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Chapter Text

In the Mushroom Kingdom, there's many toads. All toads had different colors. Blue, Red, Yellow, Purple, and Green. They each all have different personalities.

Blue is loyalty, Red is leadership, Yellow is joyful, Purple is sassy, and Green is helpfulness. There are thousands of toads. Hence the name of the kingdom.

They all helped out the kingdom and the princess, Princess Peach. She watches all the toads to make sure they're helping others.

You were a different Toad. A Gray Toad. You weren't as joyful as the others, you were quieter than the others. You kept to yourself most of the time.

Other times, Peach was by your side. She was interested in you. She said that you were a special toad.

You don't know you were special. You're just a regular Toad. During that time, the toads were fascinated by you. They've never had a gray toad before.

They were very friendly to you. You wished that you could express more emotions. You always give them a small, sleepy smile. They nicknamed you Sleepy.

It was a regular day in the Mushroom Kingdom, all the toads doing their tasks, hanging out, or helping the princess. You were sitting down watching the toads, already done with your task for today.

While sitting down, you see other toads wave at you with a smile. You sleepily waved back with a small smile.

You hear small little cheers coming from the hallway, noticing that it was the princess. She waved and acknowledged the toads, smiling at them.

She then walked towards you, having a sweet smile on her face. She lifted her hand and placed it on your head, giving you small, gentle head pats. You lean into her touch, feeling sleepy.

''Hello Sleepy, how've you been?'' she spoke in a soft tone. You were so special to her; you didn't even know it. You spoke to her back in a quiet tone. ''Hey princess...I've been doing fine...''

She sat next to you and scooted closer to you. Why was she so close to you? Doesn't she have other toads to look out for? You looked up at her.

''What are you doing...? I thought you had work to do instead of worrying about me...?

She then giggled, not understanding why she was. You were her special toad, her one and only Toad.

''I just wanted to see what you were doing. You're always by yourself, and I wanted to see you,'' she said as her bright, blue eyes stared down at you. You started to get a tad bit nervous.

''Oh... ok'' you said quietly. Why was she staring down at you like that? Before you can say anything, a Red and Blue toad came towards you two.

''Princess! the Mario Brothers are here!'' Said the Red toad. ''Yeah, they wanted to see why they called you.'' a Blue toad said.

'The Mario Bros... who are they?' you thought to yourself.

Peach frowned for a second before turning to the two toads with a strained smile.

''Ohh...they're here already... Well thank you toads for reminding me, I'll go see them now.'' She got up and walked to the doors. She then turns towards you.

''I'll see you later, Sleepy'' she said with a sickly, sweet tone.

You sleepily waved at her. When she was gone from your sight, you got up and slowly walked outside the back of the castle. You found it relaxing to sleep outside.

You went to sit on the small mushrooms, eyelids getting heavier from each step you took. Laying softly on the mushrooms, you fell into a peaceful sleep.

Chapter Text

Meanwhile, with the princess.

Peach had a strained smile on her face. She finally had some to spend with you. You were so special to her, so unique.

You were the only toad that she would hang out with, but with thousands of toads by her side all the time, she couldn't even leave from their sight.

She then walked towards the huge, front doors with the Red and Blue toad by her side. She wanted to tell them to leave, but she knew they weren't leaving her side.

She opened the front door to see Mario and Luigi. They both greeted her when she opened the door.

''Hello princess!'' spoke Mario with his joyful attitude. ''H-hi princess!'' stuttered Luigi.

She looked at them with a grumpy look for a second, then a smile was formed on her face. ''Hello, Mario and Luigi... What brings you here...?'' she spoke with a strained smile.

The brothers looked at each other then looked at her.

''Umm... you called us here...you said that you wanted to show us something or someone?'' Mario questioned her. She thought for a moment, now getting what they were saying.

She took a deep breath; she was supposed to introduce you to the brothers. At first, she wanted to tell them that they aren’t needed anymore, but it is a long way from their house and the castle.

''Oh yeah!... I wanted to introduce you to someone. Come on, I'll show you'' she said very loudly for some reason, with a strained smile.

The brother looked at each other, thinking on why she was slightly yelling. They shrugged it off, thinking it was nothing and followed her into the castle.

While peach led them into the big hallway of the castle, the toads all around the waved and greeted them with joy.

The brothers waved back to them. Peach looked through the hallways looking for you. ''Where are they?'' she said quietly. She then went to a group of toads.

''Hello, have you guys seen Sleepy around? I wanted to introduce them to Mario and Luigi.'' she questioned them. The toads looked at each other to see if they've saw them around.

The brothers looked at each other. Who was sleepy? Have they been here that long for them to not notice.

''Do you know who Sleepy is Luigi?'' He shook his head at his brother. ''No Mario, I've never seen or heard of them before.'' He said to Mario.

The toads then looked at the princess and the brothers. ''Yeah! I saw them heading outside in the back of the castle. They're probably sitting at their usual spot where they always sleep at'' spoke one of the toads.

''Thank you!'' she said to the toads. The toads then went somewhere else to go hangout. She was excited to see you, but she had the brothers with her. She turned to the brothers.

''C'mon, let's go outside, that's where they mostly be all the time.'' She told the brothers. She started to speed walk towards the doors, wanting to see you quickly.

She needed to see you. She did care about the other toads, but she cared for you more.

The brothers noticed that she nearly ran to the back door of the castle. They quickly followed her, trying to keep up.

She then opened the back doors, looking around. She then saw a sleeping figure. Nearly jumping out of her heels, she jogged towards you.

The brothers looked at her with slightly widened eyes. Who was this person she wanted to see? They both followed her to the figure.

Peach then slowed down, quietly walking towards you. You look so peaceful sleeping on the mushrooms. Softly snoring, the way your stomach slowly raised and descended. She wanted to bring you to her lap and hold you.

But she remembered that the brothers were here. She turned to them. ''Mario, Luigi, this is Sleepy, The Gray Toad.'' She quietly said to them.

The brothers got a look closer at your sleeping form. Their eyes widen at your form, never seeing a gray toad before. You also had your own nickname, Sleepy... it was a cute name for you.

You looked so soft. You were the only toad that had eyebags on your face, the others didn't. That's what made you so unique to them.

They looked at your mushroom head, it was Gray, different from the other toad's colors. They couldn't keep their eyes off you.

Peach noticed how they looked at you with admiration. She was the only one who should look at you like that. She wanted to say something to them, but she didn't want to seem rude.

She then softly placed her hand on your soft body, starting to nudge your body. You made a small crunched up face, letting out soft sleepy mumbles, not wanting to wake up.

You softly groaned and opened your eyes and saw three figures. You see the princess, but you didn't know who the other two were.

Mario and Luigi looked at you in awe. You look so adorable. You slowly got up and yawned, rubbing your eyes, trying to adjust your eyes.

''Hey sleepy, I'm sorry to wake you, but I'm here to introduce you to some people. Meet the Mario Brothers, Mario and Luigi.'' You sleepily nodded at the information look at the two figures beside her.

You look to a figure shorter than the princess. He had blue overalls over a red shirt, white gloves, and brown shoes. He had a black mustache and brown hair with blue eyes and a big, round nose. He also had a red hat with a letter 'M' on it. He must be Mario.

You turned towards his brother. He was taller than Mario, but a little bit shorter than peach.

He had the same blue overalls but with a green shirt. He also had the same white gloves and brown shoes. He had a black mustache but looks slightly different from Mario.

He had brown hair as well, but it was a little brighter than his brother's hair. He had a big nose too, but a little skinnier. He had a green hat on his head with the letter 'L' on it. He must be Luigi.

''Hello... I've never seen you two before. I'm Sleepy... nice to meet you'' you spoke in a soft, sleepy tone.

The brothers continued to admire you. You look so adorable when you woke up from your nap. They both putted their hands out for you to shake.

''Hello, my name's-a Mario and here beside me is my brother'' ''Hi, my name's Luigi'' they both greeted you. You softly nodded. You shake their hands one at a time.

'Their hand is so soft, like a baby. I don't want to let go of it' Mario thought.

'Their hand feels like a pillow, I want to keep holding it' Luigi thought as well.

Mario spoke. "It's very nice to meet you, Sleepy. I'm quite interested in the fact that you're different from other toads. I'm sure you're a pretty cool toad to hang around" he spoked to you softly.

Luigi spoked after. ''Yeah, your very unique from the others, we hope we can become friends.'' said Luigi.

You softly giggled at their eagerness to becoming your friends. You don't know why they want to be friends with you, but this could be fine. The soft, sleepy giggles echoed in the brother's ears.

They were glad that the princess showed you to them. ''So what do you guys do. I never noticed you guys around here?'' you asked.

The brothers were quite shocked that you never heard of them, but they were glad to tell you more.

''We're the Mario Brothers. We are the heroes of the Mushroom Kingdom. We've been helping the princess for years from the evil king, Bowser.'' Mario spoke to you.

Luigi nodded along with his brother. ''We also do plumbing and take out monster's and ghosts,'' Luigi added.

The Evil King Bowser, monsters and ghosts...? You heard of Bowser, but monsters and ghost? That's a lot that they have to handle.

''That's cool, guys. You must be very good at your jobs to be doing this for so long. '' You said softly. The brothers thanked you. They were starting to like your soft, sleepy voice.

Behind them, Peach was starting to get aggravated. She sees how the brothers are interested in you. They're very friendly towards you.

''Ok! that's enough introductions. Sleepy, It's almost time for lunch. Let's get you inside, you must be hungry. I'm sorry to cut things short, Mario and Luigi,'' she said with a strained smile.

''Umm... okay princess. Thanks for introducing me to them.'' You wave at them. ''Bye Mario and Luigi''

The brothers had a little disappointed look on their face, but they put on a smile.

''Bye Sleepy, we'll see you next time!'' spoke Mario. ''Yeah, bye Sleepy'' added Luigi. You softly waved them goodbye.

Peach gently grabbed your hand and led you to the castle. Peach waved the brothers goodbye, they waved back at her.

After she led you in the castle, she turned around and kneeled to your height and gently cupped your face.

''You ok, Sleepy? I'm sorry that I had to wake you up'' Peach spoke softly.

You sleepily nodded. ''Yeah, I'm fine, just tired and hungry now'' you said. Peach nodded.

''C'mon, let's go eat.'' She grabbed your hand and led you to the dining room with the others.

Chapter Text

Meanwhile, with Mario and Luigi

The brothers were walking home from meeting you at the castle. They're glad that they got to meet you. They wanted to see you more. You were so adorable and unique. They liked your sleepy and tired attitude.

''I'm glad that we got to meet them, Luigi. I can't believe that we didn't notice them for so long. I wish we could stay there longer. I'm very interest in them.'' spoke Mario.

Luigi nodded at his brother. ''Yeah, from all the other toads we've seen, they stand out the most to us. I hope one day we could take them out to have an adventure with us'' Luigi added.

They both continued to walk home. While waking, they felt something, a feeling of want. They're definitely going to see you tomorrow.

Back at the castle, you and the princess were at the dining room table with the other toads. You of course, sat right next to the princess.

You all were eating at the table. The toads were hanging out, conversing with each other, and others were eating. You were busy eating your favorite food. While eating, you felt something, like you were being watched. Shrugging off the feeling, you continued eating.

Next to you was the princess. She kept staring at you, while you were eating peacefully. She gently raised her hand and gently placed it on your head, causing your breath to hitch at the touch, but you slowly relaxed.

She really hoped that you can be by her side forever. The feeling in her body wanted to have you and keep you all to herself. She really hopes that nothing can happen. What she didn't know that there was someone watching them from the outside window.

Meanwhile at Bowser's castle.

The evil king himself, Bowser. The man that has been after the princess for years. His plans continued to fail and fail. Years after years, the Mario brothers been on his tail for years, making sure he doesn't have a plan for his next attack.

This time, he was thinking if he should give up. For years, his plans have failed. He wanted to keep going, but he had no thoughts on it. He heard a knock on his door. ''Come in'' he spoke gruffly.

Kamek entered in and closed the door. ''Hello Koopa, I have something to show you. I believe that there's someone better than the princess.'' Kamek said to him. Bowser turned towards him; his eyebrow raised.

''Someone better than the princess? yeah right. Who is this person anyway?.'' he doubted Kamek. All the other princesses weren't to his liking, only wanting Peach.

''There is, I tell you; you wouldn't believe it.'' He waved his wand around. A big crystal ball was in front of them. He waved it again, now showing... A toad. Bowser looked at him. ''Really Kamek... a toad? how is a toad better than a princess?'' asked Kamek.

''Just keep looking!'' Bowser loudly exhaled and continued looking at the toad. But it wasn't any toad, it was you.

Instead of the colored spots on your mushroom head, it was gray. You had the same outfits as the other toads, but you had on a hoodie. His eyes landed on your face. Your eyes weren't all joyful and full of life. It looked tired and kind of lifeless. You had eyebags under eyes, a little frown on your face, having a soft, sleepy look. He started to get interested.

The more he looked, the more he wanted to know about you. He looked at the images of you in different sleeping positions. You were laying down, sitting against a tree, on the mushrooms, in a chair, even while standing. You look so adorable.

He questioned Kamek without taking his gaze off the photos. ''What is their name?'' He demanded Kamek. ''Toads really don't have a name, but everyone calls them Sleepy'' he said to Bowser.

Sleepy... that was a perfect name for you. He needed to know more about you. How has he not seen you all these years. Were you protected by the princess? Does she know about you as well?

He turned to Kamek. ''Does the princess know about them?'' Kamek nodded. ''The princess always keeps them by her side, they're special to her. She cares about them more than any other toad'' he added. ''They tend to want to be by themselves, very introverted and likes to sleep. They mostly sleep mostly outside and in their bed until either the other toads or the princess looks for them.''

Bowser made sure to burn the information into his head. He no longer wanted peach. He wanted you. He needed to know more. ''But there's something that I need to tell you as well.'' Bowsers eyebrows furrowed. ''What is it?'' he demanded.

''The Mario Brothers know about them too. The princess invited them to meet them. They also seemed interested in them as well'' he informed Bowser.

His eyes widened. They already know you. He took a deep breath in and exhaled, smoke coming out of nostrils. How do they already know you? I though the princess only had you with her only. He needed to think.

''Kamek, I need you to continue to watch them while I prepare the ships and minions. We'll maybe attack tomorrow.'' he demanded.

''Yes sir'' he then headed out of Bowsers room. Bowser continued to think more and more about you. He needed to see you, learn about you more.

Back at the castle.

You finished eating your food and went to go wash your dish, but peach stopped you, gently taking your plate. ''It's ok Sleepy, I'll put it away for you'' she spoke to you with a sweet smile. ''Oh...ok, thanks princess'' you walked past the princess, not feeling her eyes following you.

While walking, other toads waved at you. You softly waved at them back. You felt yourself getting tired, the more steps you take, the more your eyelids start to become heavy.

You eventually came to your room. It was rooms away from the other toad's room that were right next to each other. They all respected that you wanted peace and quiet from the others.

You took your clothes off and putted on some pjs. You grabbed your remote to your tv and sat on your bed, putting some rain on to help you sleep. You set the remote down next to you, tucking yourself in and peacefully falling asleep.

Outside of your room were other toads either getting ready for bed or cleaning up. They all knew that you were either sleeping or staying up, so they tried to keep it quiet for you.

Peach was watching the other toads cleaning up or getting ready for bed. She waved at the toads, telling them goodnight. She waited until everyone settled down and went into their rooms before going into yours.

Peach checked the time. It was around midnight. She was in her pjs. She quietly walked through the hallways, making sure she doesn't make any sudden noises.

She walked until she was in front of your door, gently gripping the doorknob and turned it to open it. She peaked her head in, seeing you sleeping peacefully in your bed. She stepped into your room, quietly closing the door behind her.

Stepping closer and closer until she was in front of you. She looked at you with admiration, yet possessively. She smiled at the sight of you. You look so adorable. She wanted to hold you while you sleep.

She gently raised her hand and gently took the blankets off your body. You softly groaned but resumed your soft snores. She quietly giggled at your cuteness. She then gently raised both of her hands and gently placed them on your body.

Her hands started to gently soothed and caress your plush body. A small and soft sigh of content left her mouth, she really loved how small and cute you were, it was almost like you were a doll that she would carefully play and hold in her arms.

She really wanted to continue, but she had to hold herself back from the intense urges she had when touching you.

She gave you a kiss on your cute forehead. She silently leaves your room, looking around to make sure nobody is in the halls. She continued to walk quietly into her room. She went to her bed and started to fall asleep, thinking about you.

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Morning time came around.

You were silently annoyed at having to wake up in the morning, you just wanted to stay in bed a bit more. But you eventually had the courage to actually get up out of bed to start to get ready for the day.

After finally getting dressed for the day, you put on your hoodie and started to head out of your room to start the day.

You were still kind of tired from waking up too early in the morning, your eyes were only partly open.

You tiredly walked to the kitchen, where you saw the toads cooking breakfast, they greeted you by saying good morning.

In a tired voice, you said it back with a little wave. Walking to the table nearby, the other toads were eating breakfast.

You sat next to them and began to converse with them while eating breakfast to start the day.

After you finished eating breakfast, satisfied with the food you had consumed. You got up from the table and cleaned up your dishes. You then headed out the back door of the castle and started to walk outside.

The outside was cold and covered in gray clouds and a cool breeze, loving this kind of weather, the perfect kind for you. Slowly walking around the castle, you eventually found a nearby tree.

You sat up against the trees, listening to the cool winds that gently blew through the trees, lulling into a peaceful nap.

Meanwhile, with Mario and Luigi.

The brothers were at the kitchen table eating breakfast. They were both thinking about you. The first time they met you was amazing. They couldn't stop thinking about you. They wanted to visit you again.

''Hey Mario, want to go to the castle today? I want to go visit sleepy and see if we can hang out.'' spoke Luigi, seeing an excited smile form on his brother's face.

''Yeah! I want to see them too. I wonder if we ask Peach to see if they can hang out with us.'' Mario spoke back.

''Yeah, I noticed how the princess always wants to be around them a lot. It's like they're the only toad she cares about'' said Luigi.

Mario nodded his head. They both saw how the princess rushed them out of the castle.

After they finished breakfast, they headed their way towards the kingdom. It wasn't sunny this time. The weather looked gloomy without the sun being shown, feeling the cool winds breeze against them.

When they walked to the castle, they knocked on the doors. A couple of seconds later, a green toad opened a door. He greatly smiled at the two brothers and frantically let them in.

They walked through the hallways of the kingdom. Around them were toads with worried looks on their faces. They looked at each other and shrugged as they continued to walk through the hallways.

Their eyes noticed the princess in a hallway talking to a red toad. She looked absolutely distressed about something, they quickly walked up to her to ask what the problem was.

In the corner of Peaches eye, she saw the brothers. She quickly walked towards them.

"Mario! Luigi! I need your help! Bowser is about to attack the castle, and I don't know where Sleepy is!" She frantically told them.

They both widened their eyes. Bowser was attacking again, what a surprise. But they were worried about you more.

"Huh- Wait, again?! What are we going to do- and what do you mean that you don't know where sleepy is?!" spoke Mario.

''Y-yeah! did you see them this morning?!'' Luigi asked Peach.

"No, I didn't! I need to know if they're ok before Bowser attacks!" she yelled back at them. They needed to know where you were right now.

"C'mon, let's find them!" yelled Mario. Luigi and Peach followed him.

They frantically searched the castle for you. They checked your room, the kitchen, the hallway, upstairs, and downstairs, but you were not found in any of those places.

They started to look outside, noticing the winds picking up, they needed to find you.

After some long minutes of searching, they finally found you peacefully sleeping against a tree while being snuggled in your hoodie. They were relieved but worried and immediately went over to you.

While you were sleeping, you're rudely awakened by Mario and Luigi. You also saw the princess. "W-what... what's going on?" You asked them. You barely had your eyes open.

They felt a bit guilty at the fact that they had to rudely wake you up from your peaceful nap, but it was necessary and urgent, Mario spoke up first when you asked them what was going on.

"Hey, Sleepy. We need to talk about something-"

There was a loud explosion that was heard in the distance, causing you to look over and saw that Bowser was attacking the castle.

Peach gasped loudly in shock, and she ran back into the castle to warn the other toads to run.

Before you had a chance to get up and run yourself, Mario quickly picked you up and started to run away somewhere safe while holding you in his arms. Luigi followed behind quickly.

While holding on to Mario, you hear Bowsers laughing and roaring. He was on a large ship, firing cannons. By his side was Kamek with his wand. He was searching for something.

"What are you doing, Bowser?! Are you trying to kidnap the princess again?!" Mario yelled with annoyance.

You heard another loud and obnoxious roaring and laughing coming from Bowser.

Luigi yelled at Bowser when he got his chance. "That's what I want to know! Are you really trying to take the princess again?!"

You hear Bowser laughing again. "No, not this time, I'm not here for the princess, I'm here a specific toad. A toad named Sleepy!"

Their eyes widened; how did he know your name? "What!? Why are you after sleepy?!" Mario yelled out in confusion. ''W-wait what?!'' Luigi added.

He was looking for you? But why? Wasn't he obsessed with the princess? "What... what is he talking about?"

Mario had a very confused expression on his face when he was told that Bowser was searching for you of all people, he thought that Bowser was obsessed with the princess. Why were you the one he was after?

