Super Mario in:
Treasures of Souls!
Chapter 12-1: The Legend of the Princess of Souls!

Mario was once again found sleeping in the same woods in his dreams. However, it was a glooming red night, with a strange feeling of fear and torture. Mario wakes up to find himself in such a place.

After a while he hears a strange noise from where he was. He followed this cackling noise, which was then followed by evil laughs, screams of the innocent, explosions, and fire crackle. Mario had a terrible feeling in his gut about this, but followed the noise.

He then hid from behind a bush to see what was going on. What he saw was an entire village being invaded and pillage. The invaders looked to be members of the villaness Soul-Thieves. Only they had different clothing on.

They were burning down houses, taking innocent lives, and stealing their valuables. Mario could only cry to see so much destruction on such a lovely looking village.

He then heard a scream which sounded familiar to him. He tried to avoid the sight of the Soul Thieves and track down that familiar voice. After a few ways, he found who made that scream.

It was the same little girl he saw in his dream. She was surrounded by an evil looking woman and her servants. She covered her head with her hands as she cried to believe what was soon to be her death.

Just as the Woman was ready to kill the girl, Mario was just about to jump in and save her. However, he saw a strange light that had entered the scene. It was a beautiful maiden who was protecting the girl from the sword of the evil woman.

However, even though the Maiden tried her best, the force of the sword was too great, and she could no longer defend the girl, thus being sliced by the evil woman.

Mario had gasped in horror as he saw the beautiful maiden falling to the ground, dying. The girl had started to cry and dropped down to the maiden. She held on to her tight and said,

"sob I'm so sorry!! I'm so sorry about all this trouble I have caused you!! I never would have became your friend if I knew this would happen to you!!"

The girl kept sobbing and hugged the maiden tightly as the she laid there in a pool of blood. The evil woman then raised her sword, as she was ready to kill the girl. Mario couldn't stand it any longer and jumped into action!

However, before he could attack, a strange light formed around the girl, and spread across the screen, blinding everything, and everyone.

Suddenly, Mario had woken up in shock. It appeared to only have been a dream. Mario sighed in relieve as he was alright and that no one was hurt. Cielia then came in as said,

"I heard something coming from in here. Is something the matter Mario?"

Mario sighed and told Cielia he had another bad dream. Cielia petted Mario on the head and said,

"Oh, I'm so sorry Mario. Please, tell me what happened."

Mario explained what he remembered from his dream. Cielia had gasped a little and said,

"Is that true Mario? Oh my word, that's horrible! Here, let me tell you a story my mother always told me whenever I had bad dreams."

Cielia then sat beside Mario, who was still lying in bed.

"This is the story, of a magical being who lives in our world. A person who we worship as our protector. They call her, the Princess of Souls."

Mario had listened as Cielia prepared her story.

"The Soul Princess, is the mighty wielder of the Staff of Souls. She had protected our land for a very long time. She lives in her chambers, watching all of her wonderful people, making sure they lived a peaceful life.

She had once been seen in our World, protecting us from the many evil strangers that had threatened our land. But as time passed, less evil had stopped coming.

So she confined herself within her chambers, leaving behind her 7 Soul Keys to make sure that if trouble had once again passed by, that we'd inform her about such a thing.

Sadly, as time passed, people started to not believe in the Soul Princess, and think of her as just a myth, or an urban legend. Also, some people mis-took this as a challenge. A challenge that would reward them with the Staff if victorious.

Despite this, some of us fantasians still believe in the Staff and it's wielder. And even when evil came, we'd pray that one day, the Princess would return and save us all.

So, what my mother told me was,

"If you believe hard enough, and if you train your soul well enough, then the Soul Princess may give you her eternal blessing, and you will forever live a life a joy & happiness."

And that was her story. So what did you think Mario?"

Mario really enjoyed it. Infact so much so that he went back to sleep with a great smile on his face. Cielia could only help but laugh at such a cute sight. Then she got up and left the door saying,

"Good night Mario. Sweet dreams."

Then she slightly closed the door and let Mario sleep.

About a few hours later, morning had come. Outside of Fantasia, the Town's Alarm Rooster, Drumstick, had come and let out his big "COCK-A-DOO-DLE-DOOOOOO!!"

(Drumstick is a character from Diddy Kong Racing.)

Mario had woken up with a bright smile on his face. He was excited because he was only one Soul Key away from meeting the beautiful Soul Princess, and saving the World from the Soul Thieves. He got up, got dressed, and met up with everyone else in Cielia's Kitchen. Cielia had greeted him as he came in.

"Oh! Good Morning Mario. You seem rather happy today. Did my little story help you get a good night sleep?"

Mario agreed and sat on the Table waiting for Breakfast. Luigi was right beside him and whispered to him,

"So Mario, what kind of naughty trouble did you and Cielia get into last night?"

"I heard that Luigi!"

Cielia could hear what Luigi was whispering. Luigi blushed and sweated a little. Luigi then said,

"Well...um...I..."

"Just for that Luigi, you won't be getting any of my Maple Waffle Surprise."

Luigi dropped down his jaw and said,

"WHAT?! BUT I LIKE WAFFLES!! AND MAPLE SYRUP!!"

Cielia then said,

"I'll tell you what though, you can have these two fried eggs instead."

Cielia hands down a plate of fried eggs to Luigi. Luigi then moaned and said,

"This isn't Wiggler Eggs again is it?"

Cielia then said,

"Oh no. I tried a different type this time. They're Mrs. Drumstick's Farm-Land Eggs."

Luigi took a bite and said,

"Meh, it's okay..."

Toad, who was next to Luigi said,

"Oh well. That's what you get for smart-mouthing your pretty chef."

Then all of a sudden, a Fantasian guard comes in and says,

"Excuse me Ms. Cielia, but your Father wants to speak to all of you about an important matter. Please follow me."

Everyone got up and they followed the Guard to Mr. Nezuma's Quarters.

To be Continued...