#i just need them to pay off the 'bowser is looking for mario's weakness and luigi ultimately IS the weakness' thing. I NEED IT

[chloecherrysip]

Just Beyond My Reach, There's Someone Reaching Back For Me (speculative mario movie fic, mario & luigi centric, around 3600 words.)

[OK SO i literally could not stop thinking about this post in the mario movie tag from last week, which turned into me trying to write out my thoughts about how the scenario could unfold, which then turned into me writing a full-fledged fanfic that's over 3,000 words long??? I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. I've truly lost my common sense, but I just felt like I HAD to get this out before the movie arrives and their reunion is nothing like this in any way whatsoever.

This is a speculative fic of just one possible scenario out of millions, no actual spoilers; i'm working off info we've seen in the trailers/TV spots/promotions/etc, and all the characterization is based off those too, so it might ultimately be off-base. Please don't @ me after the movie comes out and get on my case about details being wrong! I AM IN THE PAST (and jealous of you in the future for having already seen it).

I present to you: A Version Of Mario & Luigi's Reunion in the Mario Movie That Would Cause Me Irreparable Psychic Damage.]

----

Mario hears him first. He would know that panicked yelp anywhere. 

By that point, he’s lost count of how many of Bowser’s minions he’s tried to interrogate as he fights his way through the airship. There’s so much shouting and clanging all around him, and his voice hurts from yelling loud enough to be heard over it, but he can’t stop. “Where do you keep prisoners? Have you seen someone who looks like me — but tall, skinny, and green? If you take me to him, I’ll go easy on ya, I swear—” 

it’s hard to tell if they’re just refusing to answer him, genuinely don’t know any useful information, or can’t actually communicate in a way he understands — probably some in each column. But he’s about to grab another angry Koopa by the shell and try again when there’s a commotion far off in the distance. The yell that echoes out to him is faint, but it tugs hard at Mario like a rope tied around his middle. Something from his memories, the nightmares he’s been having this whole adventure that he hasn’t told Peach and Toad about. Something instantly, certainly familiar to him in a way that few things are. 

His heart is suddenly lodged in his throat. He barrels his way past the troops and the Kongs fighting them, moving fast towards it.

The area of the airship he’s in starts to slope down further ahead, surrounding a huge open space that, judging by the flickering embers in the air and heavy heat that’s got him sweating through his shirt already, has a whole bunch of lava simmering at the bottom. On the other side of the chasm, there are a whole group of what look like angry blue penguins beating down some feisty stacks of Goombas with their bare flippers. There’s also what impossibly looks like a star, with a face and everything, beaming bright and doing twirling cartwheels in the air, giggling at the carnage underneath. And behind all that, he can see—

Mario reacts without having to think. He jolts forward against the railing, reaches a hand out, and yells as loud as he can. “LUIGI!” 

He can only see glimpses of his overalls and green hat at first amidst all the other chaos, but then pieces of the ongoing fight tumble further to either side, giving a clear view. Mario watches wide-eyed as his brother frantically swats away Goombas, shrieking and flailing his arm furiously when one snags some teeth through his sleeve until it comes loose. He looks terrified and a little queasy, but also very determined, even jumping in to help when one of the penguins gets pinned down. They seem to be working together. 

Luigi is here. He’s really here, alive and fighting and still in one piece. Mario isn’t too late. It feels like a 20 pound weight’s suddenly gone from his back that he hadn't even realized he was carrying around.

His yell is half-drowned out by the chaos, but Luigi’s head still snaps up, eyes wide and stricken and bright with recognition. “Mario?” He cries out, his voice cracking badly. He kicks another Goomba away and then starts spinning, searching the surrounding area with increasing desperation. “Mario!?” 

“Over here!” Mario wishes he had another raccoon powerup so he could just fly across the gap and reach him right then and there. He has to settle for taking off his cap and waving it in the air like a flag. “Luigi! Over here!” 

Finally, their eyes meet across the gorge. It’s not necessary at that point, but Luigi still tears off his own hat and starts flailing it around too overhead, as if just to make absolutely sure his brother knows where he is. “MARIO!” He shouts, his tired face instantly transforming into a relieved, overjoyed smile. 

“Are you okay!?” 

“Y-Yeah! I mean, define “okay,” but I, I'm not hurt or anything like — wait, how did you get here!? We’re way up in the air!”

Mario’s face already hurts from how wide he’s grinning. “Not anymore! And whaddya mean? What do ya think I’ve been doing all this time? Looking for you! You don’t think I could find you wherever you are, even if it’s a million miles in the air? Give your big bro some credit, eh?” 

A laugh bursts out of Luigi, surprised and shaky. Mario has missed that sound so much. “Right, right. I did think…I mean, I hoped, or…” His brother shakes his head, his voice failing him. He lets out a deep breath, so deep that it’s almost like he’s been holding it in ever since they were separated, still smiling like the sun. “I knew you would. Mario, you — look out!” 

Mario turns just as a hammer goes whizzing past his ear, tumbling down into the lava pit. He dodges the next one more capably and then catches the third one that comes his way. In one smooth, lightning-quick motion, he throws it back at the attacking Hammer Bro, nailing him in the face and knocking him out cold.

“Whoa!” He turns back to see Luigi staring with his mouth agape. “When did you learn how to do that?”

“It's kinda a long story!” There will be plenty of time to get into all the details about his adventure when he’s gotten Luigi safely out of an active warzone.  “What about you? I thought you were a prisoner here!” 

“I am! Or I was, I guess! We — me, and the penguins, and Lumalee,” he gestures wearily up overhead, where the blue star-thing is idly playing with a pinwheel that it somehow conjured out of thin air, “and the others — we broke out! We, ah, we’ve been trying to find a way outta here ever since, but this place is a maze and we need some kind of hot air balloon or one of those floating clown-car thingies to even get away in the first place, and—”

“Spinies at four o’clock!” One of the penguins shouts, at the same time that Mario yells “Luigi, on your left!”

Luigi jolts at the sight of the three spiky, spinning shells approaching fast. He jumps high enough to leapfrog right over them all, causing them to ricochet off the wall unexpectedly and careen off the side straight into the deep pit. 

“Nice, Weegie!” Mario cheers. “You always were the better jumper.” 

“Keep your head in the fight, soldier!” One specific penguin calls out to Luigi. He’s wearing a very fancy gold crown — probably their king? “We’re not done here yet!” 

“I know, I know, but look!” Luigi gestures excitedly across the chasm. “My brother’s here! He made it!”

“Good show! If he’s as brave as you said, he can help us beat back these dastardly troops once and for all! We’ll all see the light of day again soon!”

The rest of the penguins cheer, thrusting their flippers victoriously into the air, and then let out a wave of new, guttural battle cries. The Penguin King smiles over at Mario and salutes him before rejoining the fray. There are more of Bowser’s minions crowding the walkways on both sides, Mario realizes with a newfound wave of worry. He needs to get to Luigi now. 

“Stay right there!” He calls, starting to run alongside the railing. “Don’t move! I’m coming!”

“Are you kidding!? Wait!” Luigi starts running too, mirroring Mario. “I can meet you faster this way!” 

Mario laughs. “If you can keep up with me!” 

“You’re on!”

The road ahead of him is pure chaos, filled with attacking enemies and whooping Kongs and weapons flying every which way, but Mario runs. He runs until his heart burns, dodging and weaving, almost tripping here and there because he can’t stop looking over the gap to make sure Luigi’s still there on the other side, stumbling his way through his own gauntlet. The two areas are winding closer together, slowly but surely. They must meet somewhere. He’ll find it. He has to.

“Hey, Luigi!” He yells, breathless and happy. “Remember when we were fixing Mrs. McGrady’s sink a couple weeks ago and talking about the future? Did you imagine it’d be anything like this?” 

“Whaddya think!?” Luigi shouts back jokingly. “I-I mean, I imagined people being mad at us, but those were customers. There was definitely a lot less lava, and magic, and crazy green pipes that send you to places from your literal nightmares!” He laughs, which swiftly turns into a yelp when he has to dodge away from a red Koopa. The next words come out thicker, almost strained. “Mario, you, you’re really here, you — I missed you, I…”

Even with the distance and the distracting noise and the heavy breathing, Mario can hear the familiar tearing in his brother’s voice, and it pushes him to run faster. Luigi is so much braver than many people in their life have given him credit for, but he has a breaking point, and Mario can recognize it like the back of his own hand. Heck, he could use a good cry right about now too. They're so close. Just a little further.

