Palace Courtroom, Palace of Power, VideoLand.

Back in court, everyone was getting ready for reconvening when MotherBrain and the rest of the Brain-Team came in.  Bailiff Simon was bringing in Kevin gently and Eggplant Wizard harshly.  Perry and Della were at the defence table when Simon delivered Kevin to them.

            Simon said to his other transportee, "All right, Egg-brain.  You must stay with me."

            "Uh, okay, Simon.  Whatever you say," replied Eggplant Wizard.

            "Has Kid Icarus gotten back yet, Mr. Mason?" Captain N asked.

            Mason told him, "Not yet, Kevin.  I hope that he gets back soon.  Court will reconvene in thirty seconds."

            So that everyone in the courtroom could hear, MotherBrain exclaimed, "YOUR PRECIOUS CAPTAIN N WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO SAVE YOU AFTER HE HAS BEEN CONVICTED!!!  HEE, HEE, HEE, HEE!!!"

            Mario went over to her.  "Says who?" demanded the plumber.

            Ludwig said, "Oh, Mario.  If there were to be an embarrassing situation in here, I am sure that you would not start it.  You should go over and sit down before your friend, Lt. Tragg, comes over here and arrests you."

            "Oh, all right," said Mario.  "I'm only doing as you suggest to prevent a fight."  He returned to his seat.  Judge Lana entered.

            Bailiff Simon ordered, "All shall rise for the honourable Judge Lana."  Everyone stood as Judge Lana entered.  Once seated, she brought down her gavel.

            "You may all be seated," Lana stated.  "Court will come to order."  Eggplant Wizard wisely kept his mouth shut.

            Mason said, "Thine Honour, if the court please, I should like to begin a case for the defence.  Now, I should like to call this vegetable whom I have asked the bailiff kindly to deroot from his jail cell and to harvest in here to the stand."

            Judge Lana said, "Most amusing, Mr. Defence Barrister.  Eggplant Wizard,. . ."

            Eggplant Wizard interrupted, "I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God!"

            "I was about to remind thee that thou art still under oath," said Lana.  "Escort the vegetable to the witness stand, please, bailiff."

            Bailiff Simon said, "My pleasure, Thine Honour."  He tossed Eggplant Wizard towards the chair.  When Eggplant landed in the chair, dozens of eggplants popped out of him.

            "That exceedingly diverting scenario was unnecessary, but please proceed."

            Mason asked, "Now, is it true that thou committedst perjury earlier, Eggplant Wizard?"

            "No, defence counsel," said Eggplant Wizard.  "I never lie."

            Perry Mason smiled.  "Not many of us can say that, Eggplant Wizard.  Now, art thou in league with MotherBrain?"

            "Of course I am!  Anyone who's taken first grade knows that."

            "Couldst thou not have been the one who planted the Sacred Square?"

            "No way, Mr. Mason.  If thou dost not believe my story, test my weight and fingerprints.  Surely, there were no fingerprints on the Sacred Square, and I'm too weak to take it myself."

            "May I call Lt. Arthur Tragg to the bench?"

            "No objection," said Burger.

            Judge Lana said, "Very well.  Lt. Tragg, come forward."  Lt. Tragg, who was sitting next to Burger, came to Perry.

            Tragg handed a folder containing several sheets of paper to Mr. Mason.  "Here are the fingerprint tests that we took of the Sacred Square."  Mason opened the folder and examined the pictures.  "Er, we found no prints on the Sacred Square, Perry.  Does that give thee a clue?"

            "I see, Lieutenant.  Thank you.  Now, I would like that thou, with the court's and the prosecutor's permission, fingerprint the present witness."

            Burger said, "I have no objection."

            "Thou mayest do so," said Lana.  Lt. Tragg proceeded to get the fingerprints from Eggplant Wizard.

            "Thank thee, Tragg," Mason said.  "Now I shall prove that Eggplant Wizard did not commit the crime, Thine Honour."

            Burger got up.  "Thine Honour, I object!  Eggplant Wizard is not on trial here."

            "I am just trying the elimination strategy.  I'm attempting to eliminate suspects."

            "Oh, all right, Mr. Mason.  Go ahead."

            "Is it true, Eggplant Wizard, that thou canst not wipe fingerprints off objects thou touchest?"

            Eggplant Wizard said, "True, Mr. Mason.  I leave behind a special juice that can be tracked by anything."

            "Okay, Eggplant Wizard.  Bring it in, Mr. Drake."  Paul Drake left and brought in a square.  "Now, Eggplant Wizard, this square is made of the same material as the Sacred Square.  Art thou sure that thou art not lying?"

            "Well, in complete actuality, yes and no."

            "Yes and no?"