He was speechless for a moment, until he heard you speak up. He looked down at you in his arms before he spoke back.

"I-I don't know... why would he be after you of all people-?"

Before Mario could even finish his sentence, Kamek waved his wand and point it towards you, using his magic to make you float. You shouted in a confused tone as you were being levitated into the air by his magic

The brothers got more worried and concerned when they saw that you were being levitated toward Bowser and his ship.

You were floating in the air with no control, feeling very confused and wondering why Bowser was after you instead of the princess. You were gently placed onto Bowser's big claws, and he firmly held you to his chest.

He then gently put you in the big cage on the deck of his ship, he looked down at you with a small and almost possessive smirk on his face.

"You look so adorable, Sleepy. I can't wait to know you more" Bowser said in a chilling tone. You wanted to say something, but your eyes started to get heavier, you were falling asleep again. 'What did he do to this cage?' you thought.

He simply smirked again as he watched you struggle to stay awake inside the cage. "Why are you... doing this? Why me...?" You said to Bowser, trying to stay awake.

Bowser continued to smirk down at you in the cage, he responded when you tried to stay awake. "Why you? Why not you? You're just too cute to not get my attention, much cuter than Peach~"

"But... I'm just a Toad... way different from... a whole princess"

"Yes, that's true. But that's the reason why I picked you"

Bowser had a bit of a possessive tone in his voice when he mentioned that you were a toad and how different you were from a princess. He simply chuckled to himself.

You tried your hardest to stay awake, knowing the fact that you were in a dangerous situation and that Bowser had kidnapped you instead of Peach, but the tiredness was taking over and you ended up falling asleep in the cage.

Bowser looked over at Mario and Luigi, he had an evil little smirk all over his face when he noticed the rage in their eyes.

"What's wrong, plumber boys?! Feeling mad because I took sleepy away from you?!" He spoke with a mocking tone in his voice.

They both started to yell at him. Bowser let out a deep laugh. It was obvious that he was enjoying watching them get enraged.

"Yes, keep yelling, it'll do absolutely nothing! There's nothing you can do about it. Now that I have them, I'm not giving them back, I will not let this adorable toad go. "

They were about to yell something back at Bowser as a response until Bowser started to fly away on his ship with you in the cage. Clenching their fists, furious at the fact that Bowser managed to kidnap you and got away with it.

Thankfully, the castle wasn't too badly damaged by the attack. When they looked around, they both saw Peach, who was furious in a way that they had never seen her before.

Especially knowing that Bowser had taken her special toad, which of course being you.

She then looked at the brothers and went towards them. Her expression made it clear that she was furious. "We need to get them back," she said.

"Y-yeah- Yeah, we do!" Mario responded. He was still very worried and concerned about you being in the hands of Bowser. Luigi nodded, agreeing with his brother.

Peach stood there for a few seconds and turned towards them. "Mario, Luigi, let's team up. If we worked together, we could get them back!" She explained.

"Yeah! That's a good idea! We should work together! That way, there's a bigger chance of us successfully getting sleepy back!"

''Yeah, let's make a plan!''

They agreed with Peach's idea. It was a good plan, since both of them working together would increase the chance of rescuing you from Bowser.

They all agreed to work together to get you back from Bowser, but deep down in their minds, they had a hidden selfish intention. But since they've known each other a long time, they'll keep being friends with each other.

After they agreed to work together, they started to head back to the castle while thinking of a plan to rescue you from Bowser.

Chapter Text

Meanwhile, in Bowser's kingdom.

Bowser was sitting on his throne with you sleeping in his arms. He smiled down at you, chuckling as he thought about how adorable you looked at the moment, gently caressing your face as he held you in his arms.

You softly groaned in your sleep, slowly opening your eye to see Bowser. You slowly sat up but were still in his arms.

"Where am I?" You asked with a sleepy voice. You rubbed your eyes, trying to take the tiredness out of them.

Bowser chuckled softly at how cute you looked right after waking up. "You're in my kingdom, Sleepy"

You looked around and found yourself in a different castle, it was clearly Bowser's castle. You were surrounded by fire torches that decorated the place, and you saw a long, red carpet that led to his throne. You also noticed the different types of minions that were there as well.

While you were looking around and taking in the surroundings, Bowser was admiring you. He thought that you looked so beautiful under the light illuminating your sleepy face.

He wondered why he hadn't looked for you sooner instead of Peach, he was feeling so happy that he had managed to get you in his hands.

Bowser's big hands gently held your face and started to caress your cheeks, you wanted to move away, but you couldn't help it, it honestly felt nice to have him holding your face so delicately.

You couldn't help it and nuzzled into his hands, it was making you feel sleepy again, and you thought that you could actually fall asleep like this. Bowser smirked, amused by your sleepy behavior.

"So... what made you interested in me? I'm not really a princess..." you asked in a soft tone.

Bowser chuckled when you asked him why he was so interested in you, he tightened his grip on you slightly as he responded. "Well... I don't know... there's just something so cute and adorable about you, much more than a princess. I couldn't help myself when I saw you"

"But... I'm a toad"

"Yeah, you're a toad, but that doesn't change the fact that you're adorable. I still couldn't help but be attracted to you" he spoke in a gentle tone as he gently patted your mushroom head.

Bowser chuckled as he started to play with your small and soft hands, they felt so fluffy and comfortable like a pillow. He looked down at you and saw that you were slightly blushing at his actions.

Now firmly holding you against him like a baby, he started to gently rub your back, which made you sleepy.

Soon, your eyelids became heavy, and a few minutes later, there were soft and gentle snores escaping from your mouth as you fell asleep in his arms.

You looked so small in his arms, he could easily pick you and carry you anywhere he wanted to, and you were fast asleep, so you wouldn't even notice if he moved.

Bowser admired you in his arms, but then he heard a loud and muffled explosion outside of the castle. He became annoyed and grumbled in irritation as he went outside to check and see what was going on.

He still held you in his arms, you were still fast asleep and unaware of what was happening. He went outside, and he saw Mario, Luigi, and Peach, who were all very angry. They were standing in front of an army of toads outside his castle.

Bowser simply stared at them all with an unamused look on his face.

"Bowser, give sleepy back, NOW!" Yelled peach. "Not a chance, princess. You can try, but there's no way you'll get them away from me!"

He wasn't going to give you up, no matter what. "Bowser, why would you kidnap them?! What happened to kidnapping the princess?!" Spoke Mario.

He chuckled at Mario's question, he smirked as he spoke back, showing off that smug and amused look in his eyes. "I had a change of heart. I got tired of kidnapping the same old princess, I decided to take someone much more interesting and adorable"

"B-but why?! Is there a reason why you wanted them instead?!" Luigi added.

Bowser continued to chuckle as he listened to Luigi's question, he had a sly smile still on his face as he responded again. "Oh, there's a very good reason. You see, they are cute, adorable, fluffy, small, and just so huggable! They are much better than a princess. So that's why I took them."

He was amused by the angry and frustrated reactions he was getting from Mario, Luigi, and Peach. But before they could say anything else, he gave them all a dark look and turned away as he walked back inside the castle.

He went to a guest room he had and gently placed you on the bed, watching as you instantly snuggled into the soft blankets, trying to get comfortable.

He let out a small chuckle as he watched you snuggled into the blankets, he thought it was so sweet and adorable. He liked seeing you so comfortable and peaceful in his castle.

After that, Bowser went back outside to deal with Mario, Luigi, and Peach. He was feeling quite angry and frustrated as he walked outside again to deal with the three outside.

While you were peacefully asleep, strange and quiet whispers started to come from inside the room. It was getting louder and louder.

A small, green pipe appeared in front of the bed. A pair of shadowed hands slowly emerged from the pipe, softly grasped you, and pulled you into it. Then the green pipe disappeared out of the room.

______________________________

The green pipe reappeared, the shadowed hands from the pipe gently placed your sleeping body on the grass softly. The hands went back into the pipe and sinking down into the ground.

Someone was walking around until he heard the sound of a green pipe. The person went to go check it out.

He noticed the Toad and bent down to get a closer look, and he started to get confused, before he picked the small, gray sleeping Toad up.

He was even more confused at what he was seeing. He'd never seen a gray toad with a hoodie, he also couldn't help but find the small thing adorable, so he just sat down and placed the small Toad on his lap.

He found the small toad very different from any other toads. He had never seen a toad with eyebags or who was sleepy either, he was used to seeing toads who were loud and energetic, so he was surprised to see the small gray one.

He gently ran a hand through the small Toad's head, his face showed a strange look of curiosity

The person was fascinated by the smallness of the Toad compared to him. He himself was much larger than an average Mario, being eight feet tall, so it was strange for him to be sitting down and holding such a small toad in his lap.

He continued to gently run his hand over the small Toad's head, still with the same expression of fascination and curiosity on his face.

You softly groaned. You raised your arms to try to rub the tiredness in your eyes. You were in someone's lap. You looked to see who it was. "Mario...?" you questioned with a sleepy voice.

He turned his attention toward the small toad when he heard him groaning and moving his arms. He could hear a tired, soft voice calling his name. When he saw the small Toad looking up at him, he slightly smiled.

"Yep, it's me"

This Mario continued to gently run his hand through the small Toad's head, finding the small Toad's sleepy and soft voice cute. He was slightly amused that the small toad was still half asleep while sitting on his lap. He could see the small Toad blinking and looking up at him, which he found adorable.

Despite his normally sweet, cheerful voice, his voice was much deeper and darker, he was still holding the Toad in his lap and running his hand through his small head.

Mario noticed that the small toad was looking around, taking in the surroundings. And, of course, they seemed grim.

The sky was blood red, the clouds were black, and the surroundings were chaotic and destroyed. The trees and bushes seemed burned, the place was completely different from the usual and cheerful Mushroom Kingdom

''Where... am I?'' You asked softly. When the small Toad asked him where they were, Mario spoke in his deep, dark voice with his usual warm smile.

"You're in the ruined Mushroom Kingdom."

"What happened?" You questioned. The mario felt a twinge of sadness seeing the small Toad's innocence. It was obvious by their surroundings that something terrible had happened to the Mushroom Kingdom.

Still with a warm smile on his face, Mario tried to explain the situation as calmly as possible. "Something... terrible, happened, and the once beautiful Mushroom Kingdom has fallen into complete ruin."

"Oh... I'm sorry that happened" Mario's smile stayed on his face as the small and sleepy Toad spoke, looking up at him.

When the small Toad expressed sympathy, Mario chuckled, finding the small toad's innocence and care for the ruined Mushroom Kingdom. "There's no need to be sorry, it was out of anyone's control... But I have to ask..."

Mario's smile faded a little, his eyes had a serious, curious look to them now. The small Toad looked at him and waited for his question, Mario still continued with the serious look in his eyes and his smile slightly faded.

He continued to gently run his hand through the small Toad's head as he told his question. "How... did you get here? I've never seen you in the Mushroom Kingdom before..."

Chapter Text

You waited for few moments before you spoke, not really knowing how you got here as well. "I really don't know... all I know is that I fell asleep... and I woke up here" you spoke in a sleepy tone.

Mario listened as you answered, talking in a tired and sleepy tone. He was still gently running his hand over your head as he continued to ask his question.

"You... just fell asleep? And then woke up here...?"

Mario had a thoughtful look on his face, his mind confused and curious. It was strange and unexpected to him that a toad had just randomly appeared in the ruined Mushroom Kingdom.

You softly nodded. "Yeah, I really don't know what happened. But back where I was, I was captured by Bowser. I still don't know why."

Mario widened his eyes a little with surprise when you mentioned that Bowser had captured them. That made things even more strange. It was even more unexpected to him that you had been captured by Bowser but didn't know why.

His face had a curious and confused look on it. With a deep, darker voice, he continued to question and gently run his hand on your head while speaking.

"You were captured by Bowser? And you don't know why...?"

"He said that he was tired of kidnapping princesses and went for me instead. He said that I was better than them."

Mario's look became even more confused and serious when you said that Bowser had gotten tired of kidnapping princesses and had instead captured them.

Hearing that Bowser had said he was tired of kidnapping princesses and found you better made the confusion only deepen more.

"He said he was tired of kidnapping princesses. And decided to capture you instead because he thought..." Mario trailed off, still bewildered and having trouble believing what he was hearing.

"Yeah, he said that I was more interesting and more adorable than them, even more adorable than Peach. I'm just a regular toad."

Mario's confusion and surprise only grew even more when the small and sleepy toad said that Bowser had found them more interesting and adorable than the princesses and had called them 'more adorable than Peach'

Despite being just a regular toad. "Interesting and 'more adorable than Peach'...?"

He couldn't understand why Bowser would say that. He couldn't understand why he would find a regular toad more interesting and adorable than the princesses.

After you nodded and confirmed that, Mario got up from the ground, still holding their small hand in his own, much larger one. He began guided you around the ruined Mushroom Kingdom.

You looked around as you followed the much larger Mario. The destruction was horrifying. As they walked, you got a good look at him. The difference between him and your Mario was astounding.

This Mario was much taller, had dark blue overalls, pointy fingers, black eyes with piercing red pupils, and covered in blood. But he was still strangely gentle and warm-hearted.

"Are you the only one here in this world?" Mario continued to walk and guide you around the destroyed Mushroom Kingdom while holding your hand. When they asked him if he was the only one here in this world, Mario's deep, darkened voice spoke in response.

"Yes. I'm the only one here. No one else is left here but me..."

"Not even your brother or peach?" He thought about it. Mario's dark, warm voice became deeper and sadder while speaking.

"Not even my brother or Peach... They're gone. Luigi is dead, and Peach and I are on bad terms..."

You softly squeezed his hand. "I'm sorry you had to go through that" you spoke in a gentle tone. Mario gently squeezed your hand in response. His heart sank at your soft and sleepy voice.

Despite being sleepy, you still cared and took pity on him, even though he had just met them. It made the sadness and the weight of the loss and loneliness he felt lessen slightly.

Mario's voice was still dark and deep, he continued to speak with a warmer tone when he answered. "Thank you... Don't worry, it's alright..."

They continued walking around the destroyed Mushroom Kingdom, with Mario holding your hand, guiding them through the ruins as they continued to talk.

Mario continued to listen to you and spoke with a slightly warm tone and a deeper voice. "And... how are my brother and Peach in your world? Are they all fine...?"

"Yeah, they're fine. My Mario and Luigi always go on adventures. Peach is okay, but she's always wants me by her side.''

You continued on "She said that I'm a special toad because I'm the only gray toad and I had a sleepy and quiet personality. I wasn't full of joy like the other toads. I was very introverted and sleepy''

Mario listened to you again, hearing them respond with a sleepy and soft voice, saying that back at their Mario and Luigi always go on adventures and Peach wants you by her side.

When you said that you were considered a 'special toad' because you were the only gray toad and had a sleepy and quiet personality, Mario was amused, slightly finding the toad's sleepy and introverted nature cute.

Mario's deep, but still warm voice spoke up next "A special toad, huh? You're the only gray toad and are pretty sleepy, huh...?”

You lightly chuckled. "Yeah, I still don't understand why I'm special. I'm just a toad like the others"

Mario softly chuckled when he saw you blush a little. He was amused by their small reaction to being called 'special'. When they said that they were just a toad like the others.

He found it endearing how he didn't understand why he was considered special. After you yawned, Mario continued to speak with a darker, but still warm tone.

"Well, you're still pretty unique... and cute." You blushed. "T-thanks..." you shyly said.

Mario continued to softly chuckle at your blushing face. It was adorable to him that the small, sleepy toad was reacting shyly to the compliment. His deep, warm voice continued speaking with a small grin on his face as he continued to guide them with his hand.

"No need to be shy. You're still a very unique and adorable toad... I find it very charming..." You sleepily smiled up at him. You looked so adorable with your sleepy look.

Mario's expression softened even more with affection, and his warm voice lowered a little as he spoke. "You're very sleepy, aren't you...?"

You wanted to say something until someone appeared in front of you both. Mario was slightly surprised when a person suddenly approached from out of nowhere.

He put himself in a protective position, getting in front of the you and pulling out a bloody knife. He was prepared to fight and protect himself and you from whoever had approached.

When the person finally stepped closer, revealing themself to be Peach. He hadn't been expecting to see her. But it was not the same pink, lively Peach he knew.

This Peach was not cheerful and full of life. She was the same height as him, had black eyes with red piercing red pupils, sharp teeth, and was covered in blood.

Mario's sharp, defensive gaze continued to be directed at Peach, looking at her with a serious and stern tone in his voice as he questioned her.

"What are doing here, Peach...?" She and Mario continued to glare at each other as they talked. "I wanted to see what you're doing, Mario... why are you even here?" She spoke to him. Her voice was also deep like Mario's.

Mario's expression was serious and stern, listening to Peach speak to him with a deep, darkened voice.

"What I'm doing is none of your business. And I didn't come here on purpose, I was drawn here by a green pipe..." She glared at him. "What pipe?"

Mario continued to speak with a serious tone, looking at Peach with a small glare as he answered her question.

"I heard the sound of a pipe in the ruined Mushroom Kingdom. So I went to go check it out..."

Mario felt slight nervousness as Peach continued to look at him with a cold gaze. He was hoping that she wouldn't notice you behind him.

But she eventually looked down and saw a toad he was standing in front of/ ''Who's that?'' she questioned. Mario continued with a stern tone of voice.

"....It's just a toad..."

"A toad...? I thought they were gone" she added.

"Well, that's what I thought too... Until I found this one..."

Mario stepped to the side to properly show Peach, standing to the side and letting her see you. He noticed how Peach had never seen a gray toad. He watched as she looked at you intently, examining you. You were not like the others.

It was gray, had a sleepy look to it, and had a hoodie and lifeless eyes, not full of joy like the others... You sleepily waved at Peach.

He was expecting some kind of disappointment or annoyance, or some response of finding the small toad boring or not cute, but he was surprised by how her expression changed upon seeing you.

Mario watched as Peach had a smile on her face and approached you slowly, seeming to be careful not to frighten the small and sleepy gray toad. As Peach stepped closer, she spoke to you with a friendly, soft tone.

"Hi there, little one. I've never seen you before" she spoked softly. "Hi..." you sleepily said to her. Peach softly chuckled at your small and sleepy response. She found your drowsy and quiet greeting to be adorable.

She continued with her friendly tone of voice. "Hello there... What's your name, little one?" You answered her. "Toads really don't have names, but everyone calls me sleepy."

Peach listened to the small toad's sleepy answer, learning that toads typically don't have individual names and that everyone calls you 'Sleepy' instead. It slightly amused her to hear how you got your nickname based on your sleepy personality. Peach responded with a small chuckle

"Aww... Everyone calls you sleepy, huh?'' You nodded. "Yeah. I was different from the others"

Peach continued to softly smile as you nodded, confirming that the other toads respected them and liked how different they were from the rest.

Peach gently held her hand out to you "Can I... hold your hand, sleepy?" you softly nodded and raised your small hand, gently placing it on hers.

Your hand was incredibly soft against her own. Peach carefully held your hand in her own, finding the difference in texture endearing.

"Aww... Your hand is so soft..." You sleepily smiled at her. Meanwhile, Mario started to notice his jealousy growing as he watched Peach hold your hand in hers.

You then looked at them both. "How did you guys get like this? If you don't mind me asking." You sleepily asked.

They both looked back at the sleepy toad as you asked them how they had become the way they were. Peach's expression softened a little as she thought for a moment, unsure of how to respond.

Mario softly grumbled, but then spoke up, responding to the small toad with a serious tone of voice

"It's... a long story..." he said. "That's fine. I'm here to listen if you don't mind" you softly yawned.

Peach's expression stayed soft as she looked down at the sleepy toad. She was amused and soft at their sleepy yawn and soft voice when they spoke, reassuring her that you were here and willing to listen to their stories.

Mario continued to look at the small toad, his serious expression remained, and he spoke again, his voice still serious but slightly hesitant.

"Are you... sure you want to listen? Our stories aren't exactly happy..." You softly nodded. "Yeah, it's ok... you guys are different from my world... I want to learn more about you guys." You said in a soft, sleepy voice.

Peach smiled a little as you softly nodded in response, hearing them say that they wanted to learn more about them despite having different stories. Peach gently squeezed your hand in hers as she listened to their soft, sleepy voice.

Mario nodded; his serious expression softened slightly at the small toad's response. He felt a small pang of guilt, knowing that their stories weren't cheerful.

"Well... if you're sure..."

Chapter Text

Horror Peach gently picked you up, carefully holding you in her lap. You get comfortable in sitting on her lap. Once you get comfortable, Peach softly smiled, amused at how comfortable the sleepy toad got in sitting in her lap.

Horror Peach glanced at Mario, signaling him to start speaking first. Mario looked you, who was comfortable in sitting on Horror Peach's lap, and swallowed nervously.

You waited for the story to start. Mario let out a small sigh, knowing that the story wasn't going to pleasant, and spoke.

"Well... I guess I'll start first..." After a deep breath, Mario began telling his story.

"It all started... back when the Mushroom Kingdom's economy was at its best. Dearest Corp. owned the most money and produced the best video games..."

"Dearest had been at the top of the gaming market, but I was not far behind. I was also an expert in the video game industry, but I was not as rich or powerful as Dearest. Until one day..."

"I managed to obtain money from some successful games, and I became the second strongest on the market. Knowing this, Dearest invited me into a meeting, to help grow both of our companies..."

"I accepted the offer. And when I arrived at Dearest's office... I realized too late that it was a trap..."