He’s never been the biggest hugger — that title belongs squarely to Luigi, who always holds on a little too long, especially when Mario protests, swinging him up into the air until Mario has to grab him in a headlock and wrestle him down, both of them laughing by then — but he genuinely doesn’t know how he’s ever going to let go of his brother again once he’s within arm’s reach. 

“I missed you too! Every day!” He calls out, and if his voice cracks, well, that’s okay. “Hold on! It’s gotta be just up ahead!” There’s a solid wall coming up where they won’t be able to see each other across the way any longer, but the sharp curve of it looks extremely promising. “I’ll meet you on the other side!” 

“Okay!” 

The wall comes between them. Mario's finally in the clear, having left all the attackers in the dust. His legs and chest hurt, but it doesn’t matter. He's about to get his brother back. He feels invincible, unstoppable.

“I told you, bro!” He can’t hear Luigi at all any longer, but he shouts anyway, hoping the words reach him.  “Even if it didn’t turn out like we thought, it’s all gonna be okay! This is crazy stuff, but as long as we're—” 

Mario turns the corner and skids to a sharp stop. The words die in his throat, turning to ash.

Bowser is in front of him. 

The King of the Koopas nearly fills the entire space wall-to-wall, hulking and monstrous, even bigger than what Mario imagined. He breathes out an angry, deep growl that prickles at Mario’s skin, star-bright embers scattering in the air, the smell of burning getting stronger and stronger. But none of that is what Mario is focusing on. He’s frozen in place at the sight of Luigi, wriggling in one of Bowser’s gripped hands. A thick, scaly finger is coiled tight over his brother’s mouth too, keeping him from making any noise besides a variety of muffled, panicked sounds. 

“Thought you didn’t know him, Greenie,” Bowser says in a low voice to Luigi. “Wasn’t that what you said? Boy, you wouldn’t like what I usually do to liars. It involves fire — a lot of it.” His rows of sharp teeth part, just enough for a big exhale, tinged with molten heat. Luigi cringes, turning his head away as far as he can manage. He’s trembling. “But lucky for you, turns out you’re not entirely useless.”

It takes a moment for Mario to come back into his body, remember how to move and think. But slowly, his hands ball into fists. A voice erupts out of him that barely sounds like his own, grave and angry, angrier than he’s ever been in his life. 

“I’m only gonna say this once, ya overgrown turtle,” he says, shifting his footing into a fighting stance. “Let my brother go now.” 

Bowser looks down at him with a derisive sort of amusement for a long moment before laughing outright. "Give me a break, shortie! You’re even punier in person — 50 of you couldn't stop me. But that hasn’t stopped you from trying, has it? You and your little friends  — your pathetic excuse for an “army,” if that’s what you want to call it. But that all ends now.” 

As if on cue, Mario hears DK and a few other Kongs turn the corner, whooping and hollering, only to pause too at the sight of Bowser. “Let’s get ‘em! He can't take us all at once!” Someone says, and there’s a rush of new movement behind Mario. Bowser turns Luigi in his hand, holding him out a little closer to Mario with a shake of the wrist — a taunt. One of his claws pulls up just a little from the rest, the sharp tip arched and pressed lightly to his brother’s neck. The implication is clear. 

“Stop!” Mario shouts, half-strangled. He must sound serious enough that DK yells “hang on, hang on!” to his brethren, grabbing them with both arms and holding them back from attacking. On Bowser's other side, Mario can see the penguins watching what’s unfolding too with wide eyes. Even all the minions in the area have gone still, weapons lowered, waiting to see what Bowser does before making their next move. The space is suddenly quiet. 

The claw finally relaxes again. Luigi’s eyes are very wide, and there are tears on his face as he stares at Mario. He tries to say something, the sound of it hopelessly muffled against Bowser’s hand — an apology, or a plea, or simply Mario’s name. 

Mario is shaking. He grits his teeth hard, desperately tries to hold himself steady again. He hopes Bowser can’t see it — but there’s a gleam in the King’s eyes, and it couldn’t be any clearer that he does. 

“Do you know how long I worked on this plan?” Bowser says, his tone softer, more thoughtful all of a sudden.  “Orchestrating these invasions, gathering forces far and wide to serve me, taking the almighty power star for myself. I’ve wanted this for years!” His wide mouth curves up, plainly wicked and self-satisfied. “And now here I am, about to rule the world like I deserve, and a couple of useless, pipsqueak plumbers from who-knows-where think they’re just gonna waltz right in and ruin it for me.” Bowser chuckles to himself. It’s a dangerous, sharp-edged sound, echoing on and on. “Ain’t that a laugh, Mario?” 

Mario doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t even know if he’s breathing any longer. All he can do is glare.

Bowser shrugs. The large fingers on his occupied hand flex ever so slightly, a slow, malicious ripple of movement, all the scales glinting in a wave. “You’re less fun than I thought you’d be,” he says gruffly. "What does the princess even see in you? A tiny little killjoy who loves ruining things for others. Guess it’s only fair I ruin something of yours to make us even."

There’s no further warning or fanfare. In one brutal motion, Bowser crushes his grip tighter around Luigi. His brother’s mouth is still covered, but the way he cries out is starkly, unmistakably pained. 

Mario’s vision floods with red. Something inside of him, the patient, careful part that was still desperately clinging to one last scrap of self-control, snaps cleanly in two. He runs at Bowser full-speed, fist cocked back, teeth bared. 

“I said LET HIM GO!” 

He doesn’t make it there. Bowser, grinning outright, moves so much faster than Mario would have ever guessed he could. He spins, and his tail comes out of nowhere. The impact is like an oncoming train, catapulting Mario into the nearby wall with a sickening crack.

There’s a horrible ringing sound in his ears. His head hurts. He hears Bowser laugh, followed by a roar and a burst of fire breath, awful-smelling and close enough to singe. There’s a lot of shouting, and panic, and thunderous footsteps, moving in a hurry. He can’t think any longer. Why can’t he think? All that comes to mind is—

(They’re fifteen, hiding in their bedroom with some smuggled bandages and antibiotics from the medicine cabinet because if their mom finds out Mario punched out a kid behind the school, she will LITERALLY murder him. Luigi wraps each bruised knuckle carefully as Mario winces and complains about the stinging ointment. His brother looks angrier than he’s ever seen him before, though, and that makes him quiet again in a hurry.)

“You want him so bad?” Bowser is much further away, his voice a distant rumble over the flickering flames. Get up, Mario tells himself. He’s gasping, struggling to push himself back up with useless, trembling hands. His legs feel numb. Get up! “Then come and get ‘em already!”

(“You never stop and THINK first, y’know?” Luigi shakes his head, badly trying to hide the tears budding under his eyes. “And now you’re hurt, and it’s all my fault, and — and I don’t need you to do stuff like that for me! I can handle it, e-even if you think I can’t!”) 

“Mario!” That’s Luigi, terrified and wheezing, finally able to talk again. An intentional decision by Bowser, no doubt, just to be cruel. Mario can barely hear his brother at all, and the sound of his voice keeps growing fainter. “No! Let go! MARIO!” 

(“What are you even saying? That’s not why I did it at all!” Mario insists, using his uninjured hand to flick Luigi’s nose with a few fingers. His affronted expression at that makes Mario laugh, and the motion quickly turns into them trying to be the first one to swat each other in the face without getting blocked. At least the tears are forgotten, which is what he wanted from the start. “Don’t ya get it? I know you can take care of yourself. But if anyone wants to hurt you, they’re gonna have to go through me first. I’M the big bro, and that’s just how it is forever.”) 

Luigi! 

He’s standing again, even as his body protests every pull and push of the way, even as he’s still struggling to open his eyes. Someone strong and furry offers some extra support on his right side. 

“You okay, man?” Donkey Kong asks. “Geez, that looked like it hurt. Hey, anyone have an extra mushroom?” 

Stars are flashing across his vision, but finally they fade away. There’s a line of fire in front of them like a makeshift barrier, slowly but steadily dying out. Sure enough, Bowser and Luigi are gone. Mario’s heart lurches hard against his ribs.