            "Look.  Let me touch this.  It will leave behind my juicy liquid."  Eggplant Wizard touched the square.  "Now, scrub it as much as thou wantest.  It will not come off."  Tragg tried to scrub the square with all kinds of substances for about an hour, but none of the liquid that Eggplant Wizard had left behind came off.  "Okay, now notice how it just stays.  Try washing it with hydrochloric acid."  Tragg did so for a few minutes.  The juice reluctantly came off.  "See?  A few minutes with HCl, and it comes right off."

            "So, thou perjuredst thyself."

            "I thought that what thou meantest wath just by scrubbing."

            "Oh!  I'm glad to hear that.  So, thine only crime was that outburst thou madest earlier.  I have no further questions."

            Burger said, "No questions."

            "This witness may be put behind bars again," Lana said.  Bailiff Simon took Eggplant Wizard back to jail.

            "Thine Honour, this is getting too out of hand," said Burger.  "The prosecution has made a prima facie case.  It has been proven that there was, indeed, a crime and that Kevin Keene can possibly be the person who committed the crime.  I move that he be bound over for jury trial in a superior court under the charge of robbing the Sacred Square of the Republic of Tetris."

            Mason whispered to Kevin, "Something is wrong.  Kid Icarus was supposed to get back just after court reconvened.  I was merely stalling for time.  We shouldn't stall any longer."  He got up and addressed the court.  "I find myself with no opportunity to object to the motion.  The person whom I need is not in court and has not been subpoenaed."

            Judge Lana sighed.  "Motion granted.  Jury trial will begin as soon as a jury has been empanelled and sworn."  She brought down her gavel.  Everyone rose as she left.

            Burger said, "Well, Perry, it looks like, I'm sorry to say, your client is guilty.  I may be wrong, but I may be right.  I hope that I am wrong."

            "Now, Hamilton, how could he be guilty?" asked Perry.  "When I searched his room, I found no handkerchiefs or napkins, no anything."

            Burger said, "Well, I found a handkerchief in his top drawer.  It had his fingerprints all over it."

            "According to the lawbook, I can clear him, even if he has been ruled guilty, and he can continue his life as though he had never been convicted guilty."

            "Look, Perry.  You just do not have enough evidence to clear him."

            "You may be correct.  Kevin, what will happen if you get convicted guilty?"

            MotherBrain decided not to let Captain N answer.  "I CAN TELL YOU!!!  HE WILL NO LONGER BE A MEMBER OF THAT BLASTED N-TEAM, AND THE MILKY WAY GALAXY SHALL BELONG TO THE KOOPAS AND ME FOREVER!!!  HEE, HEE, HEE!!!"  The Brain-Team left to Metroid.

            Mason said, "I am beginning to dislike that huge cerebrum already.  Hamilton, could you please subpoena Ludwig, every little bit of his sophisticated equipment, and that tape to jury trial?"  He handed the tape to Burger.

            "Well, of course, but what is the purpose of this, Perry?" asked Hamilton.

            "I have my reasons, Hamilton.  It may, in fact, prove Kevin's innocence."

            "Okay, Perry.  Whatever you say."

            * * *

            July 21.

            Control Room, Metroid.

            The next morning, Tragg arrived at Metroid.  When he had been greeted, Tragg announced, "I am serving you a subpoena duces tecum {suhb-pé-nuh dihw-sehs táy-kuhm} by Hamilton Burger to get yourself, every milligram of your equipment, and your tape of Captain N to court the first day of jury trial, which happens to be today at 14.00.  A jury has been empanelled.  By the way, have you anything to do with the disappearance of Kid Icarus?"

            "No, Lt. Tragg," Ludwig said.  "Search the planet high and low if you want.  If you get lost, it will not be my fault."

            "I shall not.  See you in court, Ludwig."  Lt. Tragg left through the warp to the Palace of Power.

            "Let's pack up all my equipment."

            MotherBrain said, "Yes, my devious son."

            * * *

            Palace Courtroom, Palace of Power.

            At 14.00, the jury trial began.  Burger said, "The defendant, Kevin Keene, also known as Captain N, has been charged with the robbery of the Sacred Square of the Republic of Tetris.  Now, I would like to know if Prince Ludwig 'Kooky' von Koopa is here and if he brought with him the equipment he was supposed to bring."

            Ludwig got up.  "I have, Mr. Prosecutor."

            "Please bring it forward."  Ludwig brought a bag crammed with his equipment to the bench.

            "Here it is. . . lock, stock, and barrel."

            "Thou hast been most co-operative, Prince von Koopa."  Burger got out much of the stuff.  "This is very good, Prince von Koopa.  Thou mayest be seat-. . . wait a minute!  Forgive me.  I would like to call thee to the stand."

            "Very well."

            Bailiff Simon said, "Please raise thy right hand."  Ludwig raised his right hand.  "Dost thou swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help thee God?"

            "I do."

            "Please state your full name."

            "My full - overblown may be a better term - name is Prince Baron Ludwig 'Kooky' von(Bowser)Koopa of the Kingdom of Koopa.  Everyone can just call me Ludwig."  Ludwig sat down.