As Mario talked, you had a sad frown appeared on your face. You continued to listen carefully to his story.

"Dearest had... no intention of working with me. He had merely wanted to lure me into an ambush. He... betrayed me..."

Your small frown still remained on your face. "As soon as I was inside his office, he shut the door and locked it. And the rest of his employees attacked me... I tried to fight as long as I could, but eventually, I was overpowered..."

As Mario spoke, he couldn't help but look at you, seeing the sympathy and sorrow in your sleepy eyes. You gently grabbed his hands and gave it a gentle squeeze. He squeezed back, reassuring you that he was ok. He continued to tell his story as he looked down at the small toad.

"They overpowered me... and... they forced me to sign a contract, one that would give Dearest... full control of my wealth, company, and games..."

"Forced to sign the contract, I lost everything... my money, my company, everything was handed over to Dearest... and I was thrown out of the building. I was... alone. I had no money, no company... and nowhere to run to..."

You gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "I'm sorry you had to go through this. I wish that I could help you." You spoke to him softly.

As Mario continued to look down at you in Horror Peach's lap, he felt a gentle squeeze on his hand, your soft voice speaking to him, saying you were sorry for what he had gone through and that they wish they could help. Mario gripped the small toad's hand back slightly

"It's.... fine. It happened a long time ago..." After Horror Mario explained his story, Horror Peach gently picked you up, placing you on Mario's lap while he continued to lean against the wall. You started to get comfortable. Horror Peach then prepared herself to tell her own story.

You waited patiently for Horror Peach to begin speaking, interested to hear her tale.

Horror Peach swallowed and began to speak. "Well... My story starts when the economy of the Mushroom Kingdom was at its worst..."

"Everything was falling apart. People's businesses were going bankrupt, unemployment was at an all-time high, and the entire kingdom was on the verge of financial collapse..."

"I did everything I could to stabilize the economy, but there was... nothing I could do. Our funds were low, our businesses were failing, and the public was in a panic. I... felt hopeless..."

As Horror Peach continued to speak, she saw your sympathetic expression as you listened to her story. Mario also watched the sleepy toad and felt a pang of pity in his heart, knowing that the toad was feeling sorry for them both. Peach continued to speak, her voice becoming more somber.

"But Dearest... took advantage of this. He saw an opportunity to get even richer than he already was..."

"He had already secured a monopoly on the gaming market and had almost single-handedly driven many other businesses out of the market. And he saw the failing economy... as a chance to get more power..."

You continued to listen intently, your expression now showing worry, as if anticipating the worst.

"Dearest realized that with the failing economy, I was struggling to keep the kingdom afloat, and he saw an opportunity to take advantage of this... He offered to help with the economy... if I agreed to work with him..."

"Knowing how dire our situation was, I swallowed my pride and agreed to... work with Dearest..." Your expression turns from anxiety to a mixture of curiosity.

"Working with Dearest... was worse than I could've imagined. He... became abusive and controlling. He took advantage of the dire economic situation and forced me to do his bidding..."

Horror Peach felt a little surprise at your sudden gesture of grabbing her hand and gently giving it a comforting squeeze. She looked at the small toad's expression, which was filled with a mixture of sympathy and worry. She felt a small pang of gratitude in her heart. She then continued speaking in a low voice.

"Dearest... was cruel and heartless... He would demean me and manipulate me... he made me feel so... powerless..."

"He... made me do things I'm not proud of. He forced me to make decisions that hurt the people I was supposed to protect. I felt so... trapped and hopeless..."

She felt your hand give hers another gentle, comforting squeeze as she continued her story. The gesture made her feel slightly better, knowing that they were here, listening to her story. She spoke in a soft, vulnerable voice.

"I... felt so alone. I had no one to turn to, no one who could help me. I was trapped in this cycle of abuse and manipulation, and I... saw no way out..."

You gave Horror Mario and Horror Peach hands a gentle squeeze. "Is this Dearest person... alive?" You said quietly.

They both nodded their heads and looked at you sadly, knowing that what they had done was not something they were proud of. They started to describe the events that led to them killing Dearest, explaining how they had gotten their revenge against him.

They were done being controlled and manipulated, and they were done tolerating Dearest's cruel ways.

They explained how they had carefully planned their revenge, plotting the perfect moment to strike. They waited for the right opportunity, and when it came, they struck with a vengeance.

You felt a mixture of relief and sadness as you listened to the explain how they had gotten their revenge on Dearest. On one hand, they were glad that they no longer had to suffer at his hands.

But on the other hand, you felt sorry that they had gone through so much pain and turmoil because of that Dearest. You didn't like that they had to resort to such extreme measures to find peace.

"Do you still feel that pain from him?" You softly spoke while caressing their hands. They looked at you with a mixture of sadness and vulnerability as they answered

"Yes... we do still feel the pain from him. Even though he is gone, the scars are still there. The memories of what he put us through... still linger in our minds..."

They both felt a small surprise at your sudden gestures of comfort. You turned around and gave Horror Mario a hug first, gently trying to comfort him, before going to Horror Peach and giving her a hug as well.

The unexpected kindness and sympathy from you made them feel a pang of vulnerability and gratitude in their hearts. They looked at you as you spoke in a soft voice, expressing their apology for what they had to go through.

They both felt a small sense of comfort and warmth at the small toad's words, feeling touched that you were apologizing to them for what they had to go through.

They both could also see how much you genuinely cared for them through their actions. The hugs you gave, the gentle touch, and the soft voice you spoke in all showed your caring nature. Horror Mario and Horror Peach both found this to be quite endearing.

Horror Mario and Horror Peach continued to hold the small toad in a warm group hug, feeling their small body leaning against them in a comfortable and tired manner. They both smiled slightly, finding it adorable that they were so comfortable with them.

As the hug continued, the small toad's eyelids started to get heavy, and it was clear that you were struggling to keep your eyes open. Eventually, you went completely limp and fell asleep in their arms.

They both felt a pang of surprise and affection as they realized that the small toad had fallen asleep in their arms. They could hear their soft, adorable snores coming from your mouth as you slept peacefully in their embrace.

As they both laid in the soft grass, the exhaustion from their storytelling started to take its toll on Horror Mario and Horror Peach. They closed their eyes and started to drift off into a deep sleep, feeling relaxed and comfortable in the soft grass. They finally felt at ease.

They both slept peacefully with you resting in the middle of them, feeling safe and protected from the outside world.

Chapter Text

Back at Bowser's kingdom, Bowser was still outside, and he was angrily and furiously dealing with Mario, Luigi, and Peach.

Bowser barked out orders to his minions, yelling for them to fire cannons at them. The two brothers ran through the battlefield, dodging cannonballs and obstacles as they tried to get closer to Bowser.

Meanwhile, Peach and her toad army were fighting back with their own cannons, retaliating with shots of their own.

The brothers dodged several more attacks and obstacles as they made their way to Bowser's ship. They both got onboard and prepared to fight, getting ready to confront Bowser.

"Where's sleepy?!" Mario demanded Bowser. "Yeah, where are they?!" Luigi added. Bowser chuckled at the question and crossed his arms as he looked at them both with that smug smirk still on his face.

"You mean my little adorable friend? I put them in a guest room to rest. What, are you here to get them back? Yeah, good luck with that~"

Bowser saw the anger forming on both Mario's and Luigi's faces, and he realized that this was probably the angriest they had ever been at him. He wasn't worried though, he expected this kind of reaction from them.

Mario and Luigi charged towards him without a moment of hesitation. He braced himself for the attack that was about to come his way.

Bowser did his best to block most of the hits Mario and Luigi managed to land on him, but they were still both landing a few hits, nonetheless.

While the fight was going on, Peach saw an opportunity and sneaked her way into the castle.

Bowser swung his tail around and managed to land a hit on Mario, who got a hard hit and fell back. But because Luigi was able to jump higher than Mario, he was able to dodge the attack. He continued to attack Bowser while Mario got back up and recovered.

Mario got back up on his feet and quickly went to join his brother in attacking Bowser again. The two brothers were now working together, and both were attacking him at the same time.

While Mario and Luigi continued to fight Bowser, Peach was stealthily searching throughout the castle to find the guest room where Bowser had placed you.

Peach found the room where Bowser had said he placed you in. However, as she looked around, she didn't see you in the room anywhere.

She was worried and confused, wondering if Bowser had lied or if you had woken up and run off. She quickly ran towards where Mario and Luigi were.

Both Bowser and the two brothers had numerous battle marks all over their bodies. They were both panting heavy and breathing with exhaustion. They were both staring at each other with deep hatred and anger in their eyes.

"Mario! Luigi! Sleepy's not here!" She frantically yelled. Peach's frantic yell suddenly rang out, grabbing the attention of both Mario and Luigi. They suddenly paused and looked over at Peach.

"W-what? Sleepy isn't here?!" "A-are you serious?!" The brothers frantically yelled at Peach.

"I've looked everywhere!" The brothers both had shocked and confused expressions on their faces as they listened to Peach's words.

"D-did...did Bowser move them somewhere else...?" "O-or maybe they woke up and ran off...?" they asked her.

Bowser's eyes widened in surprise as he suddenly heard Peach say that you were nowhere to be found. He was angry and immediately yelled out in a loud voice.

"What do you mean they're not there?! I left them in the guest room! How could they disappear?!"

The brothers and Peach all quickly rushed back into Bowser's castle. Bowser followed behind and started to look through all of the rooms and any other place that you could possibly be in.

They were worried and panicked as they searched. They couldn't find you. No matter how hard they searched, they couldn't find you anywhere. The three of them grew more worried and frantic as they kept searching every single room.

Bowser furiously turned to his minions and ordered them to immediately search outside of the castle. He was determined to find you as soon as possible.

"Where are they?!" He yelled at the three. Bowser stormed back into the castle, looking at them with a angry expression on his face.

"I SAID, where are they?! They aren't in my guest room anymore!" His voice boomed for each and single word that he said.

"We looked everywhere, Bowser!" Mario yelled. "Y-yeah, did you put them somewhere else?" Luigi questioned. Bowser yelled back at the both of them in response.

"NO, I didn't move them anywhere else!! Do you really think that I would take the time in the middle of a fight to move them to another room?! Don't be ludicrous with your stupid ideas!"

"Also, what if the princess hid them somewhere before they told us?! She could be lying to us" stated Bowser.

Bowser narrowed his eyes and he looked over to Peach. It was now the time for interrogation to take place.

"Is that actually the case, princess? Did you hide our little friend elsewhere in secret?"

Peach looked at him with a shocked look. She couldn't believe that he said that. "Why would I ever do that?!" Yelled Peach. Bowser narrowed his eyes, feeling angry at Peach

"Don't try to play dumb with me, your highness! It would be such a thing to hide Sleepy in a secret location and lie to me, knowing that Mario and Luigi are always trying to win you over!''

''Besides, how would you explain the fact that they completely disappeared?!"

She narrowed her eyes at Bowser. "Oh yeah, what about you? What if you lied to us and planned a trap inside?" Bowser scoffed at Peach's words and glared at her with a furious expression

"Why would I waste my time planning out a stupid trap? That's just dumb! Don't you think I have more important things to do like making sure the castle stays up and running, taking care of the koopa troop''

''Also of course, trying to steal the princess from the two plumbers over there?" He said while gesturing his finger to both Mario and Luigi.

Mario's and Luigi's eyes narrowed at Bowser when he finished speaking. All was silent for a while before Bowser broke the silence.

"Well? Am I making sense or what? It's either that they woke up, heard your voice and instantly ran away, or you hid them away somewhere secret, princess. Which is it??"

Peach continued to glare at Bowser's. "I don't know where they are, and if I did find them, I would've told Mario and Luigi." Bowser narrowed his eyes at Peach and his patience was growing thin with her answers.

"Well then, the only option we have left...is... the possibility...that.... THEY WOKE UP!!!"

He said very loudly, speaking the last line like it was the most obvious thing in the world to say.

"If that's the case, we should probably go search for them outside the castle again. No need to keep searching around here in my castle like a bunch of idiots, right?"

"Well, come on, let's go find them" spoke Luigi. "Yeah, let's-a go" Mario added.

Bowser nodded his head in agreement. He was glad that they finally agreed, but he was starting to grow slightly inpatient from their talking and the waiting times.

"Yes, come on. Let's waste no more time and go look for them right now! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go!" He said while motioning for them to follow him and he quickly started to walk out of the castle.

"Where should we start to look?" questioned Peach. "What do you mean where should we start to look!? We start searching the ENTIRE kingdom until we can find them. Don't waste time asking dumb questions!"

Bowser yelled at Peach while answering her question. He was getting slightly annoyed now.

Peach rolled her eyes at Bowser. He was starting to get on her nerves now. The two brothers ignored them and continued their search. They were both getting sick and tired of their bickering.

Bowser rolled his eyes in annoyance as well when he noticed that she was rolling her eyes at him. He really wasn't in the mood to get angry at her, he was already getting angry at himself for letting you escape

"Ugh, whatever. Come on. We're wasting time!" He said and quickly began to walk outside the castle, ready to head out and search for you.

The three of them started to carefully comb through the forest that was outside of the castle. They checked every inch of the forest, every little corner and every tree.

Bowser looked through the forest and bushes carefully to try and find you.

''Do you really think they ran off here? They probably ran back to the castle.'' spoke Peach. Bowser rolled his eyes when he heard Peach's question while he silently scanned the forest and bushes around him.

"We don't have the time to be discussing whether they would run back to the castle! We need to search everywhere until we can finally find them!" He yelled, his voice rang like a loud thunder throughout the forest, scaring away the forest animal inhabitants.

Mario and Luigi were getting and sick and tired of their bickering and yelling.

''Can both of you be quiet? You both have been arguing ever since we got to your kingdom'' said Mario. ''We could look for them faster if you guys would stop, it's getting annoying'' added Luigi.

Bowser wasn't done looking through the forest, but he suddenly looked down at the ground as noticed a faint green glow on the ground. He went closer to it.

"...Something's glowing on the ground. And it's not a coin..." He said, in a softer tone.

He looked down and saw a green pipe. Why was it in the middle of the forest? He told the others to come over where he was to look at the green pipe.

"Hey! Get over here! There's something strange I found in the middle of here in the forest!" Bowser said in a loud and booming voice.

After he said that, Mario, Luigi, and Peach came over to look at the glowing green pipe that Bowser had found. They all surrounded the green pipe. They wanted to know why it was here.

"Why would a green glowing pipe be here in the middle of the forest?? Do any of you have the answer?" Bowser asked. They all shook their heads. They've never seen this pipe in the forest.

Bowser narrowed his eyes at the pipe, and he started to wonder more questions.

"The more important question is... why can we touch this pipe? I thought that all the pipes in the mushroom kingdom were just illusions, and you couldn't touch them... So why and how is this one here and we can physically touch it?!" He spoke while narrowing his eyes more at the pipe.

''They're not illusions, we go through the all the time to travel faster'' spoke Mario. Bowser widened his eyes in realization when he heard Mario answer his question

"So that's how it works... I see... but then, that means...'' He then realized the possibility that the pipe could be linked to a warp zone and possibly to his castle.

"If these pipes actually transport us to places... and we can enter it and exit... Then that means... We could possibly go inside and exit this pipe to search for Sleepy!!"

The brothers and Peach widen their eyes when they realized that this pipe could possibly help them to go searching for you. When they both tried to jump into the pipe, they were pushed out of the pipe.

Peach was next to try it. She jumped in, but she also got the same result as the brothers.

Bowser, being the last one among all of them, decided to try and jump in the pipe to test out the theory. However, Bowser wasn't able to enter it either, instead, he was also pushed out. As of now, all of them were puzzled.

''Why can't we go into this pipe?'' asked Luigi. The others didn't know what to say. They can't jump in the pipe. "I have absolutely no idea.. They only thing we can do for now is wait... hopefully something will be able to go through it..."

They all stood, waiting for something to pop out of the pipe.

Chapter Text

A few hours later.

As you slowly woke up, you stretched yourself in the soft grass. You looked around at your surroundings, seeing the blood-red sky above you.

Despite the color, you found it somehow peaceful and enchanting to look at.

You continued to lay on your back, staring up at the red sky, when suddenly you felt a gentle nudge on your shoulder. You looked behind you and saw Horror Mario and Horror Peach wake up.

"Oh... hey, I didn't know you guys were awake either..."

They both chuckled slightly at your sleepiness. Their small eyes were half-closed, their voice was low and quiet, and their speech was slightly slurred from sleepiness. They found you to be incredibly adorable at this moment.

As you stood up slowly from the grass with their help, they gently grabbed your hand, guiding you through the ruined kingdom. Their tall figures towered over you, and their voices were soft and kind as they spoke.

They looked at you with warm expressions. You followed them, feeling a sense of comfort and safety in their presence as they held your hand.

Your small legs moved quietly, looking around at the destroyed environment as they walked.

You continued to look around the ruined castle, feeling the sense of grim atmosphere that surrounded the place. The once happy and joyful Mushroom Kingdom was now dead, ruined, and decrepit. The moss and plants had overrun the area, and debris was everywhere.

The only thing that was left was the silence and emptiness of a once-great kingdom.

You heard a noise in the distance, and all three of you stopped walking. Peach held you in her arms protectively, her expression filled with worry.

Mario silently held his knife ready, his expression showing readiness and anticipation.

As the footsteps got closer, the three of you saw a shadow coming towards you. The shadow came closer until a figure emerged from it and revealed itself to be... Yoshi?

Mario was shocked, and he dropped his defenses, seeing Yoshi coming toward them. Peach relaxed slightly but was still holding you protectively.

"Yoshi...?"

Yoshi, with his black eyes and red pupils, sharp teeth, and covered in scars, looked like a far cry from the original Yoshi.

The once cheerful and optimistic Yoshi had been replaced by a darker, more sinister version.

It was clear that Yoshi had drastically changed, but at the same time, there was a certain familiarity to him. His soft hum when his small head was gently patted by you seemed to bring him a sense of comfort.

The once cheerful and optimistic Yoshi was now darker and more mysterious, but he still responded to your touch and soft voice.

"Hello..."

You froze in shock as you heard Yoshi's voice for the first time. ''You can talk...?'' you responded softly. The once cheerful Yoshi, who had always been silent, was now speaking.

You couldn't believe what you were hearing. He felt the small toad continue to pat his head and let out a small hum, his eyes remained closed as he spoke.

"Yes... I can speak..."

Horror Mario and Peach were also surprised when they heard Yoshi speak for the first time. Their expressions showed surprise, and they looked at Yoshi with interest.

You examined Yoshi's body more carefully and noticed that he was covered in scars. You spoke softly with concern in your voice, their small eyes showing empathy and care for Yoshi.

"What... happened to you...? You have scars all over your body...?" Yoshi was quiet for a few moments, as if thinking about how to respond to the small toad's question.

Then, in a soft, slightly melancholic voice, he began to tell his tale.

Your small face turned into a frown as he revealed what had happened to him, your ears feeling sad for Yoshi as you listened to him.

"I was... captured and taken away from my home... taken against my will... and was forced to suffer through countless experiments... and torture..."

You felt a sense of pity in your heart listening to Yoshi's story. Yoshi had been through so much pain and suffering, and he couldn't even begin to imagine what that must have been like for him.

"Did Dearest... do this to you?" Yoshi nodded slowly, a somber expression on his face as he confirmed that it was Dearest who had done this to him.

"Yes... it was Dearest who did this to me..."

Peach gently placed you on the ground and went to Yoshi, who had been speaking about his past and how he had been tortured by Dearest.

You looked at Yoshi with sadness in your small eyes, seeing the pain Yoshi had been through.

You gave Yoshi a big hug, comforting him as you began to tear up, your small voice speaking with compassion.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that..."

Yoshi's expression softened as he felt your heartfelt hug. He hugged back, feeling your small tears pour out as they comforted each other. Yoshi's voice was slightly sad and low, expressing his sorrow and despair at what he had experienced.

The hug was a warm and emotional moment for all involved. Your kindness and compassion were evident, and Yoshi, having never experienced such kindness, let some tears flow as they hugged each other, finding comfort and solace in the hug.

Horror Mario and Peach joined the group hug, surrounding Yoshi and you with their arms as they embraced them, offering warmth and support to the two and sharing in the emotional moment together.

Your sniffling stopped as you hugged Yoshi, and you and he continued to comfort each other. You could tell that they were all hurting badly. You then had an idea, thinking about how to help them feel better.

You stepped away from the group embrace, feeling the pang of sadness as you missed the warmth from it. Your eyes were still red from the previous tears, and they looked up at Horror Mario, Horror Peach, and Yoshi with a hopeful expression, their soft voice speaking with a sincere desire.

"If... I can find a way out, I can take you all home with me. You don't have to stay in this ruined palace forever. We can... go to my world..."

Their eyes widened in surprise at your suggestion, the thought of finally going to another world was exciting and hopeful.

Their expressions showed disbelief, and they took in your words, processing the idea that they could have a new start in a different world.

For the first time in a long time, there was a glimmer of hope for them.

Horror Peach smiled, her eyes brimming with tears, and Horror Mario was almost in tears while smiling. Yoshi let out a small hum and nuzzled your head.

Their small expressions and nods showed that they all wanted to leave this place and start a new life somewhere else.