“Setting a devious trap for sure,” The Penguin King grouses from further away. “Using one’s own flesh and blood! Does that dastardly Koopa’s depravity know no limits?” 

“I’m fine. Never better,” Mario groans. He points past the fire. “He went that way, right?” 

DK blinks, looking a little uneasy. “Uh, yeah, but we should probably regroup first and — hey! Wait a second, you idiot!”

Mario’s already charged full-speed ahead, jumping over the flames. Others yell after him too, saying it's too dangerous, but he’s running anyway, chasing the smell of molten heat, the faint, far-off echoes of yelling that feel like pinpricks in his lungs. 

He knows it’s a trap. He knows. He just doesn’t care.

He already let Luigi literally slip through his hands once before. Heck, he isn’t sure if he’ll ever be able to forgive himself for that alone. No matter where he has to go, who he has to fight, how much abuse he has to take, he's getting Luigi back right now, and he's gonna pound that overgrown bully's face until he regrets every life decision that led to him daring to hurt Mario's little brother.

It can't be too late. He can't have screwed this up again. He'll do anything. Even if...

The feeling of something on his cap startles him out of the thought — the softest boop-boop-boop, like someone very small is bouncing on it. He assumes he’s just imagining things until the blue star-thing (Lumalee?) floats down further, easily keeping up with his top speed, humming what sounds like a lullaby. Mario gawks in its direction. 

“The biggest sacrifices are often the ones that burn the brightest, out in space,” it says, bright and sing-song. “Did you know that?”

“What are you even talking about!?” Mario yells. “Sorry, but I’m a little busy here!” 

It’s unbothered by that, twirling close enough to give his mustache a little, playful poke. “Not existing any longer is natural, inevitable. We all go into the light someday.” The way it’s staring at Mario is unnerving, as though this little, creepy star knows exactly what he was just thinking about. “You look scared of that. Are you?” 

Mario swallows thickly. 

“No,” he says. “If that’s the only way, then…” His eyes are burning at the edges, just a little. “If the people I love are safe, then it doesn’t matter what happens to me.”

Lumalee smiles a dreamy, thoughtful smile.

“Oh,” it sighs, little more than a breath. “This is going to be so much fun.” 

And then it floats away. 

Mario doesn’t have time to stop and wonder what that was all about. He throws himself deeper and deeper into the airship, even when a heavy metal gate slams down behind him to separate him from the others, even when the slabs of rock under his feet sink down into the lava from the weight and don’t resurface, erasing any way out. Mario thinks of his training, of Princess Peach and Toad cheering him on, of the exhilaration and hope he felt looking out over the Rainbow Road, of Luigi smiling in the warp zone right before they were ripped apart. He steels himself for what’s coming next.

Further ahead, he hears his brother call out for him.

Mario runs.

[mk-empress]

Battle Against The Dual-Bladed Duelist

The Boss Fight

The invasion was a success. The folded soldiers had captured Bowser and his minion army. And Bowser’s cowardly mage had even crashed the entire castle. Sure, the minions got away and are now enslaved to do maintenance on Shangri-Spa by the toads, but at least I had Bowser as a living trophy in his own throne room. I was alone in the throne with the chained, oversized koopa. 

“Hey! Release me this instant! Don’t you know who I am?! I am Lord Bowser, and I will not stand for-“

“Oh, cut it out already. Can’t you see you belong to me now? You’re already lucky to be in one piece.” I told him. I walked down the red carpet on the floor to Bowser’s throne. I decided to try it out, see how it felt. His throne was surprisingly quite comfortable.

“Hey! Get off my throne! You’re not allowed to sit there!” Bowser barked.

“Silence! You are not the one in charge here anymore. You are my prisoner. I am above you. Now, be good and seal your lips closed, or I’ll cut out your tongue.” I threatened. Bowser gulped and froze in place. Good. 

I glanced up and saw the green streamer penetrating the ceiling, creating a large hole. Seeing this reminded me of the other streamers. I had already watched the red streamer, the blue streamer, and the yellow disappear. I felt bitter about it. I was worried about the purple streamer. I decided to step outside to see if the purple streamer was still there. I know I’m not supposed to leave my post, but I needed to know. 

When I got outside, I flew under the clouds of Shangri-Spa. I could see the Sea Tower below. Wait-... where’s the purple streamer-? No... I zoomed down to the roof of the Sea Tower, no one was there. Why? Where was Tape? I-I couldn’t be the last one! I can’t be alone! I frantically soared faster than I’ve ever flown before toward Overlook Tower. I stopped above the top. I only saw a couple of toads looking at the hole left by the spool in the pole, nothing else. I shifted my gazed and soared to Shogun Studios. I got a bird’s-eye view of the park. I saw several toads working at the entrance. Some of them were carrying bags of Rubber Band’s broken bands. I glanced into another direction and arrived at The Shroom Temple. I entered through the upper entrance. When I got down to the dance floor, my heart shattered when I saw Hole Punch’s broken, pale, lifeless body. My eyes watered, and I just shook my head. I rushed back out and flew back to the Sea Tower. I landed on the roof and spun circles around looking for Tape. I noticed blood on the ground, and it was fresh. I was panicking. I stared over the edge of the tower into the sea, then I saw blood in the water. Tape had to be down there! Maybe I could save him. I jumped off the tower and dived toward the surface of the ocean. I held my breath as I plunged into water. I scanned my surroundings looking for Tape, then I saw him. I swam deeper down to him, and grabbed his hand. I held on to him tightly in my arms and shot up out of the water back to the roof of the sea tower. I gently laid Tape down. I tried to wake him up.

“Tape! Wake up! Come on!” I shouted, but he didn’t stir. I shook him harder. “Please! I can’t be the last one! Get up! GET UP!” He still didn’t move. 

I looked at his body and I started to cry. His wrists were bleeding profusely, and his arms were red. I put my hand on his chest, and I felt his ribs were broken. I pressed my fingers on his neck, there was no pulse. I froze in place. It felt like my heart was just ripped out of my chest. Tape was dead, like the others. I cradled him in my arms and held his head to my chest. I was devastated. His body still felt warm. It came to me that he died recently. I looked up at the clouds above me. Tears streamed down my face. I screamed at the top of my lungs. I thought I could save SOMEONE! I just wanted someone to be with me. I stayed there, with Tape’s body, still holding him close to me. I remembered all the times we had, the good, the bad, and the insane. We fought at times, we sparred at times, we laughed, we raced, we enjoyed each other’s company, and now... I continued to mourn. Deep within me, I felt an inhumanly rage boiling within me.

I blasted up back into Bowser’s castle. I swung open the doors into the throne room. I wanted to shred Mario and Olivia into a thousand pieces. I wanted them to sink into the deepest rivers of The Underwhere! They had to pay for this! I needed revenge! It was all I craved!

“Aww! What’s wrong? Did something hurt your feelings?” Bowser taunted. I was not in the mood to deal with his mockery! I drew one of my sword blades and grasped his throat, choking him, and pointing the tip of the blade at his eye.

“Listen to me. I am NOT going to listen to you whine, beg, or mock me! If you speak one more time, I will murder everyone you love or remotely care about! Then you will know how I feel!” I screamed. I released Bowser, turning my back to him. I was still so enraged, and I didn’t realize that my eyes were glowing. I craved revenge! I had to have it! I would annihilate EVERYTHING in my way! I would destroy Mario! HE’S THE ONE WHO MUST PAY! 

I felt like I had the rage of many people at once. I felt like my heart was beating out of my chest, and my back was aching. I thought I felt something seeping out of me. I looked behind and saw dark, wispy shadows. What was this? What was happening to me? Suddenly, I felt like something just bursted out of my back, then I felt it again, and again. I started to notice shadowy creatures appearing around me. I saw the black silhouettes of little boys and girls holding hands, I saw large, black, adult silhouettes- both men and women- towering around me, and then, I saw a massive creature that wasn’t like anything I’ve ever seen before. It had a hand for a head, and the body of a snake. I decided to call it the “Handaconda”. I felt the pain in my back go away, and I felt a bit more in control of myself. The shadows surrounded me, and they looked like they were waiting for something. Oddly enough, I didn’t feel threatened by them, as if they were MY minions. I looked behind me at Bowser and he looked terrified. I just smirked at him. I turned back at the shadows.