            Burger said, "Interesting gizmos, Ludwig.  Mightest thou, perchance, have an invention known as a heat-print-tester in this bag of gizmos?"

            "No," said Ludwig.  "If I had one, I would not be able to bring it.  It would be too large to fit even in that bag.  I can assure thee, though, that I, indeed, know what thou art talking about, and I can make one at any time with those tools."

            "How would it work?"

            "That device would work by looking for something called a heat signature.  A heat signature is as individual to someone as is a retina eye pattern or a fingerprint.  To determine a heat signature, someone would have to have touched something within, say, forty-eight hours of diagnosis.  Even if someone were wearing gloves or had wiped off their fingerprints, his or her heat signature would be left behind.  Certain heavy types of gloves might distort the heat pattern, and a few can block it entirely, but general gloves let the correct pattern seep through."

            "Thank you.  Thy co-operation is most appreciated.  Thy witness, counsellor."

            Mason said, "Okay, Ludwig."  Perry had the tape, which Ludwig had let him keep.  "I hope that I shall be granted the liberty of showing this tape to the whole courtroom that we might determine any flaws."

            Burger said, "Go ahead.  I do not object."

            "Proceed," Lana said.

            "Miss Street, thou hast brought thy tape machine with thee.  Please bring it forward."  Della brought her videocassette machine.  "Hm!  This tape is smaller than the old Beta tapes!"

            Ludwig said, "Oh, I forgot to mention that!  I am so very dreadfully sorry.  Mr. Burger, my devices are clearly labelled.  Please bring us the one marked 'SBL,' couldst thou?"

            "Oh, I see it," said Burger.  He took it.  "I am surprised at the light weight of this machine."  He took it over to Ludwig.

            "Thank you, Mr. Burger.  You know, I really ought to market these.  I'd make a lot of money quite legally!"  He plugged it into an outlet on the bench.

            Drake entered with a hologram projector.  "Well, it wasn't the best I could get, Perry, but it's of average quality."

            Mason said, "Thank you, Paul."  Paul sat down in the chair beside Perry's.  "Now, Ludwig, couldst thou please run the tape?"  After the necessary connections had been made, Ludwig ran the tape.  One saw practically all that was needed. . . what he had previously shown Perry Mason and Hamilton Burger.

            "Need we go on?" Ludwig inquired.

            Mason said, "Not at all.  I would, however, like that thou make a device in here that can examine the Sacred Square for a heat signature."

            "Why not?  If thou wilt have the Sacred Square brought in here, I shall."

            "Very well.  Lt. Tragg, couldst thou do so, please?"

            "Yes, sir, Mr. Mason," said Tragg.  The lieutenant got up.

            "Wait a minute, please," said Ludwig.  "It is necessary that thou use those heat-proof mitts on Mr. Burger's table.  They may look silly, but they are the only way one can touch the Sacred Square without transferring one's heat signature onto it."

            Tragg picked up the mitts.  "Thanks, Prince von Koopa."

            Ludwig said, "Thou art indeed welcome, Lieutenant.  May I begin, Mr. Mason?"

            "Thou mayest," Mason said.

            Ludwig got up.  "Thank you."  He set up his Tote-a-Lab Kit and began production of the device.  In a few minutes, Tragg brought in the Sacred Square and Ludwig finished the invention.  "Please set the Sacred Square on that examination table.  Thank thee.  Now, just a flip of this switch, a touch of - please let Kevin come here; thank you - Kevin's hands, and voilà!"  In a few seconds, a slip of paper came out of the machine.  Ludwig handed it to Perry.

            Mason said, "Oh, my.  This looks awful.  These heat signatures are identical."

            "Let me look at it."  He closely scrutinised the patterns on the paper.  Facetiously, he said, "Oh, me, oh, my.  This is terrible.  Ahem, Kevin.  I hope that thou'rt ready for a trip."

            "A trip where?" Kevin asked.

            "Out of the thou-knowest-what-team."

            Judge Lana gulped.  "Let everyone have a look at it."  In a short while, the whole jury had looked at it.  Lana had also looked at it.  Everyone in the courtroom had looked at it.  No distinction had been made between the identities of the heat signatures.  The trial continued bumpily for some time.  Mason had gotten Wright to examine Ludwig's tester and verify its accuracy.  After the last defence and prosecution witnesses had testified, Mason and Burger had given their arguments, and Lana had sermonised the jury - and the jury had been out for a few minutes - the verdict had almost been drawn up.  It was near the hour of evening adjournment when the jury returned.  "Has the jury made a decision?" Lana asked.

            The jury foreman said, "Just a minute, Thine Honour."  The jurors conferred for about thirty seconds; they reached a verdict.  They copied it down on paper, put it in an envelope, and handed it to Bailiff Simon, who then handed it in to Judge Lana.  She gasped when she read it.