You took Horror Mario's and Peach's hands, giving them a small squeeze with your own. Your voice spoke softly and encouragingly

"C'mon, let's go look around and see if we can find a way out..." you spoke in your soft, sleepy voice.

They all nodded and started to make their way out of the ruined castle, their hands still holding yours as they followed behind you. Their expressions showed anticipation, and their footsteps made soft, gentle sounds as they trailed behind you.

The group made their way through the forest near the ruined Mushroom Kingdom. They looked around, the air feeling peaceful and calm as they walked among the trees.

The scenery was beautiful despite the destruction, and the silence was comforting. There seemed to be no sign of Dearest Corp. in sight.

You all continued walking through the peaceful forest, enjoying the silence. Suddenly, you heard strange whispering sounds coming from somewhere.

You looked towards the direction of the whispering and saw a green pipe in the distance.

You all approached the green pipe, the whispering getting louder as they got closer.

"Was this the green pipe you were talking about earlier, Mario?" She questioned.

"Yes, it is. This must be the pipe that I saw earlier with sleepy." You thought to yourself, realizing that this was the green pipe from before that seemed to have caused you to travel to this world while you were sleeping.

The whispering grew louder and louder until a pair of shadowed hands emerged from the pipe. They reached out towards your small figure as they started to grab you. Mario was confused and alarmed by what they saw.

"W-what the...?" You were being pulled into the pipe. "Guys?... Guys?!"

Horror Mario and Peach grabbed your hands, trying to pull you back. Yoshi grabbed Peach, trying to pull you back, too. But the shadowed hands were too strong and pulled you all into the pipe.

You were all inside the pipe, and you tried to hold on to the hands of Horror Mario and Peach. Yoshi used his tail to hang on to Peach's leg.

But the shadowy hands had too much force, causing you all to be separated. You were taken right, while Horror Mario, Peach, and Yoshi were taken left.

They all shouted your name as they were taken away in separate directions. The silence that filled the strange tunnel was unsettling, and you felt a sense of isolation as the shadows surrounded you.

Back at the Mushroom Kingdom.

The four waited in anticipation for a few hours in complete silence, and they eventually heard noises coming from the pipe. It was finally happening.

It finally popped out three figures who were different versions of Mario, Peach and Yoshi, but had a horrifying and disturbing appearance.

Mario, Bowser, and the others looked at the strange and creepy looking figures at complete shock.

Mario was stunned and shocked when he saw this version of him.

He noticed that the version of him was taller than him by a few feet. He was 8 feet tall. He had a dark shirt on, and his hat was also slightly darker blue. His eyes were all black with piercing red pupils. His teeth also looked sharper. What creeped him out the most is that the Mario had blood on him.

Peach also stood shocked; her eyes were all widened in fear. She was in complete fear and shock.

Her version was taller than she was, but just slightly. Her dress was just slightly darker in color with the same black eyes and red irises. But what surprised her the most was that even this peach was covered in blood.

Luigi, and even Bowser, were completely horrified by this strange horrifying version of Yoshi.

He looked exactly like their little friend, the normal, cute, and tiny Yoshi, but there was a lot of horrifying differences.

His skin was darker than the normal Yoshi. His eyes were black with red pupils, like the others. What also horrified them the most was how Yoshi was covered in blood. He also had a good number of scars all over his body.

They all stood in silence, waiting for someone to speak up. The Mario lookalike spoke first, he asked in a deep voice.

"Who... are you guys?"

Luigi, still behind and clinging to Bowser, spoke up. "W-we're the r-real Mario and Peach, a-and that's Bowser... and I'm Luigi" he said nervously.

"What world is this...?" The creepy Peach asked them. Her voice was also very deep.

"The Mushroom Kingdom... why?" Mario answered the other Peach in confusion.

"Oh... this must be Sleepy's world." Spoke the creepy Mario. The others were shocked to hear your name from them.

"What... did you just say? What do you mean by that? How do you know Sleepy?" Spoke Mario.

"Sleepy was transported to our world. They green pipe lead us here" answered the creepy Peach. The creepy Yoshi nodded. They were all completely shocked to hear that you were transported to their world. They wondered if you were ok.

"O-oh, I get it now... and how are you all doing with Sleepy there? Are they ok?" Luigi asked nervously, while also sounding worried. He needed to know if you were ok.

They were all silent before Yoshi started to talk. "Our world is in ruins. We have nothing in our world. Our place was destroyed by someone, and it turned us like this."

They were shocked to hear the Yoshi's words. They were not expecting that at all. But it made a lot of sense for that to happen.

"That was until Sleepy came around. They weren't scared of us. They comforted us when we were in pain. They wanted to take us to your world so we could stop feeling that pain."

This made all of them even more shocked when they heard this. But it was also surprising for them to hear that you were able to stay calm around them and comfort them when they were in pain.

"We looked into the forest and saw a green pipe. But something dragged us into the pipe and separated us from Sleepy, so we don't know where they are." Yoshi explained. His voice was very deep as well.

Yoshi was finished explaining the entire situation to them. They all realized that they need to find you as soon as possible. It sounded like you were in great danger.

"Oh no... we have to find them, right now!!" Peach said, sounding extremely worried.

"Princess, we can't. Remember, we can't go in the pipe. Something has to come out." Explained Mario.

"Oh, right, I forgot..." Peach said, sighing in disappointment at the fact that she forgot that none of them were able to enter the pipe.

"Then what do we do now?"

"W-we can get to know each other. We've never seen you before." Spoke Luigi. The group all agreed to Luigi's idea. They all sat down on the grass, not caring about getting their clothes dirty.

"Let's at least be able to introduce ourselves to each other. Where should we start?"

"I'll start," said the creepy Mario. "My name is Horror Mario or just 'M'. Our dimension was destroyed by someone, and we became like this. But we took care of it."

They all listened to M as he began to introduce himself. He explained how his dimension was destroyed by someone else. They became saddened to hear that.

"We're sorry to hear that..." Mario said, feeling heartbroken. Luigi nodded as well, feeling bad for the different version of his brother.

"It's ok... it's all over now" M said. They all nodded and sighed, glad that it was all over. After that, M allowed the creepy Peach, to introduce herself. She looked at all of them and spoke, in a feminine yet disturbing voice.

"My name is Horror Peach. I've also suffered the same as M, too." They all continued to listen to Horror Peach as she began introducing herself. Peach wanted to cry, not being able to bear the thought about how much suffering she must have been through.

Then the creepy Yoshi spoke. "My name is Yoshi.exe. I, too, have suffered the same as them. I was tortured by the man who made us like this. That why you see all the healed scars on my body"

Bowser was not happy at having to hear so many horrifying things and suffering that you and your alternate versions had to suffer, especially seeing the scars on Yoshi's body.

He spoke with a soft and compassionate voice when he said that their suffering sounded horrible and awful to have gone through.

"I'm... sorry that you had to go through that. It sounds horrible that you all had to go through it" Bowser spoke with a sad tone. "It's fine now... thank you" spoke M.

He smiled a little bit, and the tension and fear seemed to have disappeared a bit. Luigi was relieved to hear that and felt a bit better because of that too.

"O-oh, we're glad to hear..." He said, his tone soft and quiet. Luigi asked them if there was a similar version of him, as well as Bowser and the toad inhabitants. It was silent for a while before M decided to speak up.

''Are... you sure you want to hear this...? I don't want to make you upset." Spoke M.

The others could see that M had a very worried look on his face. They started to wonder and worry if the answers that M would give them would somehow hurt and traumatize them in some kind of way. But they wanted to know the answers to know the whole picture

"Yes, I'm sure..." Luigi said, speaking honestly. M hesitantly answered Luigi's question, it was clear from his tone that he was sad.

"In our world... you were killed by the man who hurt us..." small tears started to come out of his eyes. ''I'm sorry... Luigi'' M spoke. Luigi softly nodded at his words. ''It's ok... I'm glad that you told me'' spoke Luigi.

M continued to talk. "Also... Bowser was erased from our world... he disappeared... with the toads, we all told them to run far away from the kingdom... we didn't want them to suffer like we did"

They listened for a long time, absorbing all of the information they were told. It was silent for a while.

M suddenly asked them a question. "So... how well do you know Sleepy...?''

Luigi took a moment to think before he finally spoke. He was trying to find the right words to respond with to M

"They're so caring, and kind to us. We love and care for them just like a family member. So, to answer your question, we know Sleepy very well...."

But deep down, they missed you, hoping that you were okay. M hummed in response and then added to Luigi's answer.

"They treated us like that too... they comforted us from our pain and suffering. They helped us escape our dark thoughts and gave us hope."

The others were feeling genuinely happy to know that you had comforted M and the others. They continued to converse with each other.

Chapter Text

A green pipe emerged from the ground. The shadowed hands emerged from the pipe and sat you gently on the ground. Your sleepy eyes started at the pipe before it disappeared.

You slowly got up and looked around. You were in the woods, and it was dark. You looked up in the sky and see a full moon. It shined dully in the sky.

''Where am I? What is this place...?'' you questioned.

You see a trail that leads to somewhere, slowly following it.

You looked around the woods. It was dark and creepy. All the trees were all bark, and the fog was everywhere. You see some gravestones on the ground. You couldn't read the names on it.

You continued your walk on the trail. It was very windy and cold. You were glad that you had your hoodie. As you came closer to see a huge mansion. The mansion looked very ominous. There were no lights on the windows, but two.

The lights were a dimmed orange color. The more you look at it, it looks like it can make up a face on the mansion.

The mansion was about 2-3 floors. You see a gate that was a couple of yards away from the mansion.

Slowly walking towards the mansion. You see more barked trees surrounding the mansion.

On the gates, you see two blue light torches, making it more mysterious and creepier.

Making your way towards the gate until you see someone sitting in front of the gates. The more you looked at the person, you seemed to know who it is.

The person was wearing a green hat with a 'L' on it. They had dark blue overalls with a dark green shirt. They had brown shoes on, as well as the white gloves. You continued to look at the persons appearance.

Was this... Luigi?

He had a depressed look on his face. His regular peached skin was white as a ghost. His eyes weren't the usual all bright blue, it was all white, like it had no life to them. Around his eyes were huge, dark purple eyebags, like he had never slept in his life.

You slowly came closer to the figure, you noticed that they were holding a single flower. It was a daisy.

The Luigi looked up and saw someone coming toward him. It was... a toad?

You slowly came closer towards the sitting figure, not wanting to startle them. ''Luigi...? Is that you...?''

The person looked up with slightly widen eyes. How did this person know his name?

''H-how do you know... m-my name...?'' the person said in quiet tone. So this is Luigi... what happened to him?

You see him startled. You put your hands up. "Hey... I'm sorry that I startled you..." you spoke gently. The Luigi put his head down, like he didn't want to be seen.

You see him shaking in that spot. You made your way towards him and started to rub his back. "Hey, it's okay... I don't know what's going on, but I'm right here" you spoke softly.

'What happened to this Luigi? He looks so depressed'

He slowly stopped shaking from your comfort. He wipes the tears from his eyes, how long has it been since someone was nice to him? All he wants is his brother back. He finally gathers the courage to speak to you.

"You know my name... h-how?" he questioned. He also wanted to know why a toad is here in the woods, they should be safe at the castle.

You waited a few seconds before speaking. "I got transported here... I'm from a different dimension..." You spoke softly.

His eyes widen slightly at your words. His face then faltered into the depressed look from earlier. ''You're really from another dimension...? How did... you get here?'' he slowly asked.

You sat down next to him on the bottom of the stairs. ''I'm a toad from a different dimension... You look like the Luigi in my world''

Luigi looks down, tears are slowly shedding from his eyes. He thinks for a bit about the toad. Youwas the first person who was kind to him in a while.

You looked down on the ground before talking to him again. ''I really don't know what happened here... did something happen to you...and how did you get here?'' you said softly.

He wiped some of the tears from his face. "You really... want to know what... happened to me?" he said with a low whisper.

You sleepily nodded. "Yeah... I want to know why you're so upset" you spoke softly. You wanted to know why this Luigi was so sad.

Luigi looked down sadly, remembering what happened to him and his brother Mario. He sighed, and with a voice of sadness and fear, he answered.

"I had won a prize... which was this big mansion behind us. But I found out that my brother, Mario, was trapped here by King Boo. It was a trap... I tried to save him, but... but..."

He couldn't talk anymore, choking up on the words.

You rubbed his back, comforting him from the crying. ''Hey... it's alright... take your time... I'm right here'' you spoke softly.

Luigi calms himself down before continuing. "King.... King Boo. He is the reason my brother is gone. I've been trying to get him back for a while... but I can't, I'll never see him again, and it's all because of... him''

A few tears came out of his eyes. He slowly wiped the off his face. He then answers another important question to the toad he just met.

"W-what is your name?" he questioned.

"Toads really don't have names... in my world, everyone calls me Sleepy because of my sleepy and introverted personality" you explained.

He looked at you with a tiny, sad smile. "Y-You are so different, I never thought that there was such a thing as a sleepy toad...could you tell me more about you?...If you don't mind."

You sleepily smiled at his question. "Usually, toads are known for their cheerful and joyful personality. I was different... As you can see, I'm a gray toad... I don't have colors like the others. But everyone respected me like was a regular toad..."

He slightly smiled at the information. ''That's very unique of you ...I wish I could be myself..."

He remembers how everyone used to think of him. They used to call him Green Mario, nobody liked him. The one that treated him with kindness is his brother.

But now, this toad who he just met was telling him how different they were to the other toad, and they were fine with it. He wished he had that sort of confidence.

You noticed a frown on his face. You gently rubbed his back. ''You're the first person that hasn't made fun of me, well... besides my brother...''

He always felt insecure about himself. He wasn't very confident or super popular like his brother.

Luigi felt a little happy that he could talk to someone about how he's feeling, but he was still upset that he could never see his brother again. He felt... incomplete.

"Why would I make fun of you on how you looked? Just because you looked different doesn't mean you're different. You're still the same Luigi. I'm different as well"

He finally notices all the similarities between him and the sleeping toad, and how he is so nice and friendly you were. He was glad that someone had comforted him.

You both looked around the scenery. The atmosphere was dark, the fog made it more mysterious, you heard owls hooting in the distance. It felt peaceful to you.

Looking at his hand, it was the flower still in his hand. ''Hey Luigi... why are you holding a flower? Does it remind you of someone'' you spoke softly.

Luigi looked down at his yellow flower before speaking. "It reminds me of my brother"

You put your hand on his back and patted it. ''We're going to find a way to get your brother back. I promise Luigi'' you said to him.

Luigi felt happy that someone can help him get his brother back. ''T-thank you Sleepy... I'm glad that you can help me''

You both got up from the stairs and stretched a little. You both opened the gates. It made aloud creaking sound. You could tell by the sound that this was place was old and run down.

You both walked up the stairs to the mansion. The mansion was huge. As you both came closer to the big, wooded doors, you both pushed it open, making the same creaking sound from before.

Luigi followed Sleepy into the dark mansion. "What if we get attacked? Are you strong enough to fight?" Luigi said with concern and a little panic.

You both entered the dark living room. As you entered, the lights turned on. "To fight what...? I don't see anything..." you said.

Luigi saw the lights turn on. He looked around to see his surroundings. The haunted mansion gave him a sense of dread and despair. "We should be careful; this place is full of ghosts."

You slightly nodded at the information before continuing to look around the mansion. The place was very old and dusty. Cobwebs were everywhere, some of the lights were flickering.

Luigi gently tapped your shoulder and gave you a flashlight. ''Thanks''

Luigi followed you through the dusty, spooky old mansion. "We should stay close; we don't know what's here." He whispered, trying to be as quiet as possible.

You nodded. You both continued to search for things in the mansion that might help them on their search.

Chapter Text

The Luigi was trying to think of a plan when all of a sudden, the lights went out. He jumped and quickly grabbed Sleepy's hand. 'It's too dark! I can't see a thing!' Luigi thought.

You gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "Hey, I'm right here. It's ok" you spoke softly. You both turned on your flashlights to illuminate the area.

Luigi was relieved that Sleepy was still by his side. "I don't know where to go, I'm scared..." His hand was shaking.

You lead Luigi while holding his hand, looking at the pictures of people hanging on the walls. They must the people who used to live here.

Luigi's eyes suddenly widened, he quickly held Sleepy's hand even tighter than before. Luigi started crying when he saw the people on the pictures. "N-No... No, it can't..." He said terrified.

You gave his hand another reassuring squeeze. "Just keep your eyes on my hand, don't look at the pictures, it's going to be alright" You whispered.

"O-Okay..." Luigi lowed his head, only looking at your small hand. He held it so tightly that his hand might turn blue.

Looking around and finding some stairs, you carefully walk up the stairs, making sure to go step by step, getting on the second floor.

Luigi kept his eyes locked on Sleepy's hand. The only time he opened his eyes was when he wanted to check if they were safe. He was absolutely terrified, and his heart was beating at a quick pace.

"Just listen to my voice, Luigi. It's going to be okay. I promise." You said softly. Luigi tried his very best to calm down, he slowly stopped crying, but his heart was still beating very fast. He was sweating too; he couldn't help but think what they were walking into...

You turned around and gave him a gentle hug. "It's alright, you're doing fine, I'm right here" your small hands rubbed his back.

Luigi felt Sleepy hug him, finally calming him down. "Th-Thank you." Luigi said with a shaky, trembling tone. He wiped his eyes to clear everything. He gave a small smile; he slightly didn't feel scared.

You gently let go of the hug. "Do you know where your brother's picture is?" Luigi's eyes lit up, a big, genuine smile with hope filled his face. "Yeah! I know where it is!" Luigi was leading the way with Sleepy by his side, looking for Mario's picture.

He led you into a big room. You turned on your flashlight, looking for the picture, seeing a big portrait of his brother, Mario.

Luigi saw the picture of Mario, his eyes started tearing up again. He walked up slowly and carefully to his picture. It was big and covered the whole wall. Luigi started to cry and sniffle; he missed his brother so much.

You went up to the picture and stood next to Luigi. You rubbed his back once more. "We're going to get him back... I promise" you said softly.

He turned around quickly to give Sleepy the biggest, warmest hug he could muster. "Thank you so, so much for caring about me and giving me hope..." He had a big smile on his face, he was going to get his brother out of this nightmare.

You sleepily smiled at him. "Anytime" you said softly. You both feel a small rumble on the ground. You both turned around and saw a huge ghost. He has a giant gem crown and sharp teeth. He had a shadow covering his eyes, but it glowed a bright neon pink.

''Is that... King Boo...?'' you questioned the ghost. The ghost looked at you and nodded.

This ghost was the reason his brother is gone. "Y-you!" Luigi yelled; he was furious. Luigi charged directly at him, ready to fight.

"Wait!" The king yelled. "I have something that I need to say, Luigi" he spoke in a low voice.

Luigi stopped in his tracks; he was curious for what King Boo has to say. "W-what?" Luigi stuttered.

King Boo waited a few moments. "I'm here to say that I'm sorry for my actions... The things I did to you we're not right... and I want to make things right"

He couldn't believe his ears... It's all a trick, it has to be. He's just mocking him... right?... It didn't matter, Mario is gone and it's his fault. Luigi was breathing heavily; an angry expression was shown on his face.

Then, he spoke. "It's your fault my brother is trapped. You deserve the worst." Luigi charged at King Boo again, this time he had his vacuum on his back and ready to use.

"It's not a trick, Luigi... look at your brother portrait" you both looked at the portrait. It started to glow purple and pink around it. The portrait was starting to move. Moving slowly then frantically.

What Luigi saw was... impossible! Mario's portrait was... moving! Luigi dropped his vacuum immediately when he saw. He couldn't believe his eyes; he couldn't believe what he was seeing. Was this real?...

The movement was getting faster and faster until it glowed white. A hand popped out of the portrait, and then another popped out. You see a red hat sticking out with the letter 'M' on it. Mario slowly came out of the portrait and flew to the ground in front of Luigi.

"Luigi... is that you?" Mario questioned. Luigi was speechless, it was his brother Mario! He was back from that portrait! Luigi's eyes started tearing up, he was finally back... he was really back!

Luigi started crying tears of happiness, he ran as fast as he could to his brother, and he hugged him tightly.

Mario hugged him back tightly as well. They missed each other so much for so long. You sleepily smiled at their reunion. You turned to King Boo. "Thank you for letting him out." You thanked him quietly. King Boo nodded at you.

''No... thank you for helping find the courage to find his brother. I thought to myself that I was treating him so harshly by trapping his brother. I'm glad that someone helped him''

The brothers held their embrace as Luigi was crying on his back. "Mario... I never thought I'd see you again. I missed you so, so much!" Luigi said in a voice of happiness, he never thought that this would happen.

You turned to Luigi. "He said he was tired of putting people in portraits, he's sorry for his actions" you said to him. King Boo nodded, confirming your words.

Luigi was bewildered hearing an apology come from the King Boo. He knew that King Boo was very strong and very evil as well, he didn't think that he would apologize. Luigi wiped his tears.

"I... accept your apology... but your n-not fully forgiven" Luigi said quietly. You were glad that he accepted his apology. The king then disappeared. You look at the two. They were so happy.

Mario finally stopped hugging Luigi and looked at you. "Who's your friend Luigi?" he asked. Luigi turned to Sleepy and smiled warmly. "This is Sleepy, they helped me find you, they're very kind and nice to me... Thank you Sleepy" Luigi said in a very joyful voice.