“Do you serve me?” I asked. All the shadows nodded the best they could. “I want you all to spread throughout and guard the corridors and rooms of this castle. If you see any of the folded soldiers, do not attack. If you see a small man with a mustache, and a little girl floating beside him, bring them to me for termination. If any of the toads or any of Bowser’s minions enter, get them out any way you like. NO ONE is to enter this room at any cost! Understood?” I commanded them. All the shadows agreed and left the throne room.

I still felt an unnatural rage within me, but I felt a little calmer after creating those shadows. Suddenly, I heard someone from outside the castle. It was faint, but I did hear it.

“DAAAD!” I heard a child scream.

“SON?!” Bowser called. 

I glared at Bowser, then he looked at me. I looked up at the hole in the ceiling, then back at him. That boy was coming for his father, and I can’t risk the green streamer being destroyed, now can I? I grinned as I drew my blades and zoomed out through the hole above me. I saw the kid that looked similar to Bowser, and zoomed at him. I latched my blades together into an actually pair of scissors. At the last second, the kid saw me just before I sliced him and his clown car into six, bloody pieces. Some blood had sprayed on me. I watched as the remains of the boy fell to the ground.

“NOOOOO!” I heard the blue mage scream. I cackled as I returned back to the castle.

I landed back on the red carpet in Bowser’s throne. I sheathed my bloodied swords. Bowser stared at me with a worried expression.

“What did you do?!” Bowser barked. He could see the blood on me.

“I simply delayed Mario from entering this castle.” I answered.

“What did you do to MY SON?!” Bowser roared.

“I KILLED HIM! But don’t worry, we’re in Shangi-Spa! The Spring of Purification should revive him.” I explained.

“YOU’RE INSANE, YOU MONSTER!” Bowser screamed at me. Insane? INSANE?! 

“Insane?!” I laughed. “With what I’m going through, I think I have the right to go a little insane!” I snapped. My eyes began to water. I was laughing and crying at the same time. I knew I lost my mind, but Mario took so much away from me. He stole my siblings’ lives! He SLAUGHTERED all of them like they were pests! I SAW WHAT WAS LEFT OF THEM! If I’m not allowed to be a tiny bit crazy... 

I waited for what felt like an eternity, pacing back and forth, pondering all the things I could do to Mario. I was clutching my skull, my tears were dripping onto the floor, and my rage was destroying me from the inside out. Bowser was good as he stayed quiet the whole time. All of a sudden, I heard the bullhorns outside squeal, then someone spoke.

“Ahem. Attention, fellow minions of Lord Bowser! The folded soldiers guarding the entrance to Bowser’s Castle are no more! Now is the time for us to rise up! Make for the castle and stand with Mario! Together, we shall free Lord Bowser and restore honor to our names! FOR BOWSERRRRRR!” That was the voice of that blue mage. I heard cheers outside.

“HA! Yes, my minions! You hear that?! Soon, my minions well storm and retake this castle. And when I’m free, I’ll stomp you into bits!” Bowser threatened. I simply laughed.

“Oh, I wouldn’t get so excited if I were you. Your weak little army will be rushing to their DEMISE! They won’t even make it to that door.” I replied. My own minion shadows would destroy them first. Then, Mario will be next!

I could hear all the commotion outside. I was wondering who was winning. Not too much time pasted when I heard Bowser’s minions outside trying to break down the door leading into the throne room. It seemed the folded soldiers had failed.

“It would seem I underestimated your minions, Bowser. But, no matter. I will swiftly dispose of them myself.” I drew my blades and flew up out of the castle. I soared around the structure and entered again through the front door. I had a straight shot to the koopa army.

“INCOMING!” One of the minions shouted. 

I gripped my blades tightly, and I began my rampage. The minions tried so desperately to land a scratch on me, but alas, my blades minced them first! I laughed maniacally as I wiped Bowser’s army from existence! I thoroughly enjoyed killing them one by pitiful one. In mere minutes, all who were left were the blue mage, and Bowser’s son. They both stared at me in horror. The mage held the kid and turned their gazes away. I thrusted my blade through the kid’s spiked shell, and out the mage’s back. Blood poured from them, and they both became limp. I yanked my sword out, and let the blood drip from the tip. I looked behind me and saw the result of my massacre. The blood of the minions flooded the floor, and the chucks left behind littered across the carpet. It felt great to vent on an ENTIRE raid. I unlocked the door and walked into Bowser’s throne room, then closed it behind me. I was soaked in blood, and I LOVED IT! Bowser stared at me, horrified and speechless.

“I told you not to get so excited. EVERYONE is dead, and now you know how I feel, losing everyone.” I said quietly to him. Bowser sank and started to cry. GOOD! He’s going through what I’M going through. And now all that was left to do was KILL MARIO for what he did to MY family! 

Suddenly, I heard more calamity outside the doors. I could hear Olivia... and hissing? I assumed it was Handaconda fighting Mario and Olivia. Finally, Mario had arrived to my doorstep. A wave of uncertainty suddenly hit me- if not even my siblings could stop Mario, why would Handaconda be any different? No, surely it could do something to the plumber. Handaconda was forged within me by my rage. Wait, was it JUST Handaconda fighting Mario? Where were the other shadows I created? I heard loud slams and hisses. I wasn’t sure who was winning behind that door. I flew up and hid in the rafters above, watching that door closely. I heard one last hiss before silence fell. Who just won? I heard a thud against the door, and I heard Olivia talking! No! Everything I created, everything I loved- why does Mario always win?! 

Mario and Olivia swung open the doors into the throne room. After a long struggle of saving Bowser’s son and facing so many shadows, they could finally see the end of the green streamer.

“There it is! The end of the green streamer! We did it! It’s the end of the road! The last of the streamers!” Olivia exclaimed. My anger and hatred burned hotter for every second I looked at those two.

“Hey! I’m here too!” Bowser shouted.

Mario and Olivia approached the steps leading up to Bowser’s throne. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I lunged down from above.

“Look out!” Bowser screamed. I flew down and slammed my blades down above Mario, but he jumped back half a second before I could kill him. “I get credit for that!” Bowser said. I slowly floated down to their level.

“Hmph. Well dodged. Of course, I expect nothing less. It would have been terribly boring to end things so quickly, yes?” I was losing my composure rapidly in front of them. “You may have been successful in killing the others and destroying their streamers, but- by doing that- you’ve only doomed yourselves further. You’ve made me angry, Mario. Now, I will cut off your head! En garde!” Mario pulled out his hammer, and I gripped my blades tightly. And so began the duel. 

“Let’s get this straight: I WILL annihilate you...but I don’t see why we can’t have some fun first. After all, where’s the challenge in slicing you to strips immediately? Therefore, I shall grant you... a slight advantage.” I sheathed my blades in front of them. I wanted to cut them to shreds, but I wanted to have a little bit of pleasure softening them up. “See? My blades have been sheathed. We’re on equal footing. However! Should you damage this cover during our battle...I shall interpret such boldness as a direct challenge...and I won’t hold anything back!” I warned. 

As much as it hurt, I had to hold so much of my fury back. With my swords sheathed, I had to go with fist-fighting, which- I will admit- I wasn’t as skilled with as two of my fallen brothers were. I flew up then dived down toward Mario, but he dodged, and I ended up slamming my fist into the floor. I dashed toward Mario before he could ready a swing. I flipped up and kicked Mario in his chin, sending him flying up. I flew up to him, grabbed him by the neck, then threw him into the floor. I dived after him. Mario scrambled up as fast he could, and swung at my side, but I dodged. Mario hurled his hammer at me, but I caught it. I threw his hammer back at him with powerful force. Mario dodged, but his hammer was destroyed on impact. Mario pulled out a shiny tail and a POW block. He absorbed the tail and floated toward me. I attempted to kick him across the face, but Mario dodged and countered with a tail-swipe to MY face! Mario floated up a little higher, then ground-pounded onto of me, crashing me to the ground. He threw the POW block into the floor, and the shockwave threw me back up. I felt dizzy, as the vibrations rang in my skull. Mario’s tail wore off, then he absorbed an ice flower. He threw four ice balls at me, but I was too dizzy to dodge, and they all hit me, freezing parts of my flesh. The ice flower wore off, and the frost on my skin melted. I laughed.