            Captain N thought, Don't keep me in suspense, Lana.  Just read it.  He had no idea how wide his eyes were, though.  He knew the answer already.  He had been framed well.  He only hoped that she would not remain in shock after this trial.

            Judge Lana summoned her strength and read, " 'Guilty as charged.' "  The whole courtroom gasped.

            Mockingly, MotherBrain whispered to herself and Ludwig, "I cannot believe that this has happened."

            In the same way, Ludwig said, "Sniff, sniff.  I cannot, either."

            Captain N whispered to Perry, "Well, at least I know that I didn't do it."  He felt so darned mad at Ludwig.  Somehow, that creep had tampered with the evidence.

            Mason said, "Sorry, Kevin.  Proof is proof.  We had no proof, and obviously we didn't have enough evidence to cast a shadow of a doubt into the jurors' minds."  Mason got up and addressed the court.  "Since I know that he can go on just as he has for the past few years after I find definite defence evidence for Kevin, I shall not object to this verdict.  I am extremely sorry, Kevin."

            Judge Lana said, "The defendant has been found guilty as charged of the robbery of the Sacred Square.  Until Mr. Mason can find evidence of the defendant's innocence, I sentence Kevin Keene to no longer being member of the N-Team.  Even though he pled to be not guilty, I shall act impartially.  If Mr. Mason and Mr. Burger prove that he is, in fact, innocent, I shall strike Kevin Keene's sentence and return him to his position as Game Master of the Kingdom of VideoLand.  Court is adjourned."  As she was exiting, everyone in the courtroom arose.

            Mason asked, "Will you still be able to live in the Palace of Power, Kevin?"

            "Yes, Mr. Mason," said Kevin.

            "Then do so.  Now, Kevin, my friends and I shall search for as much defensive evidence as possible for you.  Until then, do nothing against Princess Lana's wishes."

            "I never had any intention of doing so, Mr. M."

            MegaMan came forward with the rest of the N-Team.  The emotional android was crying.  "Sniff, sniff!  You are the best leader we ever had, Kevin."

            Dr. Wright continued, "I just wish that we'd had enough evidence.  We could have proven that you did not do it."

            "Don't look down in the dumps, guys," said Kevin.  He would never allow himself to get dejected.

            "Yes," said Simon.  "He'll still be able to live in the Palace of Power with us and, possibly, help us.  When Mason and Burger locate the needed evidence, we shall crush Ludwig von Koopa's wish, and Kevin will be one of us again!"  He never expected himself to be taking Kevin's side, but he now felt sympathy for his leader.  Like everyone else, he felt Kevin had been horribly framed.

            "Hmm.  Mr. Burger, did Ludwig let you have those inventions?"

            "I am having them impounded as evidence, Kevin.  Do not worry.  Perry and I shall find the hole in someone's evil plot."  Ludwig came forward to do a little play-acting.

            Showing quite intentionally that he was lying, Ludwig said, "I cannot believe that this has happened, Kevin.  I did not believe that someone's trick. . ."

            Captain N said, "Hang on, you faker!  I know that you have a dirty, rotten, sneaky trick up your diabolical sleeve."

            Obviously intending to show that he was being most dishonest because there was nothing anyone could do about what had happened, Ludwig said, "Now see here!  If you think that I did this, you are terribly mistaken.  I would never pull such a sneaky, dirty, rotten, diabolical trick!"  He changed his tone to show that he was telling the truth.  "However, since you are no longer able to help your goody-goody friends defend VideoLand, - hee, hee! - you can count on the fact that the Brain-Team will rule the Milky Way Galaxy!  Ha, ha, ha!  Well, I have no time to waste.  I must get back home and. . ."

            "Now see here, Ludwig von Koop-stoop!" said Simon.

            Ludwig was insulted.  "WHAT?!?!?  WHAT DID YOU CALL ME, SIMON DING-DONG?!?!?"

            Bailiff Simon said, "Oh, forget it.  Just get along.  Wait a minute!  What did you to my buddy, Kid Icarus?"

            "Like whom look I, Al Koopone?  Of course I had nothing to do with your friend's disappearance!  You are making me angry with your shenanigans again, Simon Belmont.  Heh, heh.  When I get angry, I get nasty.  Good-bye, all.  Have fun keeping up with me."  The Brain-Team took its leave.

            "That Ludwig von Koopa gives bad guys a bad name," remarked Simon.

            Luigi said, "Simon is right."

            * * *

            Control Room, Metroid.

            Later, back on Metroid, the Brain-Team was busy making assault plans.  MotherBrain said, "Hee, hee!  It was too easy getting old Kevin Dull out of the Nuisance-Team!"

            "Yes," said Ludwig.  He grinned with great wickedness.  "I cast a spell on that invisibility pill to temporarily alter King Hippo's heat signature to seem to be Kevin's!"