"You're welcome, Luigi" you waved at Mario. Mario waved back and walked toward you. "Thank you for helping my brother out. I've been trapped in that portrait for so long. I'm glad there are people out there who still care about others"

Luigi wiped away his tears while he watched Sleepy and Mario talk. "You're welcome. I wanted to help him get through his sadness. I wanted to make sure that he got his brother back" you spoke softly.

Mario nodded, he was happy to see Luigi being less insecure and showing off his smile again. Luigi felt grateful but he knew it was time to go back home. "Me and my brother have to leave soon, thank you for everything Sleepy, I'll never forget this." He gave you two a big, warm hug.

Luigi then turned to Mario. "Come on brother, we should get going soon. It's late." Mario nodded in agreement and they both waved at Sleepy.

You waved them goodbye. "Bye Mario and Luigi"

"Bye Sleepy!" They both started walking back home. Luigi looked behind him and gave Sleepy a smile. You see them exit the mansion and closed the doors.

You looked around the house for a while, feeling your eyelids become heavy. You find a room with a comfy bed. Getting on the bed, you let your drowsiness lull you to sleep.

The brothers walked away from the haunted mansion; he looks over his shoulder to see Sleepy closing the doors.

Luigi looks at Mario. "I miss Sleepy already. They were so special, kind and friendly" Luigi said with a smile on his face, remembering all the moments he spent with Sleepy.

Before the brothers could say anything else, a green pipe appeared in front of them.

The green pipe startled both of them. They started to back away from the pipe. "What is that?" Luigi said, he had his guard up just in case something came out of the pipe. Mario did the same.

The shadowed hands from before emerged from the pipe and grabbed them both, pulling them into the pipe.

The brothers yelled out in shock. They did not expect to be pulled into the pipe without warning. Were they going to be trapped like how Luigi was trapped in the haunted mansion?

They started to see light. They we're pushed out and saw... other versions of themselves?

Luigi felt his face get very pale. "M-Mario, look!" He pointed at the other versions of them and turned to his brother very confused. "Wait! Are there other versions of us?" He asked his brother with uncertainty.

The other versions of them looked at them with curiosity, wondering which dimension they came from.

Chapter Text

A few minutes before Beta Luigi and Mario came around.

It turns out that M, Horror Peach and Yoshi.exe have spent several days with them so far. They've really started to bond and get along and share the things and situations that they experienced in their own world, which was completely different from theirs.

Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Bowser were currently at the castle having a meal together, having a little lunch while they all wondered where you were. They all hoped and prayed that you were okay and uninjured.

While they all ate at the table, a red and blue toad suddenly slammed the door opened. They made an announcement that the green pipe was glowing again and making noises. They all jumped at the sudden loud entrance from the toads.

"Guys! Guys! It's the pipe again!" Yelled the red toad. "Yeah! It is making the sound again!" Added the blue toad.

They all quickly got up from their seats and ran out of the castle. They headed straight to the forest to see what was going on with the pipe.

M, Horror Peach, and Yoshi.exe were already at the forest as well. They explained to Mario that they got the same information as well about the pipes making noises again.

The noise from the pipe getting louder and they watched it carefully. As they watched, they saw two new figures pop out. It was another Mario and a Luigi that they have never seen before.

The new Mario and Luigi looked around. "Who are you people? Why do you look like us?" The new Luigi questioned.

All of them were speechless when they saw this new version of Mario and a new Luigi. They stared in complete surprise and shock as they listened to this new Luigi ask them who they were and why they looked like them.

They both saw that this new version of Luigi was wearing a green hat with a printed 'L' in the front. He had dark blue overalls with a dark green shirt. He was also wearing brown shoes, complete with the white gloves like most normal versions of Luigi.

As they took notice of the appearance of this new Luigi, the three of them were shocked. His facial expression was depressing.

His regular peachy skinned complexion was white as a ghost, it looked like it had never seen the sun before.

They noticed that his usual sparkling and bright blue eyes were now like lifeless, blank white circles with dark purple circles around his eyes.

''Are you okay...? You look so sad." Said Mario. The new Luigi nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. I was just happy to get my brother back" he pointed to the new Mario.

The new Mario looked almost exactly like their Mario, except his clothes were a slightly darker color.

"So, what is your name? You look just like me, but different" asked Luigi.

Luigi turned around to face this new version of himself, he looked exactly like him but with a different appearance. The new Luigi simply smiled and answered

"My name is Beta Luigi. I've came from Luigi's Mansion." He replied in a soft tone.

Luigi smiled. "How come your name has 'Beta' in front of your name?" He questioned. Beta Luigi chuckled and replied back.

"Luigi's Mansion originally had a beta name, it was 'Mansion of Horror' Before the full game, it was a beta version, that's why I'm named Beta Luigi."

"That sounds so cool!" said Mario and Luigi. M and Horror Peach were both smiling as well, as they listened and watched.

"A toad came by and helped me find my brother." Beta said. The others widened their eyes.

Mario, Luigi, and Peach widened their eyes in surprise when they heard Beta Luigi bring up that a toad found and helped him out. Peach quickly asked if the toad by any chance was named Sleepy.

Beta nodded. "The last time I saw them; they were in the mansion we were in. Do you know them?"

"Yes, we know them, we hoped they're alright" said M and the others wished that you were doing well.

"How long have they been gone for?" Asked Beta. He wondered how long you were gone for from your world.

Mario, Luigi, and Peach took a moment to think about that question before Peach answered it.

"For quite a few days now."

They all hoped that their friend was doing alright. After they all finished conversing with each other, they all started to head inside the castle.

''Also, I noticed that sleepy is a gray toad. I've never seen a gray toad before'' Beta said to the others.

''Yeah, Sleepy is the only gray toad in the Mushroom Kingdom'' said Luigi. Beta chuckled. ''They are a very nice toad; I hope they're doing alright''

Meanwhile back at the Mansion.

You were still sleeping comfortably in the soft bed. You wished you could stay in bed and sleep. But a small rumble came from the room you were in, but you didn't wake up from it.

The same green pipe popped up in the room, the shadowed hands emerged from the pipe once more. It gently picked up your sleeping form and took you into the pipe.

The green pipe popped out of the ground of a new world. The shadowed hands gently placed your sleeping body on the soft grass.

The shadowed hands gently rubbed your head before going back to the pipe, making it disappear as well.

You softly groaned in your sleep, eyes slowly opening; you were outside on the grass. You could hear birds chirping, it was daytime. You slowly sat up and rubbed your eyes.

Looking around the scenery, you see a castle that was a couple yards from you. It looked like the princess's castle, but it looked different. Everything looked pixelated into a 64-bit. You looked at your hands and hoodie, you looked had a 64-bit style to you.

You looked around once more. 'Is this the Mushroom Kingdom' you though to yourself.

Getting up from the grass, you walked towards the castle. You hear the water that surrounded the castle. You see butterflies around the area. Some of them flew around you as one of them landed softly on your non-existent nose, a faint smile emerged on your face.

You continued to walk to the bridge that was connected to the castle.

You came across the wooded doors, opening it, going into the castle. Looking around, the place was very colorful. You see paintings around the area, some stairs and some doors in the area as well.

You walked around the area, your soft steps slightly echoed in the castle. You noticed that the place felt... empty. Like nobody was in there but you. It felt... off.

'Are the princess and the toads here?' You thought again. You had a slight feeling that you were being watched. The place felt looked joyful and full of happiness, but the atmosphere felt dead.

Walking around, you see a wall with a door. The more you looked at it, the weirder it felt. It looked out of place. You walked towards it slowly and gently raised your hand to touch it.

Your hand came in contact with the door and your hand went through. You slight jumped when your hand disappeared into the door. You slowly walked to the fake door and see a huge room.

Looking around the huge room, it was empty as well. Slowly waking around, you see a huge mirror. Your appearance looked different, like you were in a video game.

You still had your sleepy look with dark eyebags. Your sleepy, soulless eyes were still the same. But then you looked at the mirror again and slightly jumped, gaining goosebumps on your skin.

The person in the mirror was on a cloud with a fishing pole. The fishing pole was holding a camera, directly pointing it towards you. You turned around and it was the person.

He looked like a koopa troopa, but this one had glasses on.

He looked friendly and he smiled at you and waved. You nervously waved back. ''Who are you?'' you questioned. He smiled once more.

''I'm Lakitu. I'm here to record you on your journey. When you're done, you will be able to see what you've done. I'm sorry that I scared you'' he explained.

''It's fine, I didn't know you were there'' you spoke to him. He told you to act like he wasn't there. You nodded and exited out of the fake room and turned around. You saw that he wasn't there anymore.

'Wasn't he just...? I need a nap' you thought.

You then walked out of the mirror room. The atmosphere still felt dead. Did something happen before I came here? You come across another door, leading you outside to a courtyard.

Walking on the soft grass, you came across a water fountain. It had a star statue with writing on it. On the ground you see the name for the star. 'The Eternal Star' You came closer to look at it more.

You looked closely looked at the writing on a stone sign.

'L is Real 2401'

You were slightly confused on the writing. 'Who is L?' you questioned in your head. You heard something bubbling and muffled screaming in the water. You looked down to see what was in the water.

''L-Luigi...?'

Chapter Text

''HELP MEEEE!!!"

Your eyes widen when you see another Luigi drowning. You couldn't find anything to use, so you took off your hoodie and jumped into the water.

You swam towards him in a hurried manner, seeing that he was frantically trying to swim up. You looked down at his feet, it was caught up in something you couldn't see it thoroughly, but you need to hurry up.

Losing your breath, you frantically swam up into the surface, gasping to catch your breath and diving back in.

'I'm going to get you out of here, Luigi' you thought as you swam faster towards his foot.

You started to untangle the stuff around Luigi's foot. After some time, you finished and grabbed Luigi by the waist. You swam up to the surface, gasping for air, thanking yourself for making it in time.

You both got out of the water fountain, laying on the ground, catching your breath. You were glad that you could save him. You sat up and see his appearance.

This Luigi was very tall, taller than your Luigi. His clothes were a darker shade of his green shirt and blue overalls. His peach skin was a shade darker, and his eyes were covered in a shadow.

You went towards the Luigi. "Hey, are you alright?" You questioned him.

The Luigi looked at you, still not fully catching his breath, he slowly sits up and says, "I... need water, and... lots of it." He coughs in between his words. You nodded and went inside the castle.

Running into the kitchen to get a glass of water. You also grabbed some towels to dry off for the both of you and ran back outside, giving him water and a towel.

You got your towel and dried off. Your shirt was still wet, so while Luigi was drying off, you quickly took it off, and you put on your hoodie. "Are you doing alright now?" You spoke softly.

The Luigi sighs and says, "Yeah, I am better now, the water rejuvenated me. Thank you so much for saving my life, why were you even in the castle, and who are you?" He asks you.

You smiled softly. "You're welcome. My name is Sleepy..." You waited for him to speak. He then turned towards you. "Sleepy huh... that a cute name" his voice was still hoarse from him screaming.

You slightly blushed. "Thanks..." you shyly said before asking him another question. "What happened to you, Luigi...? Who was trying to drown you?"

"...I've been stuck here for a long time... I tried to shout for help...but it didn't work... I wanted to give up and just drown... but I had the courage to s-stay alive..." his voice wavered. You then saw tears pouring out of his tears.

Walking towards him and giving him a hug. His clothes were a bit wet. You rubbed his back, trying to calm down his nerves. "It's okay... I'm glad that I found you."

The Luigi blushed when you comforted him. He hugged you back, feeling the warmth he hasn't had in a long time.

When you pulled away, he missed the warmth from the hug. You then grabbed his hand and led him into the castle, sitting down on the carpet.

Your eyelids became heavy every time you blinked. You then laid on the soft carpet and lulled into a peaceful sleep.

Luigi thought you looked so cute at your sleeping form. He was glad that you saved him.

The Luigi continued to admire. It was only you and him. He could tell that you were tired from what happened. He was glad that you saved him. You were so caring towards him, and you don't know him fully.

He then placed you on his lap, feeling your small, warm body against his. He's been drowning for so long; he forgot what the warmth felt like.

He then thought about what would happen if you didn't come here. Would he be trap forever?

Would he have been given up?

Would anybody know?

Would his brother know that a toad actually saved him, and he didn't?

Leaned back against the wall with you on your lap, he felt tired as well. All the screaming and adrenaline helped try to keep himself alive for years. He finally escaped the torture.

He was in your hands now. 'I don't want you to leave, you saved me. I'll be able to help you. I want to stay by your side' he thought. It was almost... possessive.

He continued to have thoughts of him by your side. He wished that you could stay here forever. He looked down and caressed your cheek. He finally got a good look at you. You were a toad. A toad that he's never seen before.

Looking at the eyebags on your face, showing that you probably don't get enough sleep. He then gently picked up your small hands, caressing the soft skin. Your hand was so small against his.

While admiring you, he felt his eye become heavier, he could finally get some rest. He could hear a soft lullaby playing in the background that lulled him into a restful nap.

A few hours went by, you feel yourself waking up. You looked at your surroundings, finding a window, seeing that it was nighttime. You felt something warm against you, feeling arms around your body.

Looking up, you saw the Luigi... sleeping? You couldn't tell because of the shadow that covered his eyes. You felt his chest slowly rise and fall, seeing that he was probably sleeping.

You tried to get up from his lap, but you felt his arms firmly around you, trying to keep you by him. You gently picked his arms off him and placed them on his lap.

Getting up from his lap, you quietly walked around. This place was even more creepy at night. Dead atmosphere, nobody here but you and the Luigi.

You looked around until you found the bathroom, needing to clean yourself and get these clothes off you. You find some clothes that were for toads. It was the perfect size.

You ran the water to a warm, feeling your body relaxing in it. You needed it. You've been gone for god knows how long. You sit in the tub, washing yourself in the warm water.

After washing yourself, you drained the water out of the tub. Grabbing a new towel and dried yourself off, feeling warm and clean. You put on some new clothes and grabbed your hoodie and walked out.

Looking at the window it was still nighttime. You then walked towards the Luigi; he was still sitting in that same position.

You felt bad for him. He doesn't have anyone. His brother, the princess, the toads. Just all by himself. You decided that you can talking to him in the morning.

Walking towards him and sat next to his sleeping body. You leaned your head on arm. You hear a small lullaby in the distance, lulling you into a peaceful sleep.

______________________________

Morning time came around. The Luigi was the first to wake up, he didn't feel you on his lap. He looked around and saw you sleeping next to him.

'When did you move?' he thought. He looked at the window, seeing that it was morning.

He looked down towards you. You look so adorable resting against his arm. He then gently shook your body. You softly groaned in your sleep, slightly opening your eyes, you felt the Luigi trying to wake you up.

''Morning Luigi...'' your voice was hoarse from sleeping.

The Luigi whispered a good morning back. You sat up and rubbed your eyes, trying to wake yourself up, even though you wanted to go back. Luigi got up from the sitting position, stretching his body.

Gently grabbing your hand, you both walked towards the kitchen. He gently picked you up and sat you at the table. He then went into the kitchen and started to cook breakfast.

He placed down two plates on the table, one for him and one for you. It looked delicious. ''Thank you, Luigi'' You thanked him in a soft, sleepy tone.

While eating, you asked him a question. "Hey Luigi, if you want to... why not come to my world? I don't want you stuck here"

Luigi thinks for a bit before speaking, "I would... I would love to come to your world. I don't want to be by myself anymore" he whispered.

You could see tears pouring out of his eyes, making your way to give him a hug. He happily thought about you taking his world. He couldn't wait for you to show him your world.

Chapter Text

You were glad that he wanted to go with you. ''Alright... but were going to have to wait a little bit, there's a green pipe that we can use to take us to my world'' you spoke softly to him.

The Luigi nodded, listening intently to what you had to say. "Okay, we'll wait" he spoke quietly.

You both decided to go relax outside, it was very beautiful and peaceful outside. You didn't want to be in the cold, dead atmosphere in the castle. You wondered what happened in that castle that made it like that.

Walking next to each other, you both converse on your likes and dislikes. You told him that you liked to sleep and relax, sometimes playing video games with the other toads. You talked about each other's favorite foods, places, and other things.

Luigi nodded at your answers. He was glad to be by you. You're the only one that helped him and made him felt better.

He softly grabbed your hand; it was so small compared to his. You slightly blushed at the gesture.

Walking alongside the tree's you see a house in the distance. You tapped the Luigi's arm. ''Hey, whose house is that?'' the Luigi looked at the house. He thought about it for a moment.

''It's... my house...? I've never seen it before.'' he spoke softly.

You both walked towards the house. It was a small, one-story house. It was very pretty. You see a sign and a mailbox reading 'Mario' on it. You knew that their last names were Mario.

When coming to the front door, Luigi stood there for a second, contemplating if he should inside. It felt like he was about to go inside his long-forgotten home.

He hesitantly raised his hand to grab the doorknob. He took a deep breath and opened the door. The inside of the house reminded you of an old house. The place was mostly woodened. You and Luigi looked around at the old, yet familiar place. Pictures and furniture lay in the room, with a warm, homey feeling to them.

Looking around you see a bunk bed. On the top bunk, you see red bedsheets and covers. It had the letter 'M' on the side of the bed. On the bottom, you see green bedsheets and covers. It also had a letter on the side of the bed, it was an 'L'.

You looked around and see pictures of the brothers.

Walking towards the dresser with framed photos of them, you looked at the photo; they looked so happy together. Gently picking up the picture, you examen it more.

'What ever happened to them? Does Luigi even remember? Now that I think about it... where's Mario?'

Looking towards the Luigi, he was still looking around the house. Walking towards him, you tapped his arm. ''Do you have any memories of this place...? Or the photo's you took with your brother?'' you asked.

He thought for a bit and then said, "I... I vaguely remember taking photos with my brother. I can't remember too much of this place either..." he said quietly. He had a somber expression on his face.

Nodding while taking in the information, you put the picture down and walked towards him. He was sitting down on his bed. You then gave him a hug, rubbing his back.

''I'm sorry that you have to go through this, Luigi... I hope when you come to my world, it would make you feel better'' speaking in a soft tone.

Luigi hugged you tighter, not wanting to let go. You felt his body shaking, and you could sense that he was starting to cry. "I... I wish I had memories of this place... I don't know what happened while I was gone... I wish I could see him again...'' he said between sniffles.

You continued to comfort him, wishing that he could see his brother one last time. You were glad that he agreed to go with you to your world. "Do you want to get some rest, Luigi...?" He nodded against your shoulder, still sniffling after crying.

You were about to get up but then Luigi pulled you back, seating you on his bed. He then laid his head on your lap, surprising you. You couldn't help but blush at his actions.

He trusted you a lot. You took his hat off and gently combed his hair with your fingers, lulling him to sleep. Still combing through Luigi's hair, you started to feel yourself starting to get sleepy.

After what happened today, you really needed a nap. Your eyes grew heavier and heavier with each blink, until you eventually closed them, resting your head against the wall and falling asleep.

You woke up and found yourself in a dark, seemingly black space. Confused, you looked around, trying to grasp where you were. 'Am I dreaming?' you thought. You wondered where you were until you heard whispers.

They got closer and closer to you, sending slight chills down your spine.

Slowly turning around, you see the shadowed hands from before. It's been taking you everywhere. Into different dimensions, meeting other versions of your friends back home.

''It's you... Why are you taking me into different dimensions...? Is there a reason why you do this?'' you questioned the shadowed hands.

A few seconds passed as you hear a deep voice echo in the area.

''The reason I took you to these worlds because... I need you to help them. I created those dimensions so they could be happy... but in each of them... they've gone through so much... I don't know what happened...''

''When I came to your dimension, it was... different from the others. The people in your world were happy. I wanted to give the others that happiness as well... but each of them have gone through something''

Listened intently to the deep voice, intrigued by the revelation that the shadowed hands had created the different dimensions to make each of your friends happy.

The voice explained how each dimension had also encountered challenges and suffering, commenting on how your dimension, in comparison, appeared happy.

He expressed his desire to bring happiness to the others but admitted that they had all undergone hardships.

You nodded in understanding, taking in as much information as you could. The voice continued to speak, providing more details about the dimensions and their inhabitants.

''The reason I wanted you to go to these dimensions is because... you were different and unique than the others... I took interests in you... In the dimensions, I wanted you to take them to your world... I want them to feel happiness again...''

You listened to the voice's explanation, understanding why he had chosen you. However, doubts began to surface as you wondered about your own significance.

"But why me? I'm just a toad. Why didn't you choose one of the Mario brothers instead?"

''I picked you because you're special... you have the ability to comfort others... the way you comfort them makes them feel happiness once more and feel it forever... I also saw that some of the took interests in you as well...'' you heard the voice chuckled.

You listened closely as the voice explained its reasons for choosing you. It mentioned that you had the ability to comfort others and bring them a sense of true happiness.

The voice also added that some of the characters had taken an interest in you, causing a blush to form on your face as you recalled the endearing moments.

You then spoke, addressing the voice. "Is there a way that I could go home for a little while and bring this Luigi I'm with to my world...?" you inquired. You explained that the others back in your world missed you and were surely worried about your absence.

The voice answered back. ''Yes... I'll be able to take you home for a while to see your friends again... I've seen that they're desperate to see you again... Also, the people that you've met in different dimensions, they're in your world as well... M, Horror Peach, Yoshi.exe, Beta Luigi, and the one with your with right now is named L...''

