and he fell to the floor. He gave out a roar and hit the floor of the gazebo. Hard.

He heard Peach scream and the rest of the group gasp.

Now Bowser felt it too as his vision began to fill with scarlet. Hot liquid seeping into his shell and down his face.

He tried to speak, tell the group what he knew, but his lungs wouldn't cooperate.

He said one last thing before his heart gave out.

"Blue..."

His eyes closed and the world went dark.

...

End of Part One

Til' we meet again, Keep rockin'

-Shamrockin13