“All right! Enough. It was fun while it lasted...but your feeble attacks have grown tiresome. Let’s CUT to the climax! Ha haaa!” I exclaimed. I grabbed my swords and slowly unsheathed them. I glared into Mario eyes. Finally, it was time to DESTROY Mario, and take REVENGE for my family! “Guarding is useless! This is the end for you, you despicable fiends! FAREWELL!” 

I flew back and latched my blades together. Mario’s doom is now. This was the FINAL CUT! For The Missile Maestro! For The Elastic Entertainer! For The Disco Devil! For The Shifty Sticker! For The Fanged Fastener! FOR KING OLLY! And for myself...This is IT!

I zoomed at Mario. I closed my blades together, but MARIO JUMPED OVER IT?! I turned around and saw Mario land. My rage consumed me. I couldn’t hold it back any longer. A powerful green aura erupted from my body. My eyes glowed and flamed so brightly. Even my blades had their own auras. My hatred became too strong, I had lost full control. I rushed at Mario with uncontrollable speed. I repeatedly tried to slice him with my blades. I heard both Mario and Olivia panicking. Mario could barely keep up with dodging my attacks. I even heard Bowser freaking out. 

Eventually, Mario fell too far behind. I swung both my blades, and they cut straight through him, slicing him in half and removing his head. I watched Mario’s body fall apart. I straightened up, then froze. I was still furious. I did it, why couldn’t I calm down? I heard Olivia weeping to the side, then I locked my gazed on her. She stared at me with fearful, watered eyes. She was involved with the deaths of my siblings. I had to kill her too. I dashed at her and swung my blades, but she too dodged, then ran and hid behind Bowser’s throne. I rushed at her and sliced the throne in two, scaring Olivia senseless. 

Before I finished her, I heard a certain sound behind me. I turned around and saw a 1-up mushroom absorb into Mario. Next thing I knew, Mario was standing up with no wounds. My rage was still erupting out of me. I charged at him and slashed my blades. Mario dodged and whipped out another POW block, then threw it into me. The shockwave shook my bones, but my rage let me push through it. When I looked at Mario, Olivia had just transformed into the Ice Vellumental. She blew a massive ice beam at me and froze my legs in ice. I couldn’t moved them, I couldn’t fly, I couldn’t escape! Olivia smashed her hands down, and the ice shattered, mangling my legs. I collapse onto me knees. I couldn’t walk. I was bleeding. It suddenly hit me that this most likely is my end. Olivia transformed back to herself than stood behind Mario. Then, Mario gained the 1000-fold arms. My anger was extinguished immediately, and fear took over. My eyes widened as Mario grabbed me and slammed me into a wall. He pressed me against the wall with one arm, and took hold of one of my blades with the other. I knew I was done for. Mario drove that blade straight into my stomach. All my breath was taken away. Mario released me and pulled the blade out, and I collapsed to the floor. I felt so weak. All my rage, my energy, my strength, gone. 

I looked up and watched Mario smash the spool of the green streamer. My eyes flooded with tears. I failed! I FAILED! How could I have failed?! I used all my will, all my fury, everything, but I still failed. I failed to protect the streamer, I failed the avenge my siblings. I failed...

“Great job as usual, Mario! That was the last streamer. We’ve done it!” Olivia shouted. 

My heart just sank. I was so lost in agonizing thoughts. I zoned out. I don’t remember what they said, or what happened, but when I snapped back and looked up, I saw Mario, Olivia, and Bowser leaving. I was able lift myself up a little bit and took a breath.

“You think yourself a HERO, Mario?!” I screamed. Everyone paused and turned around toward me. “You took EVERYTHING from me! My brothers, my sister, my creations! Do you even understand what you did to me?! WHAT YOU PUT ME THROUGH?!” My body was growing weaker. I couldn’t hold myself up anymore. Life was draining out of my body. I heard Olivia reply. 

“You guys all threatened the toads’ lives! You all did terrible things to them!” Olivia replied.

“AND you butchered my army AND my son! Even I couldn’t do something so cruel.” Bowser jumped in. 

“You...ruined...us... First, you kill my siblings, then you kill me, and now your going to kill my creator? I loved them! And you are tearing apart our lives! We have feelings just like you, you know? How can you live with yourselves?” I questioned. We had our own lives. We were created for one purpose, but we still treated one another as family. Even King Olly cared about us. The toads neglected Olly, and then these guys come to break us ALL down. Why? 

My thoughts slowly became nothing. My vision was fading. I felt so bitter, but none of it mattered anymore. I never heard an answer from the others. I felt a wave of peace come over me. When I die, I would see my siblings again, and- when the time came- I would see Stapler and Olly again too. We would be united again, and I would feel happy once more. I felt calm.

I’m so sorry, but I’m coming.

[mysterioh]

The Ignorant Beauty and The Beast of New York - Chapter 1

PAIRING: MOB!STEVE ROGERS X READER

SYNOPSIS: Y/N is an exhausted bio major. Steve is danger with a capital DANGER. She thinks he’s a sarcastic prick with an impressive knowledge in art history. He thinks she’s cute even if she’s only running on one brain cell. All he wants is a single date, but she’s adamant upon denying.

Masterlist 

Art Hoe™️

There’s nothing in the world that can beat Saturday morning. A time to sleep in and be lazy with ease in your heart that you don’t have to do anything for the rest of the day.

Bucky leaned back in the office chair (one that wasn’t his) and kicked up his feet onto a neatly organized desk (not his either). His steel-blue eyes were fixated on the screen of his phone with his brows knitted in concentration. Saturday mornings were Mario Kart mornings and Bucky was never one to be less than first place.

Sam walked into the office with his eyes glued to the papers in his hand. He looks up to find someone he’s not supposed to find.

“Bucky, what the hell are you doing?” He asked, annoyed. Bucky’s presence was enough to annoy Sam.

“Shush, I’m in the middle of something,“ he hushed him. Sam rolled his eyes with a groan.

"Where’s the boss?”

“Didn’t I just tell you shut it, Wilson?” Bucky said again, dropping back into third place.

“Are you playing that stupid kids game again?”

“It’s rated E for everyone, punk,” he growled at him. He smiles a little when his Princess Daisy bombs Bowser.

Sam crosses his arms. “You’re not supposed to be in here,” he reminded.

“Alright, mom, what do you want?” Bucky said, his eyes finally pried away from the game.

“First get your dirty shoes off the desk and second, where is Steve?” He asked. “I’ve got some info on the delivery tonight.”

Bucky clicks his tongue but listens to him. “Tell me, Sam, what is today?”

Sam was puzzled. “It’s Saturday,” he replies.

“It’s Saturday morning,” he corrected.

“Okay, and?” he asked, growing peeved.

“Saturday mornings are when Steve goes to meet his muse.”

”The Love Letter by Jean Honore Fragonard" you read off the pamphlet. You look up at the painting with a lopsided frown.

This was what you came all the way from Brooklyn to see? A picture of a lady with a bouquet in her hand and a small smile on her lips. At least the dog was cute but not enough for wasting a perfectly good Saturday morning on.

You didn’t understand where the appeal came from. For this painting or any other for that matter. Yeah, they were pretty but that’s it. You didn’t feel the overwhelming emotion that some felt when they looked at a masterpiece. Never have you ever been moved to tears because of painted canvas. But then again, nothing ever moved you to tears.

You groaned at the picture. “Stupid art professor,” you grumbled with your arms crossed.

You were visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art for an art history project. Your eccentric professor had given an assignment in which you had to find three pieces of artwork and write how you felt about it. She gave a list of the ones to check out first and you decided to just follow it.

You weren’t an art buff or even remotely interested in the subject. It was just a gen ed class you needed to check off and you were hating every minute of it. An hour on the subway just to look at something you could’ve googled in a second. At least you got in for free.

You huffed at the girl. “What’s so great about you anyway?”

“What’s not great about her?” a voice chimed in from your side.

You turn to find a man standing next to you, admiring the masterpiece and overhearing your conversation with the painted lady. He was drop-dead gorgeous. Looking like a blue-eyed, blond-haired Adonis that walked out of one of those thirsty cologne ads. His face was beautiful. Well-defined with a sharp jaw and angular cheekbones. The ocean blue of his eyes matching the light complexion of his skin.