You listened intently as the voice responded to your question. It confirmed that you would be able to return to your world for a while to reunite with your friends, who were undoubtedly eager to see you again.

You thanked the voice for letting you go home for a while. ''While in your room, I'll be back to get you... there're others that need help as well... I hope to talk to you again, Sleepy...''

You nodded in acknowledgment of the voice's gratitude. The sound of fingers snapping signified that you have wakened up in the real world, but you still felt tired.

L was still asleep. Feeling in need of rest, you decided to close your eyes once more, hoping to regain energy for when both you and L would awaken.

Chapter Text

You groaned softly, slowly waking up. Looking towards the window, you realized it was morning time. You then glanced down and noticed that L was still asleep on your lap.

Rubbing your eyes and gently shook L, saying, "L... It's time to wake up" in a soft tone. L stirred and slowly opened his eyes, waking up from his slumber.

"Hey... You want to go look for the pipe?" L nodded in agreement, sitting up and stretching.

You and L stood up from the bed, both stretching your bodies and listening to the joints pop. Feeling refreshed, you were ready to start your search for the pipe.

''Do you want to take anything with you...? Just in case'' you asked L. He looked around the house before going towards the dresser. He picked up a photo of him and his brother.

The photo contained of them smiling with joy.

He placed the small photo in his pocket, wanting to have something with him that reminded him of his brother. You were glad that he took something that will help him cope without having his brother.

You took L's hand gently and led him out of the house. Together, you entered the forest, your eyes searching for any sign of the elusive pipe.

As you traversed the forest, you heard a faint humming noise coming from somewhere. Intrigued, you and L walked closer to the source of the sound.

You continued walking towards the humming sound until you finally came across the green glowing pipe. You turned to L and said, "This is the pipe, L."

He looked around the pipe with curiosity, he's never seen a green pipe that was this bright before.

You and L approached the pipe, the humming noise ceasing as you drew nearer. You asked L, "You ready...?" he nodded, his grip on your hand tightening slightly, excitement coursing through him.

Standing there for a moment, you both take the leap into the pipe. Both of you zipped through it, enveloped in darkness, with the only visible light being from the end of the pipe.

You maintained your grip on L's hand, reassuring yourself that he was going to be okay.

Both you and L traveled through the pipe in the forest. Coming closer and closer to the dimmed light until you both came through the other side.

You both stood outside in the forest, in complete silence. You turned around to look at L, asking him if he's alright. He quietly nodded, holding onto your hand the whole time.

Walking out of the forest, you breathed a silent sigh of relief. You looked forward and saw a castle, in the distance.

It was the Mushroom Kingdom. Walking up to the doorway to the castle and gently knocked on the door.

After a few seconds, a purple toad appeared and opened the door. They looked up, seeing you, and then glanced over at L, who looked like another version of Luigi.

The purple toad was absolutely ecstatic to see you again, having gone days without knowing where you were. "Oh my god... Sleepy! You're back!" You've been gone for days, and they finally have you back home.

They immediately embraced you and pulled you into a tight hug. You returned the hug back, gently holding them.

L was relieved to see that you were both back and safely in the Mushroom Kingdom.

The purple toad wasted no time and led you quickly inside the castle, saying that they needed to bring you to Princess Peach as soon as possible. You held onto L's hand the entire time.

The purple toad guided you and L to Peach's room and knocked on the door several times. There were a few seconds of silence before the door finally opened, revealing the princess herself.

Her jaw dropped in disbelief, and she froze right where she was standing as she laid eyes upon you. "Hey princess..." you smiled, to reassure her that you were alright and unharmed.

Peach almost immediately picked you up out of the blue, holding you against her chest in a tight and crushing embrace. She was yelling and shouting, filled with worry and relief that you were back and home safely.

"Sleepy! I'm so glad you're home! We missed you so much!" she gently pinched your soft cheeks, making you slightly blushed at the affection.

She expressed how much she was happy that you were home safe. She missed you immensely and was worried sick about your whereabouts.

She gave you a gentle kiss on the cheek, making you freeze up. Heat quickly rushed to your face, feeling your cheeks turn red from her actions.

Seeing your flushed and blushing face, Peach chuckled with happiness. She held you in another tight hug, as she couldn't contain her glee and joy at seeing you again.

L felt a pang of jealousy when he saw Peach give you a kiss on the cheek and a tight hug. He was happy and a little relieved that you were back and home safely, but he still felt that tinge of jealousy as he continued to watch the interaction between you and Peach.

She then put you down. "We're so glad your home, Sleepy" she spoke to you. She then turned to L, another version of Luigi.

She noted that this Luigi was slightly taller than the original and that he wore dark blue overalls with a dark green shirt underneath. This Luigi's eyes were completely shadowed over, which only allowed you to see his black mustache clearly, along with his mouth.

"Princess, this is L. He's another version of Luigi that I helped out" Peach smiled at you, appreciating the fact that you were looking after the alternate versions of her and the others. She was thankful and grateful to you for doing such a kind gesture.

"Also... I wanted to ask if the other versions were here" she nodded at you. "Yes, they're here as well" she told you. You nodded and confirmed that they all were, and she acknowledged that information.

"I need to call the others and tell them that you're here!" She then ran to her phone and called the others. You nodded and grabbed L's hand, leading through the castle.

"This is where I live, L. You're going to be here, too..." you spoke softly.

L silently nodded, following your explanations as you led him through the castle. After traveling through the halls, you eventually arrived at the guest rooms, where L would be staying during his visit.

Surprisingly, you discovered that M and Horror Peach were already awake. Before you could speak, you were tackled to the floor with both of them embracing you in a tight hug.

Horror Peach was the first to speak, telling you that you were finally back. "You're home, Sleepy!" She spoke. M chimed in, expressing their relief at your return. "We're glad you're back" he added.

Your voice came out somewhat muffled due to the tight hug you were in. "Hey guys, I'm glad you both are here," you mumbled back in response.

You pulled away from the hug, missing the warmth from their embraces already. You then turned to M and Horror Peach, asking them how they were liking it here at the castle so far.

Horror Peach spoke up and stated that, in comparison to their own castle back in their world, this one was much more beautiful. "It's beautiful. Its way better than our castle back at our world''

M then chimed in, agreeing with her and adding that this castle was far more relaxed and nicer. "Yeah, this is way better, and it's more relaxed"

You looked around the guest room and noticed that Yoshie.EXE, along with Beta and his version of Mario, were also present. They were all fast asleep, resting in their own separate beds.

You smiled gently at seeing them all sleeping safely in the guest room. You then introduced M and Horror Peach to L, who was a more quiet and less talkative version of Luigi. M and Horror Peach cordially waved back at him, seeming to notice that he was the more reserved type.

You softly smiled at their interactions. "Alright L... this where you're staying. I'll see you later..." you then gave L a hug. He returned your embrace, holding you in his arms for a few seconds before slowly letting you go.

Just as you were about to leave the guest rooms, you were suddenly picked up off the ground by M. He then leaned down and planted a kiss on your forehead, whispering that he was glad you were back to you.

Your face flushed from his action, hugged him in return, feeling his arms wrap around you in response.

Horror Peach then scooped you away from M and planted a kiss on your cheek, causing your face to flush once more. 'Did they all miss me that badly?' you thought to yourself. Horror Peach then gently placed you back onto the ground.

You bid them both goodnights, your cheeks still flushed from their kisses and their overall presence. They chuckled at your bashfulness before replying with a "goodnight" of their own. You then strolled through the empty hallway, looking pretty sleepy as usual.

The sound of the front doors suddenly opening caught your drowsy attention, making you look up. The Mario Bros were the ones standing behind the door and froze in place when they saw you standing in the hallway, giving them a sleepy smile.

You gently lifted your arm to wave to them. Both Mario and Luigi had a similar thought process as they thought "They're... here" and "They're back home."

Without hesitation, they both ran towards you, embracing you in a tight group hug.

Seeing their sheer happiness in having you back home, you couldn't help but softly chuckle at their behavior. There was no doubt they were absolutely ecstatic that you had returned safely and unharmed.

"Are you okay?! We were so worried about you!" Said Mario. "We're glad you're ok!" added Luigi. Both of them proceeded to scan your body, checking for any potential injuries or signs of harm.

You reassured them by saying, "I'm okay, guys." Both Mario and Luigi smiled back at you, finally able to breathe a sigh of relief that you were back home and safe.

They held you tight against them as they embrace you in another tight hug, seemingly unwilling to let go of their grip on you.

Peach came towards the group. "Boys, let them go. Were all happy that they're back home" she told the brothers. They let go of you, already missing the warmth of the hug.

Everyone was content that you had returned home safely, and they smiled seeing your sleepy smile and knowing that you were happy to be back. However, you felt the need to tell them about something significant that was currently transpiring.

Getting everyone's attention. ''Hey guy's... in the morning I need to talk to everyone about why I was missing...'' Your voice was soft and groggy as you uttered those words.

After hearing your words, everyone paused for a moment before nodding in agreement, deciding to wait until the morning to hear the explanation. One by one, they each took the opportunity to hug you one last time before heading off to their respective home or rooms, preparing for sleep.

However, the Mario Bros. chose to stay behind with you, not leaving your side just yet.

The Mario Bros.' embraced you once more, but something caught you off guard this time - they began to speak in their native language. Their voices sounded deeper and more mature than before, adding to their allure.

Despite not understanding what they were saying, you couldn't help but blush at their mysterious words.

''Eravamo così contenti che tu sia tornato a casa, Sleepy'' spoke Mario ''Finalmente ti abbiamo riavuto'' added Luigi.

The brothers both pressed soft kisses onto your cheeks, causing your blush to deepen further. Their voices carried a hint of possessiveness in them, although you were too fatigued to ask for clarification.

After giving you one final kiss on the cheek, they bid you goodnight and walked out of the castle, leaving you in the solitude of the hallway.

'Wha... What just happened...?'

You stood there in the hallway, your face still flushed with a red hue, as you pondered over what had just occurred.

After snapping out of your thoughts, you continued your way to your room, passing by toads along the way.

The toads were delighted to see you back home and happily waved at you in return. You eventually arrived at your room, closing the door behind you as you entered.

Walking over to your comfortable bed, which you had greatly missed, and promptly flopped onto it, feeling a sense of relaxation wash over you. The fatigue of the day started to catch up to you, and you slowly but surely lulled yourself into sleep.

Chapter Text

Morning had arrived, sunlight from the early hours streamed through the gaps in your blinds, gently waking you.

As always, you didn't want to leave the comfortable bed, the desire to stay in it being the only thing on your mind right now.

Finally finding the courage, you mustered the will to slowly sit upright in your bed. After taking a moment to simply sit and stare at the wall in front of you, you rose to your feet, picked out some fresh clothes, and headed to the bathroom.

You indulged in a refreshing shower, cleaning yourself up and switching into the new clothes. When you were done, you placed your hoodie on and stepped out of your room.

You silently closed the door behind you and stretched your body, relishing in the feeling of your joints cracking gently. Walking down the hallway, bidding a tired "good morning" to the toads you passed by on the way.

After some time, you arrived at the guest rooms and noticed that M and L were already up and about.

Greeting them with a tired "good morning," your voice still heavy with sleepiness. M replied with a gentle smile, saying, "Morning, Sleepy." L, on the other hand, also chimed in with a soft "good morning" of his own.

You, M, and L engaged in conversation with one another, each sharing their thoughts on living in the castle. They both expressed their satisfaction with their stay, stating that they preferred being here over their own world.

You felt a sense of contentment knowing that you were able to help them feel at home.

As you conversed with M and L and witnessed the budding friendship between them, you found yourself having a sleepy smile. They shared the same first letter in their names, and you thought it was a pretty cool coincidence. They both took notice of your sleepy smile, causing their hearts to warm at the sight of it.

You told M and L that you would see them at the breakfast table. They smiled in response and gave you a gentle hug before heading off to the kitchen. A soft giggle escaped your lips as you shyly reacted to their affection.

You noticed the sound of a few doors opening and looked up to see Horror Peach, Yoshi.EXE, and Beta with his Mario emerging from their respective rooms.

Yawning and rubbing your eyes, you softly said "good morning" to them. Beta and his Mario returned your greeting with a wave and a smile. Yoshi.EXE affectionately nuzzled your face, making you smile at his display of endearment.

Horror Peach gently picked you up, holding you against her. Her deep yet feminine voice was soothing as she said "good morning" to you in return.

Horror Peach placed you back down on the floor after holding you against her, and you were happy to know that they were all enjoying their stay.

Feeling a pang of hunger in your stomach, you asked them to join you for breakfast. They all nodded in agreement, following you to the kitchen to meet the rest of the group.

As you and the others arrived in the kitchen, you were greeted by the toad chefs who were busy cooking breakfast. They waved to you and the rest of the group, before you all continued on your way to the big table.

There, you noticed several individuals already seated and engaged in conversation. However, Mario, Luigi, and Peach were notably missing from the table at the moment.

After a brief wait, you were soon joined by the brothers and Princess Peach. They all greeted you with cheerful "good mornings" The bros chimed in, echoing her greeting with an enthusiastic "Good morning!!" in unison. You responded back with a soft "good morning..." in return.

The brothers and Peach proceeded to wave and greet the other individuals present at the table, who in turn reciprocated with their own waves and greetings.

Everyone gathered around the table, settling into their seats and engaging in conversation as they waited for the food to be ready. Meanwhile, you set your head down, feeling the weight of tiredness wash over you.

Your thoughts drifted to the discussion you needed to have about your recent experiences, and you wondered if the mysterious voice would return while you slept, instructing you on what to do next.

A soft sensation fell onto your shoulder, and you slowly lifted your head up to find Yoshie.EXE, his expression filled with concern. "Are you feeling alright, Sleepy?" he asked you in a gentle voice.

You nodded softly in response, managing to say, "Yeah, I'm okay... Just contemplating when I'll be ready to discuss everything that's been going on..." As you gently petted his head, he leaned into your touch, nuzzling against your hand.

Yoshie.EXE subsequently sauntered over to M and Horror Peach. Shortly after, the diligent toad chefs distributed breakfast to everyone. The aroma was irresistible. Everyone expressed their gratitude to the toad chefs before beginning to dine.

Peach engaged in conversation with Horror Peach, while L, Beta, and Luigi shared a hearty laugh as they discussed their unique tales. Mario, M and Beta Mario conversed about their distinct experiences from their worlds.

Meanwhile, you engaged in a chat with the other toads who were seated at separate tables, with Yoshi.EXE by your side.

After everyone finished their meals, they tidied up their dishes and placed them on the drying rack, signaling the end of breakfast. Following suit, you washed your own dishes and made your way back to the table.

Upon arriving, you noticed that everyone was patiently waiting for you, their expressions carrying gentle, reassuring smiles.

In return, you offered them a smile as well, feeling grateful that the time was finally here to discuss the recent occurrences. Everyone was prepared to listen and support you through whatever you had to share.

M's voice broke through the gentle silence, his words carrying a soothing reassurance. "Take your time, Sleepy," he said. The others echoed his sentiment, their voices laced with encouraging words, their expressions soft and caring. You offered them all a tender smile, expressing your gratitude for their kind words and affection.

Drawing a deep breath, you inhaled slowly and exhaled, trying to steady yourself for the conversation ahead. Your voice was filled with a hint of hesitation as you began speaking.

"So... for the past few days, while I was gone... you guys noticed the strange green pipe popping up around the place lately, right...?" Everyone nodded in affirmation; their expressions solemn as they listened intently. The mood in the room grew serious as they patiently waited for you to continue.

''The pipe is a way for me travel to different dimensions... I know that sounds weird, but that's what's been happening these past few days''

Your confession left everyone surprised, and their eyes widened in mild shock. They had a basic understanding of pipes transporting people to different locations, but the concept of alternate dimensions was a new and unexpected revelation.

The realization that pipes could serve as gateways to entirely separate realities seemed to shake their understanding of the limits of the Mario universe.

''You all remembered when the shadowed hands emerged from the pipe...?'' they all nodded. ''Well, when I was in L's world... I fell asleep, but shortly I woke up in a dark space... and I heard a voice... it was the one with the shadowed hands...''

You paused for a moment, noticing the worried expressions on their faces as they silently wondered how you were faring in that unsettling environment.

''The voice said that he needed my help... he was the one that created the other universes. He told me that I needed to help people in those dimensions''

Everyone remained silent, contemplating your words as you explained that the voice you heard was the creator of the other universes, and that he asked for your assistance. M, Horror Peach, Yoshi.exe, Beta, and L all became thoughtful as they considered the meaning behind your confession, their expressions growing pensive.

Your words hung heavy in the air, causing M, Horror Peach, Yoshi.exe, Beta, and L to grow more solemn as they absorbed the weight of the confession.

"He told me that he was the one who made those other worlds... He did it because he wanted all of you to be happy... but in each one, something terrible happened to a few of you..."

Your voice quivered slightly as you recalled the dire warnings issued by the mysterious entity.

You continued, your words weighing heavily in the air. "In M, Yoshi.EXE, and Horror Peach's world, they all faced a common tragedy. Someone had shattered their aspirations and turned their kingdom into ruin."

M, Horror Peach, and Yoshi.EXE acknowledged your statement with solemn nods, their expressions filled with a mix of sadness and understanding. The others appeared empathetic, feeling a pang of sorrow for the hardships that the trio had endured.

Turning to Beta, your tone was laced with empathy. "In Beta's world, he faced a devastating loss — his brother was taken by King Boo, leaving him feeling hopeless and despairing."

Beta and his Mario grew somber, acknowledging your words with a nod. M and Mario responded with a sympathetic touch, gently patting Beta's back to offer some small comfort in his time of grief.

A tremor crept into your voice as you continued talking about L's world.

"I found L in a dire situation, submerged in the castle courtyard water fountain, struggling to stay afloat. He confessed that he had been trapped there for years. There were whispers that he didn't even exist... and most heart-wrenchingly, he couldn't remember his own Mario..."

Your words were filled with a poignant sorrow, reflecting the profound sadness and isolation L had felt in that world.

Everyone noticed L's eyes welling up with tears, his head nodding slowly to confirm the painful truth of his experiences. Beta and Luigi moved closer to him, their arms encircling his body in a gentle embrace, offering what comfort they could. Their expressions were filled with a mixture of heartache and sympathy as they silently tried to soothe L's aching heart.

Unable to hold back the flood of emotions, tiny tears escaped your eyes, a mixture of gratitude and heartache for the people you had helped.

As you were encircled by their soft, supportive embrace, everyone whispered tender, comforting words, their voices carrying an undertone of sorrow for the pain you had endured.

It was a bittersweet moment, knowing that you had made a difference in their lives, but also aware of the immense suffering they had experienced in their respective worlds.

You brushed away the trail of tears, your voice filled with sincere gratitude. "Thank you guys" you managed to say, your body growing heavy with fatigue. However, you were determined to see the conversation through to the end, refusing to succumb to the encroaching drowsiness.

Everyone around you exchanged soft, affectionate smiles, noticing your obvious fatigue. They understood that you were struggling to keep your eyes open, yet still determined to push on with the conversation.

You pushed through the tiredness, continuing to speak. "The voice was grateful that I had managed to help everyone from their worlds. He stated that my universe was the most joyous and tranquil of them all," you said, your words carrying a hint of wistfulness and a touch of pride.

With a soft smile, you continued recounting the voice's request, "He wanted me to journey to other dimensions and help the others. He mentioned that I possess a power that can bring comfort and joy to those in need. I agreed to assist him, touched by his gratitude." speaking in a sleepy tone.

Your words were met with warm smiles from everyone around you, their expressions filled with understanding and affection. They knew of your empathetic nature and your desire to bring happiness to others, and they were proud of your willingness to lend a helping hand.

There was a quiet sense of approval in the air as they listened intently. ''I asked him If I could stay home for a while, so I could tell you all that I was ok and relax from being away for so long''

he relief on their faces was palpable, grateful that the voice had granted you a well-deserved respite. Now, they could revel in the opportunity to spend time with you, cherishing the moments together after your long absence.

As you rubbed your weary eyes, the drowsiness growing stronger by the second, you managed to utter, "I'll make sure to let you all know when the voice needs me. He instructed me to get some rest as well." Everyone nodded in understanding, recognizing the exhaustion in your eyes and tone. They knew it was time to let you rest, after everything you had been through.

Peach picked you up with gentle care, your face nestling against her soft neck as you felt yourself slipping into the blissful embrace of sleep. She gently rubbed your back, her touch soothing and comforting, eliciting a quiet chuckle from her.

As she carried you to your room, the others followed silently, utterly enamored by your adorable slumber. Once inside, they placed you delicately on the bed, and you felt the soft peck on your forehead before they quietly closed the door, leaving you to rest peacefully.

The rest of the day unfurled with everyone splitting off into various activities. The two princesses joined with fellow Toads, enjoying their company. Meanwhile, Mario, M, and Beta Mario moved outside to play some enjoyable games.

Inside, Beta, L, and Luigi delved into a lighthearted video game session, relishing in the fun and relaxation. Everyone was hopeful to spend more time with you, cherishing each and every moment before the inevitable call of duty beckoned you once more.

Chapter Text

With a yawn, you emerged from your deep slumber, eyes fluttering open to sunlight seeping through the windows. A glance at the clock confirmed it was around 3 o'clock in the afternoon.

Rising from the warm embrace of the bed, you stepped out of your room, gently closing the door behind you. The other Toads roaming the hall offered cheerful waves, which you reciprocated with a sleepy smile.