            "Most ingenious, Ludwig!"

            "Soon, the Nuisance-Team will be the Nevermore-Team!  Ha, ha, ha!"  His watch beeped.  "Oops!  I'm almost late!  I have a wizard's class on Hyrule today.  My professor is the great Agahnim."

            "Ooh!" Larry said.  "He almost defeated Link in The Legend of Zelda III:  A Link to the Past, but not quite.  The Master Sword allowed Link to defeat Agahnim in that game and in real life."

            Ludwig said, �Auf Wiedersehen!  {Ahwf vé-dehr-záy-ehn!}  [German]  (Good-bye!)"  "See all of you later!"

            MotherBrain said, "See you.  Don't get skulled by a Stalfos!  Ha, ha, ha!"  Ludwig left.

            * * *

            Kevin's Room, Palace of Power.

            Perry Mason and Paul Drake were looking in Kevin's bedroom for more evidence.  "Look all over the place, Paul," Mason said.  "There must be something that we overlooked."

            "What's this piece of paper stuck in the upper drawer?" asked Drake.

            * * *

            Control Room, Metroid.

            ProtoMan turned on the monitor so that he and his foul compatriots might view the progress that Mason and Drake were making.  "Uh, oh!" said King Hippo.

            MotherBrain echoed, "Uh, oh?"

            "Yeah.  That is what happened to my fortune cookie fortune!"

            "Why, you. . ."

            "Relax, Your Angriness.  I did not leave any evidence on it."  MotherBrain growled.

            Mason was reading the fortune.  "Let's see. . . 'Your days will be full of banana milkshakes, beating up Kid Icarus, and being found guilty on the witness stand.'  Paul, use one of Ludwig's devices to figure out from whom this fortune cookie fortune came."

            "Okay, Perry," Drake said.  "But what significance could that have in this case?"

            "Plenty.  It could reveal the committer, my friend."

            MotherBrain screamed, "YOU IDIOT!  I'M GOING TO FRY YOU!!!"

            ProtoMan readied his PlasmaBlaster.  "And I will help!"

            "No!  Spare me!" King Hippo begged.  Larry had a lab report.

            Larry said, "Cool down, Your Greyness.  Go ahead and spare the stooge.  According to my lab report, King Hippo's heat signature could not have gone through his thick gloves onto the fortune cookie fortune, if he didn't directly handle it before he ingested that invisibility pill.  So, no heat signature would be left behind at all.  None could be detected, even with Ludwig's device.  It is, of course, different with the Sacred Square, since Ludwig did tell it to have the gloves emulate Kevin's heat signature."  King Hippo released a sigh of relief.

            * * *

            Agahnim's School for Those whom Magic Interests, Northeastern Forests, Kingdom of Hyrule, World of Hyrule.

            Ludwig was at the door to Agahnim's School for Those whom Magic Interests.  "Well, here I am. . . Agahnim's School for Those whom Magic Interests.  I must remember that English and German are the only two universal languages in the Kingdom of Hyrule.  Not many know Spanish."  He entered the building.

            Inside, Agahnim was anxiously awaiting Ludwig's arrival.  "My very first pupil of all, Ludwig von Koopa should be here any. . ."  Suddenly, in came Ludwig.  ". . .moment."

            Ludwig greeted, "Good day, my professor.  This place looks good."

            "Ah, Prince Ludwig von Koopa," Agahnim greeted.  "Welcome to my School for Those whom Magic Interests.  I do hope that you are my first pupil to pass.  I am glad that you are my first pupil of all since I opened this school."

            "Oh, really?  Come, now!"

            "Yes, but not many people on Hyrule like me. . . and with good reason, as you know.  Your first lesson, my student, will be to turn a humanoid to stone.  I'm sure that you can do that simple task."

            "Of course.  Just show me a humanoid outside the two of us and I shall!"

            * * *

            They went out to the Village of Kakariko, in the western part of the Kingdom of Hyrule.  Several people spotted them and fled in terror.  "Such wimps!  I guess that they will have to do.  Time for my target practice!  Ha, ha, ha!"  He focused magical power for about a half of a second into his right index finger.  "ALL RIGHT, YOU HYRULIAN WIMPS!!!  COME FACE ME!!!"

            A woman exclaimed, "Oh, no!  Ludwig and Agahnim?  This only means trouble!  Her Highness must be alerted!"  Ludwig spotted her trying to leave town.

            "Oh, no you don't!  Ha, ha, ha!"  He fired a ray of energy from his index finger and turned the woman to stone more quickly than one could blink.  He then blew on the tip of his finger.  "Ha, ha!  Since I transferred the magic from my Koopa-Sceptre into myself - ha, ha! - I can use its power without it!"

            "Excellent display!" said Agahnim.

            "If you do not mind, Agahnim, I would love to wreak a lot of magical havoc, just for the fun of it!  Ha, ha, ha!"