He was the kind of guy that made you stop dead in your tracks. He must’ve gotten used to it by now. The natural sudden pause one made as he walked by or the way women must’ve bitten their lower lips at him in desire. He seemed like the type of guy who knew he was good-looking but didn’t pay it any mind. The type of man who would remain modest and humble.

He was dressed casually in a tan Hilfiger wool sweater, a pair of black trousers, and casual sneakers. Oooo rich guy, you thought as you raised a brow at his question to you.

“Pardon?” you asked.

He turns to you with a charming, crooked smile. “Sorry, I couldn’t help but hear you talking about Marie like that.”

“Marie?” you asked slowly.

“Yeah, that’s her name well according to some scholars,” Steve replied turning fully towards you. “Marie Emilie Boucher. She was the daughter of Fragonard’s teacher.”

“I see,” you nodded slowly, not really knowing what to say. Great, you just crossed paths with an art geek.

“So why don’t you like it?” he asked. His inquisitive eyes bore into your soul, searching for an answer.

You turned to the painting and shrugged. “It’s just another painting of a lady. One that’s not naked, thankfully. I just don’t see the appeal. It’s just an average painting.”

“An average painting?” he asked, completely shocked by your answer. You take a step away from him just in case he got hostile. “How could you say that?” he exclaimed. “There’s so much depth! So much mystery! So many amazing techniques hidden in it!”

“Chill, dude,” you tried to calm him down with your hands in front of you.

His shoulders dropped in disappointment. “I guess some people just have weak eyes.”

“My eyes are perfectly fine,” you retorted, offended by the strange man’s reaction. Warning: hot guy is a jerk. But aren’t they all?

“Then how can’t you see it?” he asked, pointing at Marie. “I mean the brush strokes, the usage of lighting and the coloring. It’s glorious. Absolutely magnificent.”

“Okay, so he painted her dress blue instead of pink, big woop.”

“It’s more than just that,” he shakes his head. “It’s the realism in it. Don’t you feel the mystery around her?”

“Sure,” you replied, not wanting him to freak out again. He chuckles at your blase attitude but goes on to speak. He’d never miss a chance to talk art.

“Look at her face,” he asks and you do as he says. “The small smile on her lips and the sneaky look in her eye showing off that she knows something we don’t. She has something we don’t have. A love letter from her admirer. A fiance? A husband? A secret affair? We don’t know and all we can infer is from the way she teases us with the name on the letter. Her expression is unmistakably coy and it only brings about the question. What could have been written in that letter? Words of deep adoration? Maybe one of a longing desire? Her behavior displays a bit of misconduct considering its time period.”

“You seem like a very nosy person,” you noted earning a chuckle from him.

“I just enjoy art,” he stated.

“I wouldn’t have guessed,” you said, scribbling down some of the stuff he said. It’s not plagiarism if you’re paraphrasing.

“Are you copying down what I said?” he asked, looking over your shoulder.

“Yeah,” you admitted shamelessly, “you don’t mind right?” Who cared if he minded you were going to use it anyway.

“Nah, it’s fine, but it’ll cost you,” he said with a mischievous smirk. You turned to him with a raised brow. “How about you share a cup of coffee with me, beautiful?”

You groaned inwardly. Of course, the hot guy had to make a move. It was hard for them not to. It was in their blood. “Sorry,” you said, sticking your book back into your bag and taking out your pamphlet. “I’m here to work not lounge around. So I’ll see ya.” You turned on your heel and waved him goodbye.

He followed right behind with a smile on his face. “Come on, princess, that ain’t fair,” his Brooklyn accent showing just a little. “Take my words and then give me the boot.”

“You were the one yapping away,” you retorted, your strides getting wider to get away from him. It didn’t take many steps for him to reach you. “You gotta be careful with your words or anything for that matter. How do you think Rosalind Franklin felt when she got robbed by Watson and Crick?”

“I don’t know who that is,” Steve said, sidestepping you, “but you’re from Brooklyn, aren’t you? I can tell from the way you talk.”

You stop in your path when he stands in front of you. “You know the name of the chick in that painting, but you don’t know who Rosalind Franklin is? The founder of the DNA structure?”

“Well, that’s good for her,” Steve replied, not paying much mind to it to ask his own question. “You from Brooklyn?”

You pout with a deep exhale from the nose. “That’s none of your business,” you said pushing past him with your shoulder hitting his arm.

He follows you anyway, it’d take more than a shoulder bump to get the mob boss off your trail. But he guessed you didn’t know who he really was.

“Listen, jerkface,” you hiss at him when you catch him still following you. “I’ll call security if you don’t stop following me.”

“Sweetheart,” he chuckles with the corners of his eyes crinkling, the shine in his eyes unbearably alluring. “It’s gonna take more than simple security to get me away from you.”

TAGLIST:  @rootcrop​ @scuzmunkie​ 

[lilycove-department-store]

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle: Review

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is far from what I would call an “enticing” game. While I have fond memories of the rabbids from playing Rayman Raving Rabbids on the Wii circa 2006, the idea of mashing Nintendo’s most beloved plumber together with the undeniably upsetting Minion-esque rabbit-folk seemed a bit garish. The end product, however, was far more nuanced than a genre-ripoff cash grab.

Kingdom Battle presents itself as a re-imagination of the turn-based tactical shooter popularized by games like XCOM with familiar characters but makes enough changes to make it something new and genuinely enjoyable. Simple base mechanics build on each other throughout the course of the game, developing into a surprisingly complex experience, and one that carries Nintendo’s characteristic polish to its logical end.

When I first heard about this game I was quick to dismiss it. Early gameplay looked fairly simple and the idea of throwing rabbids in with Mario & Co. felt like a capitalization on the rising popularity of Minion-types. Besides, I had payed few strategy games in recent years and generally disliked them, save for a few excellent exceptions (looking at you, Into the Breach). I ultimately purchased Kingdom Battle in a moment of weakness when it went on sale; I was in dire need of a long-form game and something to keep me occupied on an airplane. So I purchased it and dove in headfirst.

The plot of the game is fairly ludicrous and tangential to the gameplay, as is historically the expectation for Mario games. The rabbids, a seemingly unstoppable force of chaos, break into the real world (our world) and steal an experimental technology that fuses objects together. They are then launched into the world of Mario, where the guardians of the Mushroom Kingdom must leverage their powers, alongside those of their newfound rabbid friends, to stop Bowser Jr. from abusing the fusion technology. This fusion manifests in the form of classic Mario enemies fused with rabbids and fantastical landscapes of household items blended with World 1-1 environments.

The bulk of the game involves a turn-based combat wherein the player controls four characters, each with distinct and customizable weapons and abilities, in clusters of encounters against AI. I never played the multiplayer mode, but in completing the single-player campaign, I must say that the gameplay was satisfying and effective. What seemed simple at first (moving characters from one tile to another one, using cover, firing at unaware enemies) quickly became more complex as Kingdom Battle throws new mechanics at the player with startling ferocity. Just as I became comfortable with my Luigi’s sniper rifle, I was introduced to Yoshi and his machine gun, each of which require completely different strategies to use.

The campaign, which took substantially longer than I expected to complete, spans several colorful worlds with a variety of challenges to complete and collectibles to unlock. One of the most fun parts of this game was the my control over the many different facets of the game. While the game spikes in difficulty near the middle/end of the story, I always felt like I could redistribute my upgrade points and swap out party members to better adapt to any given enemy. It was rewarding to craft a strategy and watch it play out in real time against Kingdom Battle’s rather adept AI. Even the simplest levels required complex decision-making, and I actually ended up enjoying it quite a lot.

The game, while fundamentally simple, takes a lot of work to learn and ultimately feels rewarding to play, rather than frustrating. There’s more than one way to complete a given level, as long as the player has enough awareness to keep in mind all of the consequences of a move. There are few things more satisfying than spending several turns setting up a masterful alpha-strike, cleaving through enemies, bouncing rabbids off the map, and finishing off bosses with precision. I did get frustrated at times when a small mistake meant losing a level that I’d invested 20+ minutes in, but a quick break was all it took to get me back in. What’s more, this game is enjoyable to watch; my roommates sometimes hovered around the tv and gave (semi) helpful suggestions.