Making your way down the hallway, you headed toward the front door, eager to step outside and take in the fresh air.

As you stepped outside, the world around you was a picture of tranquility. The soft whisper of the breeze, the gentle rustle of leaves, and the warm sunlight made it the ideal spot to relax or even catch a nap. You spotted Mario walking towards you, his cheerful wave drawing your attention.

With a soft smile, you greeted him, saying, "Hey, Mario..." Your voice carried a soothing, gentle tone, matching the peaceful ambiance of the outdoors.

Mario greeted you with his cheerful smile, calling out with a fond nickname, "Hey Sleepy." As you responded with a sleepy smile, he inquired, "Mind if I hang out with you for a bit?"

Your soft nod indicated your agreement, and you welcomed his company. He was glad to spend some time with you in the tranquil surroundings.

As the two of you strolled side by side, a sense of tranquility washed over you, the gentle caress of the breeze a welcome comfort. Completely unaware, you didn't notice the way Mario's eyes intently fixated on you, his gaze holding a desire.

The soft touch of his hand taking hold of yours caught you off guard and triggered a subtle blush to spread across your cheeks. There was something comforting yet intimate about the action.

As you continued to walk hand in hand, Mario casually stepped in front of you, his smile still soft and kind, yet his eyes betrayed a mixture of admiration and something else – a hint of possession. He took in your sleepy, gentle demeanor, his gaze filled with appreciation.

The way he looked at you, it was as if he was both admiring your vulnerability and claiming ownership, silently protecting you.

With an air of concern, you gently inquired, "Are you alright, Mario?" He responded with a soft nod, quelling your worry momentarily. Before you could say anything else, he surprised you by pulling you into a gentle embrace, enclosing you in his arms.

Caught off guard, you shyly returned the hug, feeling his warm breath caressing your neck, sending a pleasant shiver down your spine.

As you racked your brain, trying to understand Mario's unexpected show of affection, you pondered about his feelings for the princess. After all these years of rescuing her, it always seemed like a one-sided love. Your thoughts were interrupted by the unexpected action of Mario gently lifting you and settling you comfortably in his lap, facing him.

Your cheeks flushed with a soft blush, and he continued to cling to you in a hug. He adored the feeling of your small, soft body pressing against his, embracing every moment.

Mario's gaze never wavered, his eyes filled with a mixture of admiration and affection. He had no intention of letting you go. He slowly brought his face closer to yours, gently placing a tender kiss on your forehead. You softly flinched at the unexpected display of affection, wondering why he was doing this.

He continued, tenderly continuing to plant his gentle kisses on your forehead and cheeks. You couldn't help but giggle when his mustache brushed against your skin, finding it slightly ticklish. The moment was endearing, yet confusing at the same time.

Mario persisted with his tender onslaught on your soft, sleepy face, gradually lowering his kisses to your jaw, and then tenderly kissing your neck. He buried his face into the small nook of your neck, inhaling deeply, drinking in your scent. Your whole face flushed at the intimate gesture, and your hands instinctively clutched onto his clothing, a response to the overwhelming affection.

He leaned closer, bringing his lips to your ear, and in a deep, husky tone, whispered something in his mother tongue. You were unable to discern the meaning of his words, but the way he spoke sent a delightful shiver down your spine and heightened your already-rosy blush. There was something about his accent that intensified the intimate moment, making your heart skip a beat.

''Finalmente ti ho tra le mie braccia. Ti senti così dolce, non voglio mai lasciarti andare. Sono così felice di avere questo momento con te, assonnata''

Your mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, unable to comprehend the reasons behind Mario's affectionate actions. The unexpected nibble on your sensitive skin brought forth a flurry of emotions you never thought you would feel.

Flustered and embarrassed, you shyly buried your head against his chest, seeking refuge from the intensity of the situation.

Mario gently noticed your blushing and responded by softly rubbing your back, trying to soothe your embarrassment. He chuckled softly at your reaction, amused by your endearing display of shyness.

Having soothed your embarrassment, your speech was slightly muffled against his chest, but he could still make out your words.

Looking down at you, he heard you ask, "Why did you do that...?" Your soft voice laced with a hint of confusion. Mario wrapped his arms around you, pulling you closer as he considered his response.

Mario carefully contemplated his response, his arms still encircling you comfortably. After a moment of thoughtful silence, he spoke. His deep voice vibrated against your ear.

"I couldn't help myself," he replied, his words soft yet laced with a hint of intensity. "You looked so cute and vulnerable, and I just had to show my affection."

Your cheeks reddened even further at his honest admission, touched by his sincerity. He continued, "The others feel the same way, you know. We all missed you terribly, and I guess I just wanted to be the first one to express our feelings before the rest."

As you absorbed his words, it started to make sense why you held such a special place in their hearts. The realization only served to deepen your connection with them.

Mario couldn't help but chuckle softly as he stood up, gently setting you back on the ground before taking your hand and guiding you back to the castle. He couldn't resist laughing once more when he saw your shy, sleepy expression as you looked down at the ground.

With a firm yet gentle grip on your hand, he continued to lead you, each step bringing you closer to the castle.

Entering the castle, Mario led you towards your room, and upon reaching the door, he embraced you in a gentle hug. With a soft kiss on your cheek, he bid you farewell. Smiling shyly, you waved goodbye, your cheeks still flushed from his affectionate gesture. As you closed the door, the memory of his gentle touch lingered in your mind.

You flung yourself onto your bed, still flushed and embarrassed from the recent events. Attempting to relax, you found yourself even more overwhelmed with emotions.

After managing to calm down, you noticed the darkening sky outside. Deciding to unwind, you slipped into some comfortable pajamas, preparing to spend the rest of the night in your cozy room until sleep eventually overcame you.

Mario wore a sly smile on his face, still basking in the memory of his recent encounter with you. As he said goodbye to the others, he also noticed the late hour and began walking home side by side with Luigi.

Luigi glanced over at his older brother, noticing the sly expression that adorned his face. Curious, he couldn't help but ask, "What's got you looking so satisfied, Mario?"

''Ohhh nothing... I was just spending time with Sleepy, that's all'' he spoke in a teasing tone.

Luigi let out a soft whine, clearly envious of Mario's time with you. "Lucky you," he exclaimed, a hint of longing in his voice. "I wanted to hang out with them too."

Mario chuckled softly, amused by his brother's reaction, and couldn't help but tease him. "Jealous, little brother?"

Luigi smiled back at his brother; his disappointment replaced with a glimmer of hope. "You're right," he agreed. "At least we have a few days to spend with them before they leave."

Mario chuckled at Luigi's optimism, appreciating his positive outlook. "You've got a point," he said. "We'll get our chance to hang out with them. Patience, little brother. Patience."

The brothers chatted and laughed as they finally arrived home. Inside, they prepared themselves for bed, each reflecting on the day's events. Mario thought back fondly on his time with you, feeling satisfied with the connection they had made.

Luigi shared his brother's excitement and anticipation for the next day. "Can't wait to see them again tomorrow!" he exclaimed, a hopeful smile on his face.

Mario chuckled softly at Luigi's eagerness, finding his brother's enthusiasm endearing. As they reached their bedrooms, they bid each other goodnight. Mario made himself comfortable in bed, replaying memories of you in his mind before slowly drifting off to sleep.

Chapter Text

You slowly emerge from the realm of dreams, groggily opening your eyes and finding yourself staring at the ceiling. Glancing towards the window, you notice the first rays of sunlight seeping through the blinds, signaling the arrival of morning.

Feeling groggy and reluctant to start the day, you slowly sat up in bed and rubbed the sleep from your tired eyes. The unexpected sound of someone knocking on your door made you jump in surprise.

"Who could be knocking so early in the morning...?" you wondered as you slowly made your way towards the door.

You opened the door to find Luigi and L standing on the other side, their faces lit up by soft smiles. "Good morning, Sleepy" they chimed in unison, their voices gentle and considerate.

Looking up at them, you responded with a sleepy "Morning..." in a soft, groggy tone, rubbing your eyes to chase away the lingering traces of sleep.

Luigi chimed in with a hopeful smile, "We wanted to spend some time with you today," to which L nodded in agreement.

The corners of your lips curled up into a sleepy smile as their intentions dawned on you. You understood that their eagerness stemmed from missing you after your absence. Nodding, you retreated into your room, closing the door behind you.

The sound of the door closing marked the start of your preparation for the morning ahead.

After slipping out of your pajamas, you donned a set of comfortable clothes, sliding your hoodie over your head. Taking a deep breath to shake off any remaining drowsiness, you walked back to the door, readied to rejoin Luigi and L.

As you stepped out of your room and closed the door behind you, L and Luigi looked up at you with soft smiles on their faces. Their kind expressions mirrored their excitement to spend the day with you.

"What did you guys want to do today...?" You asked them softly. The three of you proceeded down the hallway, exchanging pleasant greetings with the few Toads who were up early.

"Well, we hadn't really planned anything specific." He paused for a moment, thinking. L nodded, agreeing to what Luigi said.

Luigi's face lit up as an idea popped into his mind. "Hey, how about we play some video games?" he suggested, looking over at you both L nodded his head frantically, liking the idea of playing video games. You noticed that the different versions of Luigi's have their love for video games.

You nodded in agreement, a soft smile playing on your lips. "Okay, that sounds fun," you replied gently. L chimed in with an eager nod, signaling his own agreement. Luigi's face broke into a wide grin. "Great! Let's head to the game room then," he said, already starting to lead the way.

You walked behind Luigi, with L walking beside you, holding onto your hand gently. As you approached a room, Luigi ushered you both inside, revealing a dedicated game room filled with various gaming consoles and controllers.

L still held your hand as you stepped into the room, his touch soft and comforting.

As your eyes scanned the surroundings, you took in the array of gaming consoles scattered throughout the room. Just the sight of them made you smile. The three of you settled down on the soft carpet in front of the couch, getting comfortable for the gaming session ahead.

You, L, and Luigi each clutched a game controller in your hands. With a few button presses, the console whirred to life, and the menu screen for Mario Kart loaded up. Excited anticipation filled the air as the three of you prepared to dive into the whimsical racing game.

As the race commenced, friendly competition filled the room. You, L, and Luigi battled for first place, laughter and banter filling the air. The boys' passion for video games was infectious, their excitement apparent in their focused faces.

The soft sounds of tire screeching and colorful characters zooming past filled the atmosphere.

As the final lap concluded, you clutched first place, softly celebrating your victory with a smile. L and Luigi joined in your celebration, cheering for you excitedly.

Luigi jokingly whined, "No fair, how are you so good at this?" L nodded in agreement. You smiled at them; you also had a love for video games from playing with the other toads from time to time.

The door opened, revealing Beta and his Mario, catching the attention of everyone in the room. "Hey, guys," Beta greeted, entering the room. Everyone chimed in with their own greetings, happy to see the duo.

After passing the controllers to Beta and his Mario, the trio resumed playing, leaving you in L's care. Feeling your body lifted gently, you found yourself being placed in L's lap, facing away from him with your back against his chest.

A blush crept onto your face at the unexpected gesture, but you relaxed against him, feeling his comforting presence.

As Beta, his Mario, and Luigi played different video games, you found yourself blushing more intensely. L's large, gloved hands soothingly caressed the soft skin beneath your hoodie, making your flush even deeper. He chuckled softly at the sight of your blushing face, clearly amused by your reaction.

You felt L's grip tighten slightly as he seemed to hold onto you a little tighter, not wanting to let you go. In response, you gently took hold of his hand, holding hands together. The feeling of his embrace and your connected hands created a sense of security and closeness between you both.

The group continued to play and enjoy themselves in the game room, laughing and bantering amongst each other. After a while, L eventually released his grip on you, a soft chuckle escaping his lips as you moved towards the mini fridge in the room. You opened the fridge and retrieved a snack, now feeling hungry.

As you walked to the door, you heard a knock, and upon opening it, you found Horror Peach and Peach on the other side. They greeted you with friendly smiles and waves, to which you offered a wave back in return.

Your eyes widened momentarily as Horror Peach and Peach swiftly snatched you up and dashed away, giggling and laughing as they went. Despite the surprise, you couldn't help but smile, realizing that they wanted to spend time with you.

Feeling a flutter of excitement, you allowed yourself to be carried by them, knowing that this spontaneous moment was their way of showing affection and playfulness.

As you were placed down gently outside, Peach and Horror Peach each took hold of your hand, continuing to walk as they all exited the game room together. Smiling softly again, you found yourself appreciating the peaceful atmosphere that enveloped you all while being outside.

The air felt refreshing, and the company of Peach and Horror Peach added to the tranquility of the moment.

''How are you guys doing?'' you asked softly. Peach and Horror Peach looked over at you, their expressions softening at the gentle sound of your voice. Horror Peach spoke up first, her smile warm and sincere.

"We're doing well, thank you for asking." Peach added cheerfully, "Yeah! And now that we're with you, it's even better!"

As you continued walking into the forest, the atmosphere was serene and calming. The soft breeze gently caressed your skin, and the nature around you exuded a tranquility that enveloped your senses. Alongside Peach and Horror Peach, you conversed, taking in the beauty of the surroundings, admiring the array of flowers and trees.

Suddenly, you noticed Yoshi with Yoshi.exe, both munching on berries. A smile tugged at the corners of your mouth at their carefree snacking.

As you approached Yoshi and Yoshi.exe, Peach gently lifted you and placed you on Yoshi's back, allowing you to pat both Yoshi's on their heads. A smile spread across your face as you felt them happily lean into your touch, their cheerful chirps filling the air.

Peach and Horror Peach stood to the side, watching the moment unfold with soft smiles on their faces. The sight of you playing happily with the Yoshi's made their hearts flutter, the sweetness of the moment causing their gazes to soften even more.

Throughout the day, you, Peach, and Horror Peach continued to spend time in the forest with the two Yoshi's, enjoying the peaceful moments together.

As the day went on, the sun slowly started to set, causing the sky to turn a darker shade. The princesses noticed the shift in the lighting as well, knowing that the day was slowly coming to an end.

As the sky darkened, you looked towards the princesses, a soft expression on your face. "It's getting late," you spoke. Peach and Horror Peach nodded in agreement, realizing the day was nearly over.

You said your goodbyes to the Yoshi's, waving as they happily reciprocated. With hands held, the three of you began making your way back to the castle, taking in the tranquility of the night skyline as you walked in silence.

Entering the castle, you found L and Luigi waiting for you inside, their faces slightly disappointed. They pouted at the sight of the princesses, clearly unhappy that they had spent the entire day with you.

Peach and Horror Peach giggled at their behavior, amused by their whining. It was clear that they had been eager to spend time with you as well.

You smiled sleepily at L and Luigi's pouting, chuckling at their eagerness to spend time with you. Seeing everyone gathered together, you spoke softly, suggesting, "Why don't we all watch a movie together?" Everyone's faces lit up with smiles, nodding in agreement.

Your idea seemed to be well-received, and the prospect of a movie night sounded enjoyable.

Everyone headed to their respective rooms, donning cozy pajamas before making their way to the kitchen to fill their snack bowls. With snacks in hand, the group moved to the spacious living room, where they found their spots on either the floor or couches, creating a cozy atmosphere.

As you entered the room in your pajamas, their gazes fell upon you, and soft smiles graced their faces, appreciating how adorable you looked in your sleepwear.

You made your way to the spacious couch and took a seat in the center, surrounded by everyone as they settled into their spots around you.

Soft banter erupted among the group as they discussed and debated over what movie to watch for the evening, each expressing their preferences and sharing opinions on their choices.

After some discussion, the group came to a consensus on your movie choice. Mario, seated beside you, picked up the remote and navigated to the chosen film. With the movie selected, the room became hushed, and everyone settled in, getting comfortable as the film began to play.

As the movie continued, the group engaged in light banter, their laughter filling the room. In the midst of the conversation, you felt a gentle touch on your hand and turned to find Luigi holding it lightly.

Your smile widened, a soft pink blush spreading across your face. You squeezed his hand gently before returning your attention to the movie, enjoying the touch of his hand in yours.

As the movie played, your eyelids grew heavy, the exhaustion from the day catching up to you. The constant attention and interaction with everyone had taken its toll, but you felt content knowing that they all wanted to spend time with you.

Softly, your body leaned against Luigi's, your weary eyes finally closing shut as you drifted off into a peaceful slumber.

Luigi glanced down at you, a soft smile spread across his face upon seeing your head resting against his arm. He gently held your hand in his own, feeling a sense of contentment watching you sleep. Soft snores escaped your lips, further solidifying the fact that you had succumbed to sleep.

The others around you noticed your slumbering form, their faces lighting up with warm smiles and soft chuckles at the adorable scene. They all silently wished for more moments like these in the future, cherishing the bond you shared with them all.

Chapter Text

You slowly regained consciousness, your half-lidded eyes adjusting to the darkness that surrounded you. Instead, you had found yourself in the dark, voided space from before. It looks like the voice wanted to talk to you.

As you stood in the void, the mysterious deep voice suddenly broke the silence, greeting you. "Hello, Sleepy..." it said in its familiar tone. Startled yet somewhat expecting the voice's presence, you responded with a soft, sleepy "Hey..." your voice filled with a trace of sleepiness.

The voice continued to speak, a tinge of curiosity noticeable in its tone. "How's everything been going...?" it asked. Before you could reply, it continued, "I've heard that everyone is getting along..."

The words echoed through the empty space; its mention of the group's unity piqued your interest.

You responded to the voice, confirming that everything was going smoothly. "Everyone's been doing fine..." you affirmed, your words carrying a note of relief and contentment. The voice hummed in acknowledgement, seemingly pleased by your update.

"They're getting along as well," you added, the words resonating in the empty space. The voice then hummed, its response conveying satisfaction at hearing about the peaceful harmony within your dimension.

The voice continued to express its satisfaction at the group's well-being, replying, "I'm glad that they're doing okay..."

It then shifted its focus to you, asking, "How have you been, Sleepy...?" The question hung in the air, your thoughts turning inward as you considered your own status.

A soft chuckle escaped your lips as you responded, a hint of amusement apparent in your weary voice. "I've been doing alright..." you began, pausing briefly before continuing, "sleepy as always, too..."

The admission brought a lighthearted moment of shared laughter between the two of you, the exhaustion clear in your tone yet softened by mutual enjoyment of our conversation.

The small talk continued, the easy conversation flowing comfortably between the two of you. However, the voice then broke the cozy atmosphere, mentioning several dimensions in need of assistance.

"There's some dimensions that need help," it stated. The voice's question hung in the air, presenting you with a choice. "Would you like to see them?" it asked. A mixture of curiosity and concern filled your mind as you pondered the decision, considering the implications of delving into other dimensions in need of help.

You nodded understandingly, acknowledging the importance of seeing the conditions in other dimensions. "Yeah..." you began softly, "I would like to see them..." However, you added a condition, expressing your concern about your friends' potential worry.

"But could I tell my friends and eat breakfast too?" you asked, your sleepy voice laced with consideration for their feelings. "I don't want them to think I'm gone without them knowing," you added, hoping that the voice would accommodate your request.

The voice responded affirmatively, understanding your need to inform your friends and have breakfast before embarking on the dimensional trip. "Yes, you could tell your friends and eat too..." it confirmed, recognizing your request.

Encouraged by the voice's understanding, you couldn't help but smile softly, whispering a grateful "Thank you."

The confirmation given; you knew that you had the voice's permission to explain the situation to your friends over breakfast. "But when you go to these next few dimensions, some will be hostile and dangerous, so please be careful, Sleepy" You thought to yourself, thinking how long you would have to stay in those worlds.

Taking a deep breath in and exhaling slowly, you nodded.

"I understand. I'll try to be more careful when I go to theses next dimensions" The cold, shadowed hand gently pats your head, the unexpected gesture sending a subtle shiver down your spine. Yet, a soft smile tugged at your lips as you relished the touch.

In response, the voice let out a soft chuckle, the sound echoing through the empty space. Your heart warmed at the unexpected display of affection between you and the voice.

The voice then spoke, signaling your impending return to your world. "I'm going to bring you back to your world..." it began, the words carrying a sense of finality. The voice continued, adding, "Tell them I said hi." You nodded in agreement, acknowledging the instructions. A soft acknowledgment escaped your lips.

"I will."

Your eyes slowly opened, finding yourself in the familiar surroundings of your room. Confusion flickered through your mind as you tried to recall how you ended up there. You vaguely remembered falling asleep during the movie earlier, leading you to believe that one of your friends must have carried you to your room.

Slowly sitting up, stifling a few soft pips as you stretched your weary limbs. As you looked around, you noticed the warm glow of sunlight streaming through the window blinds, signaling the onset of morning. The soft lighting hinted that it was early in the day, the world outside already stirring to life.

Making your way slowly out of bed, you approached your closet. With a tired yet determined movement, you selected your regular clothes and donned them, feeling the familiar fabric against your skin.

Topping off your outfit with your favorite hoodie, you completed your attire, comforted by the cozy presence of the snug garment.

Going into your bathroom, you freshen up, feeling refreshed and slightly more awake now. Exiting out of your bathroom, then out of your room, you closed the door behind you and started making your way to the kitchen, taking slow, steady steps towards the room where the scent of breakfast food floated through the air.

As you made your way down the hallway, a sleepy smile graced your lips as the delightful aroma of breakfast filled your nostrils. Suddenly, you encountered M, who was also heading towards the kitchen at a leisurely pace.