            "Go to it, you purely evil young man!  You'll get an A+ for this!  Ha, ha!"  Ludwig went all around town, destroying, stoning, and frying everything in his way.  All the while, one could hear his and Agahnim's evil laughter blended into the background.

            * * *

            Throne Room, Palace of Power.

            At the Palace, the N-Team received an urgent call from Hyrule Palace, also known as the North Palace.  When the guard had told her what was happening in Kakariko, Zelda asked, "Really, guard?  Link and I shall be back at Hyrule Palace quickly."  The guard saluted her, and the screen turned off.

            "What?" asked Link upon entrance.

            Lana said, "Link, we just received an urgent call from North Palace.  The people have informed the guards that Agahnim and Ludwig are terrorising the populace in the village!"

            "Uh, oh!" Link said.  "We had better warp there quickly!"

            Lana activated the radio.  "MegaMan!  Simon!  Mario!  Please come in here!"  In they came.

            Simon asked, "What is it, Your Cuteness?"

            "What's the matter?" MegaMan asked.

            "What the pasta's going on?" asked Mario.

            Lana said, "Agahnim and Ludwig are terrorising the populace in Kakariko Village on Hyrule."

            "We have to warp there mega-fast!" said MegaMan.  "The nearest warp to Hyrule is over there."

            As Lana, Zelda, MegaMan, Simon, Mario, and himself went running to the warp, Link said, "There's one thing that I just don't get."

            "What's that?" asked Lana.

            Link said, "My ancestor wiped out Agahnim with the Master Sword a really long time ago!  All of the information is in the story in the Legend of Zelda III:  A Link to the Past's instruction book, whose game Mason just bought for Kevin."

            "I know, and you know how Ganon's been acting up," said Lana.  "He might have brought back Agahnim."

            "It is, indeed, possible.  Let's just get going."  They all entered the warp to Hyrule and emerged at the Lost Woods in the northwestern part of the kingdom.  "Hm!  Of all the places at which to end up, we arrive in the Lost Woods!"

            MegaMan said, "That's not bad.  Kevin told me that this is where the Master Sword is."

            "Did he not tell you that one has to have the Pendant of Power, that of Courage, and that of Wisdom to get it?" Zelda asked.

            "Oh."

            Link said, "I knew something may happen, anyway, so I fought through Eastern Palace, Tower of Hera, and Desert Palace and got all three Pendants. . . with Kevin's tips, of course.  Now, all that we have to do is to find the Master Sword, the Sword of Evil's Bane.  According to the map that Kevin gave me, we are near the Den of Thieves.  Up at that fog bank, we should go between the trees.  Up on the pedestal lies the Master Sword.  Just in case, though, we should split up and look for it.  I shall go east.  Simon, go northwest.  MegaMan, go northeast.  Lana, go west.  Zelda, go south.  Whoever finds it first, call us others.  Since I have the three Pendants of Virtue, only I can take it.  Let's go."  Everyone went their separate ways.  In a short while, Simon came upon the Master Sword.

            * * *

            Wendy's Chamber, Metroid.

            Wendy was watching in her mirror-monitor in her room on Metroid.  "Ah, ha!" said the evil Koopa girl.  "If Simon can grab that thing, we shall be resistant to all power."  She grabbed a device linked to Ludwig's hypnotic inducer.  She spoke into a speaker to control Simon.  "Oh, Simon, my big brother could use that blade.  Attempt to take it!"  Simon went to grab the Master Sword's handle.  He could not pull the sword out at all, not even in his present state.  "Unbelievable!  All right, Simon, I want you to call the others, then act in your normal manner."

            Simon got a natural trumpet from his backpack and skilfully played a very loud tune to alert the others.

            * * *

            Master Sword Pedestal, Lost Woods.

            Within a short while, Link and the others had arrived.  "Nice work, Simon!" remarked Lana.

            Simon said, "Oh, it was nothing."

            Link read a message in the Book of Mudora, which was used for translating from Hylian to German.  "This message is in Hylian.  Translated into English, this is, 'If you are the Legendary Hero of Hyrule, the Master Sword itself will select you.' "  He went to get the Master Sword.  With the Pendants of Virtue, he was able to pull the Master Sword out of the stone.  "At last!  But this is so much power.  It feels almost like holding a lightning bolt.  Now, I can more ably defend Hyrule against. . ."

            Mario interrupted, "Uh, oh!  Trouble ahead, Link.  Moblins!"

            Link said, "Those guys are just in time for a little target practice!"

            "We meet again, Link!" the lead Moblin said.  "But this time you'll pay for destroying Ganon!"

            "I have the Master Sword!" said Link.

            "-Gulp!-  The Master Sword!  Let's get out of here!"

            "Not so fast, vermin indigenous to Hyrule!"  Link chased the Moblins and zapped them all with the Master Sword.  "Ha!  Smoked them!"