For a game that seems like something of a ripoff of more focused genres, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is a fun new take that sports all of Nintendo’s classic accessibility. Though the $60 price tag is a little much in my opinion, there really is a lot to dig your teeth into, and if you’re worried about Kingdom Battle being too easy or boring, don’t be. It’s startlingly difficult at some points, though never in a way that feels unfair. Kingdom Battle wasn’t my favorite game of the year, but it was far from the worst, and I can see myself coming back to replay it when I feel the urge to tactically shoot.

TL;DR: a deceptively complex turn-based game, accessible, polished, long playtime, a bit difficult, but very rewarding. Buy it? Yes, but try to grab it on sale.

[fanders-fic-awards]

The Road Trip (SFC Submission)

Summary: A group of four friends travel across the country to see the Grand Canyon

Warnings: A car accident, self-deprecating speech, death mentions

WC: 3185

Vote

The old Honda Civic quietly drove down the rural highway, making its way through rural America. At the wheel sat Virgil, his hands carefully gripped in the correct position, his breathing focused and calm, his eyes attentive to the road ahead, despite no one else around. Next to him, in the passenger seat, sat the bookish Logan, his eyes darting between road maps, guidebooks, and hand-scribbled calculations, determined to pack as much fun and enjoyment into the road trip as he could. The back seats were occupied by Roman, a princely sports type who was enjoying the late morning sun as he daydreamed into another dimension, and Patton, the dad-friend who was more than content playing 'I Spy' by himself.

" I think I have it this time," announced Logan, finally tearing himself away from the papers.

"Well don't keep me in suspense, Specs," replied Virgil, teasing him with a nickname only they could get away with. "What do you have this time?"

Pushing his glasses up his nose, a sign he was about to go full nerd mode, he began "Taking into account Patton's habit of running off, and Roman's partially weak bladder-"

"Hey!" cried Roman from the back. "It is not weak, it's just..."

"Pissy?" offered Virgil.

"Shut it, Joke Colburn."

"Driving Miss Daisy reference? Good job."

"Thanks, I've been thinking of that one for a month now."

"Delicate?" asked Patton.

"Pardon, my young friend?"

"Would you describe your bladder as 'delicate?"

"Not entirely. More-"

"Temperamental."

"Yes, Logan. Temperamental."

"Back on track, because of those things mentioned, if we allow 7 minutes at the following rest stops, we should still be able to hit every tourist point along the way, collecting the necessary souvenirs and photographs, and still make it to the Grand Canyon at a reasonable time."

"Alright," agreed Virgil. "And when is the next rest stop?"

"In 26.7 miles."

"But the sign up ahead says half a mile?"

"We can't stop at that one. We have a schedule that i literally just finished creating."

"Well, I just finished 'creating' something of my own, and I need to use a bathroom."

"Is it a poem?" asked Patton.

"You are just to adorable for words, you know that right?"

"I get that a lot."

"We can't stop, Virgil. I just made a schedule. It took me 17 minutes to do so."

"And think of all the fun you're going to have creating a new one," Virgil said, pulling in to the rest stop.

"Just because you're correct doesn't make you right, you know?"

The stop did not take as long as Logan had predicted, mostly due to his mission to follow Patton around everywhere he wandered whilst Virgil gathered supplies and used the facilities. Soon enough, they were ready to get back on the road again.

"Are you sure you don't want someone else to drive, Virge?" asked Logan.

"I'm good. I think I need to do this myself... to help, ya know?"

"Understandable. Please let us know if you want to swap."

"Oooo, I call shotgun this time!" cried Patton, running full force at the car.

"Wha-Shotgun?!" Roman retorted dramatically.

"I believe it is," Logan began, rifling through his little black notebook of idioms, "'the act of reserving the front seat of a car. An action that can only be taken when the vehicle is in sight.'"

"I know what it means, I just thought that I could possibly sit up front this time."

"Maybe next time, Knight Watch," chuckled Virgil. "C'mon, we better get a move on before Logan blows a fuse."

With that, they all piled into the car and pulled back on to the road.

The sun rose high into the sky as the group continued across the country, commenting and making jokes about the places and monuments they passed along the way. Even Virgil was cracking half a smile as they drove, his anxiety slowly fading into the back of his mind. It wasn't until around two in the afternoon that Patton finally cried out in delight "WAFFLES!!"

"What?!" yelled Logan, jolted from a nap he was enjoying in the warm sunlight.

"Waffles! Dead ahead! They have a Waffle Hut out here!"

He pointed to the large brown and yellow building approaching them, with a large sign outside reading "Waffle Hut, Come get some Breakfast 24/7"

"Well, I am famished at this point," admitted Roman, stretching his neck. "The snacks are delicious but nothing quite fills you like a good hearty meal."

"What do you decree, oh Lord of the Time Schedule?" Virgil jested.

"I guess... It would be a good opportunity to stretch the legs, as well as eat a proper meal."

"Yaaaay~!" squealed Patton, who was bouncing up and down in his seat.

"Hey, Patton. What did the Pancake say to the Waffle?" asked Virgil, pulling into the parking lot.

"Ooo, this sounds like a good one. What?"

"Nice abs."

"Oh my god... That was so adorable, I love it kiddo!"

"Knew you would."

Parking the car, they made their way inside, choosing a booth by the window and made their orders. Virgil went to use the bathroom, feeling the need to clean himself up a little. He looked at himself in the mirror after splashing his face with water. The bags under his eyes from the lack of sleep, the mess he called a hairstyle, not to mention the small, almost invisible scars, littering his face where the auto glass had sprayed him. He felt his heart begin to race, his palms becoming clammy, and his chest tightened.

"In... Hold... Out," he whispered to himself, trying to breathe that all too familiar pattern.

"Are you doing okay?" asked Logan, who was now standing behind him. Virgil didn't even hear him come in he was so distracted.

"Yeah... I guess..." he sighed. "Just another attack, nothing to fear."

"You're doing fine. Are you remembering to breathe?"

"Until I need to die," he said with a dry chuckle.

"Come on, the food is ready."

They walked out of the bathroom, joining their friends at the booth. In front of each of them sat their respective meals. Patton had a plate of waffles drenched in three kinds of syrup ,and a coffee mug filled with what was most likely orange juice. Roman was enjoying a couple of Sunny Side-up eggs with bacon, hash browns, and a waffle, in between sips of his Very Berry smoothie. Logan chose to eat a simple fruit salad, with an added waffle at Patton's insistence, and carefully sipped his green tea whilst studying the maps ahead of them. Virgil smirked as he drank his black coffee, and took uneven bites of his single plain pancake, knowing it was making Patton all the more upset he wasn't eating a waffle like the rest of them.

Bites of food, bits of time, slowly they finished their plates, making very minimal small talk between then, and soon enough they were on the road again. The sun was hanging low in the sky as they crossed the state border into Arizona, meaning they were only a few hours away from their final destination.

" We should probably stop soon," stated Logan, carefully tracing the roads on the map with his fingertip.

"I'm fine for a couple of hours," replied Virgil, keeping his eyes on the road ahead of them. "I want to get us as close as we can, so we don't have to wake up too early."

"I have to agree with Dark Luigi over here," affirmed Roman from the passenger seat. "I'm not really up for waking up too early."

"Luigi?"

"You're not the main character, but you are very important nonetheless, and you have a very mean stare."

"Who am I, in this equation?" asked Logan, finally lifting his head from his works.

"Iggy Kooper, of course."

"I'm a Kooper?!"

"You're the smartest Kooper," Virgil tried to reason. "I mean, who can create such fantastic creations than the most intellectual character in the game?"

"And let me guess, Roman. You're Mario?"

"Of course not! I'm Bowser." The car fell silent. "What? What is it?!"

"No, you're right..." Virgil muttered. "I mean, he has a castle, an army."

"A love for princesses?" added Patton.

"But isn't he... a bad guy?" questioned Logan.

"Preposterous and nonsense, that's just the media portraying him as such." Roman turned to Virgil, with pleading eyes. "Right...?"

"Well... I mean..."

"Why would you invite someone to drive go karts if they weren't a good guy and a friend?" interrupted Patton with a smile. "Bowser has to be a great guy, and it suits you, kiddo!"

"Thanks Patton."

"But, then who is Mario?" asked Virgil.

"I am not quite sure, I haven't had much time to think about it."

"Can I be Toad?!" squealed Patton, excitedly.

"Of course you can," Virgil said, turning his head to smile. "I'd think no one else could be a more perfect-

"Watch out!!" screamed Logan, pointing to the front.

In an instant, Virgil spun forwards to see the blinding headlights of the oncoming semi trailer. In the brief time he stopped paying attention, the car had drifted to the left into traffic. His heart sped faster as his mind flashed back to that fateful night.

HNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNK

The truck blasted its horn, trying to swerve out of the way. In an instant, he jerked his hands to the right, pulling the car back to their side of the road, and all the way into the gravel off-bank. Virgil's breathing was short, rapid. He could feel his heart race in his chest, almost begging to smash through his ribs and run away. All he could feel was the phantom pain of that night... of the car accident. He almost jumped when he felt Roman softly touch his hand on the steering wheel, and he realised how tightly he was gripping it.

"Virgil... It's okay." Roman tried to remain calm, to be a pillar of support. "It's all okay now. Can you do the breathing exercise that Logan showed you?"

"I... don't...know..." he replied between quick shots of air.

"Just in your own time, friend..."

Virgil lifted his hand from the wheel, parking the car properly, before turning off the key. Closing his eyes, he began to focus on his breathing. Long breaths, returning oxygen to his lungs, to his body. When his heart rate felt normal again, he opened his eyes.

"Are you okay?" Roman asked.

"I think so."

"There's a gas station up ahead," Logan added quietly. "We can stop in there and ask for directions to a motel."

" 'Kay."

"You going to be okay to drive?" asked Roman again. "Do you want someone else to take over?"

"I should be... I'm okay. I just need to get there."

Pulling in to the gas station, Virgil quickly ran for the restrooms, making it just in time to lose his lunch into the sink. Wiping away the residue from his mouth, his eyes met in the mirror, and tears began to form.

"I hate you so much," he whispered to himself. "Why are you like this? Why are you so useless?"

"It's probably not a good idea to talk to mirrors like that," chimed Patton, who had somehow snuck up behind him, causing him to jump. "It reflects badly on you."

"Patton, I..." Virgil tried to yell, but the tears kept flowing. "I'm scared..."

"Hey... Hey, kiddo..." Patton wrapped his arms around him, holding him close. "It's going to be okay, we're here for you. You're strong, but it's okay to be afraid sometimes."

"Thanks..." he mumbled in reply.

"C'mon, we better not keep them waiting," Patton said, giving him one final squeeze.

Walking out of the bathroom, Virgil turned to Patton, and said "I'm just going to grab a drink. I'll be in the car soon."

"All good. Can you ask for directions for the motel as well? I was meant to do that, but I kinda got sidetracked."

"Yeah, sure..."

After a few minutes, Virgil climbed back into the driver's seat of the car, switching it back on.

"You right to do this?" asked Roman, still in the passenger seat.

"Yeah, I'm feeling better now. The guy says there is a motel a few miles up, not too far off the highway."

"A good night's rest will make us feel better," Logan ��said with a smile.

At the motel, they all booked in to one room to save on costs. Roman and Logan took the queen sized bed, Patton chose the smaller bed next to it, and Virgil said he was happy on the couch.

"Are you sure, Virge?" asked Logan, preparing his nightly routines.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. I can sleep anywhere. You have a bad back, and Princey doesn't... do less than a queen."

"I heard that, Valentino Gothy!" called Roman from the bathroom.

"I'm not even a speedy driver!"

"Don't care, it's funny!"

"Anyways," Virgil said, turning back to Logan. "I'll set an alarm for us. What time is sunrise?"

"A little after 6, I think."

"So if I set it for about 4, we should have time to get there and do the hike."

"More than likely."

"Great... Well, goodnight guys."

"Night Virge," smiled Logan.

"Night kiddo," whispered Patton from his pillow fort.

"Goodnight my favourite black knight," sung Roman as he exited the bathroom.

Virgil didn't feel tired, but as soon as his head hit the pillow, he was out like a light. His dreams were filled with car accidents and fire, of broken glass and gasoline. He could feel the stabbing pain, smell the metal, taste blood... but for the life of him, he couldn't remember where he was. He could hear yelling, but the smoke was too thick. Waking with a startle, he could feel the cold sweat drip down his forehead. Reaching for his phone, he saw it was a little after midnight. He looked over to his friends, to see they were all still fast asleep, Patton having moved from his bed to lay across the other two. Virgil chuckled softly, laying his head back down and trying to sleep again.

Virgil's alarm woke him on time, and he was pleasantly surprised that the others were ready and waiting for him. Soon enough they had the car packed again and were on the road to their final destination.  The car was silent, the group preferring the sounds of the road than the early morning radio, and each were distracted with their own things. In no time, they found themselves in the parking lot outside of Grand Canyon National Park. Virgil carefully parked the car, and smiled at his companions.

"We made it, guys," he said in a tired voice.

"Not entirely," Logan disagreed. "We still have a hike up the trail."

"And we should make haste if we wish to beat the sunrise," Roman added, checking his watch.

"Are you gonna make it, kiddo?" asked Patton as they piled out of the car.

"What, the leg?" Virgil patted his right leg reassuringly. "Patton, I've been fine for months. I barely limp. And I refuse to be left behind by you guys."

"We're here to help. You just need to ask."

"I'm sure I can do this."

Up the path they marched, Roman taking the lead as their gallant protector, and Virgil bringing up the rear to protect them from spiders, or as Patton called them, "Creepy Crawly Death Dealers". When they reached the halfway marker, Virgil could feel his leg ache, but his determination powered him forward.

"This trip isn't for me..." he whispered to himself. "It's for them..."

Cresting the top of the path, they were elated to find themselves in the open area overlooking the Grand Canyon. At long last, they had finally reached their goal. Virgil, in a spurt of uncharacteristic overwhelming joy, ran forwards to marvel at how far they had come together. It was glorious, a marvel, and he had made it there.

"Guys, this is... this is spectacular. We made it here... after long last, we did it," he said, tears of joy in his eyes.

"Yeah... we did, kiddo," Patton said from behind him, unusually sad sounding.

"But now it's time for you to let it go..." Roman added in a sombre tone.

"What? What are you guys..." Virgil turned to his friends, and he could feel a knot growing in his stomach. He could see them standing there, in the early morning light of the sunrise, but their bodies were translucent and glowing. Virgil forced a smile, and asked "What is this? How are you  doing that?"

"Virgil... You need to accept what happened," Logan whispered, taking a step forward. "You need to forgive yourself and let us go."

"No... No!" Tears rolled down his face as he screamed at them. "No! This isn't real! It didn't happen!"

But in his mind, he knew it did. He knew that that faithful road trip they took two years ago had happened, that he had fallen asleep at the wheel because he was too stubborn to accept help. The car drifted across the lanes and into an oncoming semi trailer, collecting them all. Virgil was the only one to make it out alive.

"Please... Please don't make me do this..." he begged, tears streaming down his face.

"We can't make you do anything, Virge," Logan said. "We can only try to guide you. It was you who wanted to make this trip, to finally lay us to rest."

"And we appreciate that to no end, my..." Roman began to choke up. "My beautiful dark prince. We appreciate you honouring us in this way."

"But... how can I go on without you?" He reached into his pocket, fishing out the last physical memories he had of them. "How can I do this without them?"

In his hand lay three hand sewn patches, a gift to the group by Roman himself; the heart, the brain, the coat of arms. Each one representing a fallen friend, each one a dear memory.

"You can do it, because you're stronger than you realise," Patton said in a comforting tone. "We believed in you. Now you need to believe in yourself."

"I'm trying. I’m trying all the time, but it’s just too hard."

"No one ever said this was an easy task," Logan reasoned. "But in time, it will become less painful."

Virgil turned and walked towards the safety railing, placing a single hand on it, before turning back to the ghosts of his friends. "Please... let me come with you. I don't want to be alone."

"We... don't wish that for you, Virgil." Roman took a step forward next to Logan. "Please, you are our friend. Live on in the most extravagant way possible."

"But..."

"No 'buts', kiddo." Patton said, joining them. "Deep breath, hold, and then... release."

Virgil turned towards the canyon, the sun halfway up the horizon now. Closing his eyes, he filled his lungs with the fresh air of early morning, savouring the feeling, before letting it all go.

@wandering-scarecrow