            Zelda said, "Good going, Link!  No, I won't kiss you.  Now, let's go to Kakariko Village and stop Ludwig."

            * * *

            Kakariko Village, Hyrule.

            Later, at Kakariko Village, Ludwig had recently finished his terror-spree.  "EXCELLENT!!!" cried Agahnim.  "You have successfully completed all lessons except one."

            Ludwig asked, "And that is what?"

            Agahnim saw the N-Team coming over the rise.  "-Gulp!-  Beating Link in one-to-one combat. . . Link having the Master Sword!  Very optional, indeed!"

            In German, Ludwig greeted, "Good day, Link!  It's nice to see you again!"

            "Forget about attacking, Ludwig," said Link in English.  "Not even Ganondorf Dragmire, a.k.a. Ganon, can stand up to the Master Sword!"

            Agahnim said, "-Gulp!-  He's right, you know.  His ancestor defeated me with that very blade."

            Ludwig, however, was quite confident.  "Not even the Master Sword can defeat a powerful lightning gun with one quintillion volts of energy!"

            "Try me!" said Link, not understanding the peril in which he was placing himself.

            "Interesting!  You would risk your life to save a pile of stones and burnt and dead villagers?"

            Shocked, Link surveyed the town.  "What have you done, you creep?"

            Ludwig grinned nastily. . . very nastily.  "I have merely made some overdue changes in town. . . changes which were overdue since your ancestor had defeated Ganon!"

            "Why, you rotten Koopaling!"

            " 'Rotten'?  You insult me!  That should be 'rotten-to-the-core'!  Prepare to meet your and the Master Sword's match!  Ha, ha, ha!  ANCIENT SPIRITS OF EVIL, HAVE HYRULE'S ATMOSPHERE OBEY MY COMMAND!!!"  He put up his arms at an upper 45� angle.  Four beams of power formed:  two per hand.  The index fingers on both hands fired rays into the atmosphere.  The middle fingers on both hands received rays from the atmosphere, as of an answer to some call by his own rays.  "PREPARE TO MEET YOUR NEAR-FATE!!!  HA, HA, HA, HA!!!  MAESTRO, SOME OF BEETHOVEN'S FIFTH!!!"  Mysteriously, out of nowhere, the first movement Beethoven's Fifth Symphony began to be played.

            Link said, "Whence comes the music?"

            "Why, it is I who am making it."

            "Hm.  Anyway, I prefer to use this thing as a shocker."  He fired a lightning bolt from the Master Sword.  The shot bounced off Ludwig like a mere sheet of paper!  "What!"

            Ludwig laughed, "HA, HA, HA!!!  MY BODY CAN DEFLECT YOUR MASTER SWORD'S RAYS!!!  NOW, SEE IF THAT SHRIMPY MASTER SWORD CAN DEFLECT THIS!!!  HA, HA, HA, HA!!!"  He fired a shot with one quintillion volts but two mere coulombs of electricity (not much electricity, but it was very fast) in two seconds at Link.  Link put up the Master Sword in defence, but the electricity passed through the Master Sword as though it were thin air and fried Link half to death.  Link screamed and then fell unconscious.  "HA, HA, HA!!!  PUNY HYRULIAN!!!  DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT YOU CAN WITHSTAND MY ENERGY?!?"

            Zelda said, "As ruler of this land, I order you to cease your activities here."

            "Why should I?"

            "Because this is uncalled-for."

            "UNCALLED-FOR?!?  LINK ASKED FOR IT, DIDN'T HE?!?  SHUT THE HECK UP BEFORE I FRY YOU, TOO!!!"

            Mario called, "Hey, turtle-face!  You may have stopped him, but I still have a Kuribo's Shoe."

            "Ha, ha, ha!  A Ku. . . a Kuribo's Shoe?  Yaaah!  Get away from me!"

            Lana said, "You hold him off.  Zelda and I will get to the castle and get the Triforces."

            "Okay, Your Highnesses," said Mario.  "You can count on me."

            Zelda said, "I guess we'd better carry Link."  Princesses Lana and Zelda carried Link as they headed for Hyrule Castle.

            "Hold it right there, you two," said Ludwig to the ladies.

            "No, you hold it," Mario said.  He leapt into the air.  Ludwig tried to fry him, but nothing could penetrate the bottom of the shoe.

            "Darn!  Nothing will penetrate that blasted shoe!  Yaaah!"  Mario made a loud landing right on top of Ludwig.  "Yaaah!  Get off me!  Now!"

            "My pleasure."  Mario leapt off Ludwig.

            "That is not fair play!"

            "You never play fair, you sinister reptile."

            "Sometimes I do."  As Mario was holding off Ludwig, Lana and Zelda arrived at Hyrule Castle with Link.

            Zelda told a guard, "Soldier, we need you to get Link to the hospital.  He has received a terrible electrical shock."

            The guard said, "Right away, Princess Zelda."

            Zelda said, "Quickly, Lana!  We must get the Triforces before it is too late."  They ran into the throne room and got the Triforces.  They then ran back out to Kakariko Village, where Mario was still holding off Ludwig.

            Charging up his malevolent magic, Agahnim said, "Stop, Mario."

            "Stop?  Okay.  I'll stop you cold!" said Mario.  Still having the Kuribo's Shoe, he proceeded to leap toward Agahnim.

            "No!  That is not what I meant!"  Agahnim tried to fry Mario, but nothing penetrated the sole of that shoe.  Mario squashed Agahnim.

            "Now you are a wizard pancake!  Ha, ha, ha!"

            "Get off me!"

            Having regained some of his energy, Ludwig said, "I have fooled around enough with you, Mario!"

            "You're right," said Mario.  "Here come Lana and Zelda with the Triforces!"

            "Gasp!"  Now, suddenly, the fourth movement of Beethoven's Fifth began being played.  "No!  Not that movement!"

            Lana screamed, "MARIO!!!  GRAB ONE!!!"  Princess Lana tossed the Triforce of Power at Mario, who grabbed it.  Princess Lana now had the Triforce of Wisdom, Princess Zelda the Triforce of Courage.

            "Uh, oh, Agahnim!" said Ludwig.  "It is my carefully considered opinion that we should effect a strategic withdrawal within the next few nanoseconds if we value our dignity."

            Agahnim said, "I quite agree.  Let's get out of here!"

            Mario said, "Not so fast, Ludwig.  I want to meatball you."  At Mario's request, the Triforce of Power made a huge meatball that nearly crushed Ludwig!

            "Get this thing off me!" cried an infuriated Prince Ludwig once he had managed to get his head and hands out from under the meatball.

            "Wow!  This thing really works!  All right, Ludwig!  Prepare to be covered in spaghetti and meat-sauce."

            "Why, you!"  He got out his telecom device.  "King Hippo!  Mouser!  Get out here and help me immediately, or else!"  King Hippo and Mouser warped into the meatball, further crushing Ludwig's back.  "Oog!!"  They stepped out of the meatball.

            Mouser could not resist laughing.  "Ha, ha, ha!  You've been meatballed, boss!  Ho, ho, ho!  You're facing a crushing defeat!  Ha, ha, ha!"

            "Why, you idiot!  When I get my claws on you, I shall rip you into cheese slices!  Now, get this cursèd thing off of me before Mario covers me in. . ."  Suddenly, spaghetti and meat-sauce fell *splat* in the area containing Ludwig, the meatball, King Hippo, and Mouser.  ". . .spaghetti and meatsauce.  GET ME OUT OF HERE, YOU TWO FOOLS, OR I SHALL ZAP YOU INTO KINGDOM COME!!!"  He readied his finger to zap the two, but no power came out.  "What?  Oh, blast it!  Mario has squeezed the magical power right out of me!  Don't you dare wait until Larry gets here, you two fools!  He'll destroy you!"

            King Hippo said, "Come on, cheese-brain!  Let's get him out from under this meatball."  King Hippo and Mouser rolled the huge meatball off Ludwig.  "How are you, boss?"

            Ludwig said, "How dare you ask that!  I'm in darned pain thanks to that pasta-pounding plumber.  YOU WILL PAY DEARLY FOR THIS OUTRAGE, MARIO!!!"

            "Sorry, Ludwig," said Mario.  "I left my VideoLandian money in my other overalls!"

            "Oh, yeah?  My Bob-omb will fix you!  Ho, ho, ho!" said Mouser.  He created a Bob-omb and threw it at Mario.

            Mario said, "Triforce of Power, make that thing a dud."  When the fuse had burnt in, the Bob-omb did not explode.

            "Hmm.  I guess it was not ripe.  HEY, MARIO!!!  TOSS IT BACK TO ME!!!  UNRIPE BOB-OMBS TASTE GOOD!!!"

            "Heh, heh!  What a sucker; he's asking for it!  ALL RIGHT, MOUSER!!!  HERE IT COMES!!!"  Mario tossed the Bob-omb back at Mouser, then whispered a secret command to the Triforce he was holding.

            "Ah!  At least these dud Bob-ombs are tasty snacks."  Mouser chucked the Bob-omb in his mouth, chewed it, and swallowed it.  "Yum!"  The Bob-omb exploded in his stomach.  "-Urp!-  Then again, maybe the Bob-omb was ripe."

            "Come on, Mouser!" King Hippo said.  "Let's beat it!"  King Hippo grabbed Mouser's arm and dragged him to the warp to Metroid.

            Ludwig said, "As my malicious King Dad always says, 'He who Koops and runs away lives to Koop another day!'  Ha, ha, ha!"  With that, Ludwig and Agahnim entered the warp to Metroid.