He noticed you, and your paths converged, both of you pausing to greet one another.

You offered a weary yet warm greeting, "Hey M..." The sleepiness in your voice was evident, a result of your peaceful slumber. M responded in kind, his voice carrying a similar tired tone that mirrored your own. "Hey Sleepy," he returned the greeting, a hint of exhaustion in his words. It seemed that staying up late took a toll on you both.

Sharing a sleepy smile with M, acknowledging the tired state that both of you were in after staying up late and watching television. M gingerly took hold of your hand, enclosing your small hand firmly within his larger one.

Together, you walked towards the kitchen, the synchronized sound of your footsteps echoing softly through the quiet household.

With weary limbs, you and M proceeded to the table and took your seats. Despite the lingering drowsiness, the tantalizing aroma of breakfast wafted through the air, providing a temporary boost to keep both of you alert.

As you settled into your seats, you felt a combination of exhaustion and anticipation, your minds and stomachs eagerly anticipating the meal to come.

"How long had you guys stayed up...? I know I was probably the first one to fall asleep" you asked softly. M softly groaned, rubbing his eyes. "We stayed up passed a very late time. After 2 o'clock, everyone started to fall asleep one by one. I was one of the last people to fall asleep" You hummed softly, seeing that everyone stayed up late.

The soft footsteps of the others reverberated through the hall, heralding their approach. They each entered the room, their bodies moving sluggishly as the effects of sleepiness still clung to them.

A chorus of weary "Good morning" greetings filled the air, the exhaustion evident in everyone's voices. The entire group seemed to share the same level of sleep-deprivation, their collective tiredness making their voices sound even more groggy than usual.

"Good morning everyone..." spoke Peach, her voice was groggy, seeing that staying up late took at toll on them. "Morning princess..." you softly greeted back.

Everyone took their designated seats at the table, struggling to keep their eyes open as the remnants of sleep clung to them. The toad chefs present in the kitchen couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of the group, clearly amused by the obvious signs of exhaustion everyone displayed.

It was apparent that staying up late had taken its toll on your collective energy levels, resulting in a visible display of tiredness.

"Mmmm... I'm so hungry..." whined Luigi. L and Beta hummed in agreement, seeing that they all stayed up late than the others. Soft chuckling were heard all around the table.

As the toad chefs finished preparing breakfast, they served each member their favorite food, placing the delectable dishes in front of them. With the meal before them, the group began eating, the soft hum of conversation filling the air.

You silently smiled to yourself, relishing in the taste of the food. The delicious flavors danced on your taste buds, providing a moment of relaxation amidst the lingering fatigue.

Peach and Horror Peach conversed with each other, talking about what they're going to to today. Luigi, Beta, and L talked about the video games they're going to play later on. Mario and Beta Mario wanted to go explore around the area together.

Once breakfast was finished, everyone tidied up after themselves. The princesses gracefully excused themselves, heading to their respective quarters to freshen up. Meanwhile, Luigi, Beta, L, and Mario and Beta Mario were found asleep on the couches, their exhaustion evident in their slumped forms.

It seemed likely that they had stayed up even later than the rest of the group, resulting in their current state.

As you and M found yourselves alone, both of you still feeling the lingering effects of sleepiness but relatively coherent. M approached you, his footsteps soft yet intentional.

M's smooth, deep voice broke the silence as he addressed you directly. "Hey Sleepy," he began, a hint of mystery in his words. "Want to go outside for a bit? I want to show you something." The invitation lingered in the air, piquing your curiosity and anticipation to know what awaited you beyond the confines of the house.

You directed your gaze towards M, a soft smile playing on your lips as you gave your affirmative response. "Sure," you replied, your sleepy demeanor still apparent. "I would like to..." The gentle acceptance hung in the air, signaling your agreement to his invitation and your eagerness to see whatever surprise he had in store for you.

M smiled gently, appreciating the opportunity to spend time with you. Together, you exited the kitchen area and headed towards the castle's back door, the absence of sunlight causing the atmosphere to appear somewhat gloomy.

Despite the overcast sky, you found yourself enjoying the weather, relishing the caress of the gentle breeze against your skin.

As you ventured into the forest with M, you observed small animals going about their daily lives, undisturbed by your presence. He gently took hold of your hand, a subtle but comforting gesture that added to the peaceful ambiance. The two of you continued walking, the tranquil surroundings and the soothing company allowing for a relaxing stroll through the woods.

Traversing deeper into the forest, a breathtaking sight caught your attention – a beautiful lake, its surface gently shimmering in a vibrant shade of blue. Birds gracefully swam on the water's surface, adding a touch of whimsy to the picturesque scene.

The tranquility of the moment was enhanced by the peacefulness of the surrounding forest, creating a perfect setting for admiring nature's beauty.

You stared in awe at the breathtaking sight before you, the words slipping from your lips in a soft whisper: "M... this is so beautiful." As you both approached the lake, your reflections mirrored back at you, rippling gently on the water's surface.

You turned to M, curiosity lacing your voice as you asked, "How did you find this place?"

A soft smile graced M's lips as he spoke, his gaze lingering on you. "I was walking around the forest, looking for a place to relax," he began, "And I came across this spot. It has a calming atmosphere, and I often come here. I wanted to share it with you as well." His words hung in the air, the thoughtfulness behind his actions evident in his explanation.

A soft smile tugged at your lips as you listened to M's words, appreciating that he found tranquility in this beautiful location. M gazed at you, captivated by how cute you looked against the backdrop of the water.

He continued holding your hand as he led you to a nearby tree, sitting down on the soft grass beneath it and gesturing for you to join him. He then gently scooped you up and settled you onto his lap, your small frame fitting perfectly against his own.

You and M savored the peaceful and quiet moment, the soothing ambience allowing you both to relax completely. As you sat on his lap, your thoughts wandered to the voice that had spoken to you about the upcoming journey to a new dimension.

The realization dawned on you that you needed to inform M and the others about the impending trip. You silently contemplated the best way to approach the subject, knowing that the revelation would undoubtedly cause some surprise and concern among your friends.

M observed that you seemed lost in thought, your expression indicating a deep concentration. His voice, smooth and soothing, broke the silence as he addressed you with concern.

"You okay, Sleepy? You were thinking pretty hard for a second." The hint of worry in his voice mirrored his concern for you, wanting to ensure that you were well and free of any worries.

You looked up at M, realizing that you had zoned out for a while. You responded softly, "Yeah, I'm fine. I wanted to tell you something, but I didn't want to ruin the moment." He noticed the small hint of hesitation in your voice, his curiosity piqued. He gently adjusted his position, making sure you were comfortable on his lap.

"It's okay, Sleepy," he reassured you. "You can tell me later. Okay?" His tone held a gentle understanding, appreciating your desire to wait before sharing whatever was on your mind.

You offered a small smile, silently expressing your gratitude for his patient and compassionate nature. Together, you both settled into a comfortable silence, the peaceful surroundings enveloping you in a tranquil embrace.

As you both cuddled together, his soft, gloved hands gently cupped your face, guiding your gaze to meet his. His black eyes, framed by their red pupils, locked with your own, and a soft chuckle escaped his lips as he noticed the hint of blush on your face.

His touch was tender and gentle, a contrast to the intensity in his eyes as he held your face in his hands, the connection between you both growing stronger with each passing moment.

M moved his face even closer, his lips slowly pressing against yours. Your eyes widened in surprise at his unexpected action, unsure of how to respond. As you calmed down and shyly returned the gesture, M chuckled softly against your lips, his amusement evident in his reaction. It was as if he relished in your shyness, enjoying the subtle change in your demeanor.

As M gently pulled away, his gaze fell upon your face, noticing the redness that had crept into your cheeks. He let out another soft chuckle, finding your shyness endearing. Without a word, you shyly pressed your face against his chest, seeking comfort and concealment from his eyes.

The wave of shyness crashed over you, leaving you tongue-tied and unsure of what to say or do in the immediate aftermath of the kiss.

The soft moment lingered between the two of you, M's gentle chuckles mingled with your own soft laughter, creating a soothing harmony. Feeling the drowsiness begin to take hold, you snuggled in closer on his lap, seeking comfort in his warm embrace.

M could sense the same wave of tiredness washing over him as well. Softly, both of you decided to take a nap by the lake, the steady beats of your hearts echoing against each other, lulling each other into a peaceful slumber.

Chapter Text

Several hours passed as you two slumbered comfortably in your sleep. When your eyes finally fluttered open, you glanced around as you rubbed away the lingering slumber. The sight of the cloudy, gloomy weather filling your vision, a familiar pattern.

Turning your gaze upward, you discovered that M was still fast asleep, his hat carefully resting on the ground beside him. The steady rise and fall of his chest indicated that he was soundly sleeping, seemingly unaware of the changing day.

You gently patted his chest, slowly coaxing him back to consciousness. His eyes slowly opened, taking in the surroundings as he came back to his senses. M groaned softly, rubbing his eyes to fully wake up. Finally, his gaze met yours, and you both shared a soft chuckle, the enjoyment of the tranquil nap clearly evident in your expressions.

The peaceful atmosphere seemed to amplify the connection between you both, creating a moment of unspoken understanding and comfort as you found yourselves awake and content in each other's company.

You slowly moved off M's lap, stretching your limbs and feeling the satisfying pops from your bones. "How was your nap?" you spoke softly to M.

"I slept good, I wanted to sleep more, until you woke me up" he smiled. "How was yours?"

"I slept good as well, I didn't want to wake up either, but we knew that the others back at the castle would be worried about us" you spoke softly.

After stretching, you turned your gaze to M, the serene lake offering a peaceful backdrop to the conversation. "Hey M," you started, your voice filled with a hint of determination, "Remember what I wanted to tell you before our nap?"

M softly hummed as he turned to look at you, tilting his head curiously. "Yes, I remember," he replied, his gaze fixed on you as he waited for you to continue.

"I wanted to tell you that when I woke up this morning, the voice told me that another dimension needed help. He also told me that it was going to get harder and harder to when I go to these next few dimensions" you softly explained to him.

M listened attentively as you explained, his understanding clear in the way he nodded his head. "I see," he responded softly. "So, the voice told you about the upcoming journey to help other dimensions. And warned that it would get harder?" He continued.

You nodded, confirming his understanding. "Yeah," you replied. "The voice said that it might get more difficult with each dimension I go to."

M nodded, his understanding evident from his tone. "Alright, Sleepy," he responded softly, gently taking your hand in his. "Let's head back to the castle. The others must be wondering where we are." As you walked through the forest holding M's hand, your small hand wrapped within his larger one, a soft smile played on your lips.

In the comfortable silence of the forest, the occasional soft chirping of birds accompanied your footsteps and the crunch of leaves underfoot as you walked. Their songs intertwined with the tranquil atmosphere, completing the peaceful scenery.

As you approached the castle, you saw a few Toads playing outside, their cheerful greetings and smiling faces bringing a sense of warmth and joy to the moment. You and M warmly reciprocated the greetings, your own smiles mirroring their happiness.

Upon entering the castle, you caught sight of the two princesses engaged in conversation, their attention shifting towards you and M as you grew nearer. "Hey, Sleepy and M," Peach greeted warmly, her voice filled with a mix of relief and affection.

"Sorry to intrude, but we all were a little worried when you guys didn't come back after a while." Her voice filled with slight concern.

You softly chuckled at the situation, finding a certain amusement in the concern your friends had shown. "After breakfast," you explained, "M took me to a beautiful lake in the forest. It was so peaceful there. Since we were both still tired from staying up late, we decided to take a nap there."

Your words carried a hint of contentment, the memories of the tranquil lake in the forest still fresh in your mind.

M softly hummed in agreement with your statement, confirming your story to the princesses. His expression expressed genuine happiness that he could reassure them. "Yeah. We're okay," he chimed in, a soft chuckle escaping his lips as he spoke.

"We just took a little longer than planned."

You couldn't help but share in the shared amusement, letting out a quiet chuckle as well. The fact that everyone was this concerned about your well-being, despite the fact that you and M had just been taking a peaceful nap, made you feel a sense of warmth within your heart.

As the four of you continued chatting, exchanging small conversations, you decided to speak up. You turned your attention to Peach and Horror Peach, a small smile on your face.

"Hey Peach, Horror Peach," you began, "can you round up everyone to the living room? There's something I want to announce."

The princesses responded with a nod, reassuringly indicating their understanding. "Of course, Sleepy," Horror Peach replied, her voice filled with a hint of anticipation.

Following the princesses' departure, you and M headed towards the living room, taking seats on the cozy couches. The anticipation was palpable as you waited for the others to join you, preparing for the announcement that was to come.

Within a few moments, everyone started to gather in the living room, each individual trickling in. First, you saw Luigi, L, and Beta. They entered the room, their faces adorned with warm smiles, clearly relieved to see you safe and sound.

"Hey Sleepy!" spoke Luigi. L and Beta softly chuckled before softly waving to you.

Following them, Mario and Beta Mario made their way into the living room as well. They greeted you and M with friendly waves, before settling themselves among the group.

Finally, once everyone was seated comfortably, you took a deep breath and began to speak. "Hello everyone," you opened, your voice filled with a sense of importance. "I appreciate you all being here today. I've been wanting to tell you all something very important."

You waited for their acknowledgment, and in response, they hummed softly, signaling their readiness to listen intently.

You went on, your voice carrying the weight of the information you were about to disclose. "This morning, before I woke up, the voice spoke to me yet again. He informed me that there are more dimensions that need our help. And he warned me that these next few dimensions might be more challenging."

The news hung in the air, the gravity of the situation settling upon the group. You continued; your voice soft but determined.

"The voice assured me that he will remind me when the time comes. So, until then, I wanted to ask all of you to look out for each other while I'm away. Make sure everyone is taking care of themselves in my absence."

The room was silent, the weight of your words sinking in. Everyone seemed to understand the seriousness of the situation, recognizing the importance of looking out for one another in your absence.

A soft smile spread across your face as you felt reassured by their understanding. "I'm glad that everyone understands. It might take longer for me to come back, but please know that I'll always be with you all."

Warm smiles spread across the faces of your friends; their expressions filled with a mixture of emotions. They were prepared for your departure, knowing that they would miss your presence greatly.

The warmth of the group hug enveloped you, a testament to everyone's affection for you. "I'll remind you all when it's time for me to go, alright?" you reassured them gently. The support and love from your friends were a source of comfort as you all held each other close.

The group hug was slowly dispersed, the sense of warmth lingering in the air even as you all moved on. Stepping outside into the crisp air, you relished in the cool breeze and cloudy sky.

Together, you reminisced, taking advantage of the remaining time before your departure. The laughter and conversations filled the air, creating a serene atmosphere that was tinged with a hint of bittersweet sentimentality.

Time flew by, and the sound of a pipe caught your attention. Turning your gaze, you noticed the familiar green pipe, the low humming sound echoing in the distance. It was as if the pipe was inviting you to a new adventure. Slight anxiety intertwined within you.

Turning to everyone, they all had sad smiles, knowing that you had to go. A soft giggle escaped your lips as you were enveloped in a heartfelt group hug, the warmth and affection from your friends soothing your nerves.

You felt a sense of comfort and security as you were held tightly, knowing that despite the challenges ahead, you had a strong support system by your side.

The warm smiles on their faces spoke volumes, conveying both sadness and encouragement as they knew that you had to go.

As you bid farewell, a gentle smile formed on your lips. "I'll miss you guys, but remember, I'm still here with you all," you said, the words laced with warmth and certainty.

Everyone smiled warmly. Making your way to the pipe, you turned to everyone, waving them goodbye. They all waved back, some of them having slight tears in their eyes. You heard of chorus of everyone's voice.

"Bye Sleepy!"

"Be careful Sleepy, we'll miss you!"

"Good Luck!"

With that, you turned and jumped into the green pipe, ready to embark on the upcoming adventure. The pipe disappeared into the ground, marking the beginning of a new journey and the start of a new chapter.

Chapter Text

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

The green pipe emerged from a ground made of bricks. You emerged from the pipe, landing on the cold, hard ground. You take in the new dimension; the sudden smell of foulness and smoke filled the air.

Looking around, the sky was dark, littered with small, bright stars. The atmosphere felt dead, cold, silent. As if everybody went on a rampage and abandoned this place.

In the distance, many structures made of bricks. You were glad that you had your hoodie, feeling the cold breeze blowing through the air. Black smoke flowed freely from destroyed building, wondering about the chaos of this place.

You take in more of the scenery, everything was in ruins. Your body tensed up, wondering if you were even here by yourself or not.

'Is anyone here...? everything has been destroyed... what happened?' you questioned yourself once more. Walking at a slow place, your eyes made discoveries, seeing that you were close to a Mushroom Kingdom. But instead of a huge castle, it was made up of bricks.

'Is this an old Mushroom Kingdom...?' you thought. Back at home, you've heard stories on how the mushroom kingdom wasn't always a huge castle. Back then, when they were protecting princesses, they hid them in small, brick buildings. But most of the time, they were still kidnapped.

Walking around the area, the foul stench begins to rise. As you walked, puddles of blood were splattered against the ground. You pulled your hoodie up to your nose, trying not to smell the horrible stench.

Making careful steps, not wanting to step into the pools of redness. You then halted, eyes widening at the new scene in front, your body started to shake. Bodies of lifeless toads littered the scene. Limbs and organs were everywhere.

Your breathing started to short out, anxiety flew through your body. You needed to run, the more you stayed, the more you felt yourself about to throw up. You ran, making careful steps to not trip.

'Oh my god... oh my god' your body started to sweat even more, feeling a slight layer on your face as well. As the bodies started to disappear as you ran, you started to feel slight relief but continued running.

Coming close to a stop, you put your back against a tree. You tried to catch your breath, trying to slowly calm down your heart. You felt the cool layer of sweat against your body. Taking off your hoodie, you sat down. Staring into the night sky, contemplating on what you saw.

Lifting up your shaky hands, you covered your face, taking deep breathes and slowly exhaling. You've never experienced any of this, you knew the voice said that it was going to get harder during these dimension travels.

But this... this was insane.

After a few moments of you calming yourself down, you stood up from the ground. Getting up, your body was still slightly shaking, but you calmed yourself down. Continuing on the walk, you see more destroyed buildings, green pipes were in ruins.

You needed to find out what was going on. As you were walking, you felt a slight presence. You didn't want to turn around, but you didn't have a choice. Turning around, you saw nothing, making you sigh in relief. Turning back, you felt the presence again.

Not wanting to turn, you started walking faster, hearing your steps slightly stomp on the cold ground. The presences were following you, slowly. Your fast walking turned into a jog, trying to find a way out of their sight, but they didn't it was still following you.

You made a break for it, not caring what was chasing you, all you were worried about was that you needed to run. As you ran, you heard a haunting laugh from behind, making you feel a heavy shiver in your spine.

'Someone... help me! Please, someone help!' as you ran, you found a small forest of trees. You decided to run into the forest, trying to see if you were able to lose the presence. Making different directions, moving away the branches, your steps crushing the leaves under you as you ran.

The presence started to disappear as you ran, but you continued running, wanting to make sure that the presence was gone. After a few moments of running, starting to slow down, you hid behind a tree. You hoped that the presence was gone.

As you catch your breath, you hesitantly turned around, seeing that the presence was gone, making you sigh in relief. Turning around, you slid down the tree. You decided to take a little break, seeing that you've been running for quite some time.

'Why did the pipe take me here? Is there anybody even in this dimension? I want to take a nap, but I need to see if there's anybody is here'

As you were in your thoughts, in front of you was a boo. It's black eyes staring at you as you were up against the tree. The boo came closer and closer to you, seeing that you paid no attention to it. As you lifted up your head, you froze.

The boo froze as well, making you both stare at each other. Your body started to shake, anxiety and fear took over. Covering yourself with your arms, seeing that it was the only protection that you had.

"Please don't hurt me, please don't hurt me, please don't hurt me" you quicky muttered to the boo. The boo tilted its head as you protected yourself. It slowly floated its way towards you, raising its small hand, it gently came in contact with your arm.

You slightly flinch at the action, feeling the cold hand against your exposed arm. The boo continued to gentle action, its small hand gently caressing your arm. Lifting up your face, you saw that it was trying to comfort you, seeing that it frightened you.

"Oh... uh, thanks... I thought you were going to attack me" you spoke, thanking the boo for its comfort. The boo chuckled; its voice echoed through the forest. The boo gently picked you up from the ground, dusting off the tree bark and some grass off you from the chase.

A small smiled formed on your tired face, all this running, panicking and adrenaline rush made you tired, but you were able to keep yourself awake.

"Are you... a friendly ghost? I thought they're supposed to attack what they see" you asked the boo.

The boo nodded its head, giving you a wide grin, showing its sharp yet dull teeth. The small moment was interrupted by two other boo's appearing behind the smaller boo. You pointed behind the small boo, making it turn around to see the others.

The boo's made screeching sounds at each other. By the look of the big boo's faces, it seems that they wanted to know why the small boo was here. The small boo screeched back at the two, seeing it that it was trying to explain to them.

After the three boo's screeching stop, they turned towards you. You stared at them back with a questioning look.

One of the big boo's softly screeched at the smaller boo, making it nod its head. The two big boo's started to float their way out of the forest.

The small boo floated its way towards you, its small hands gently picking you up by your torso, making you fly up in the air with the boo. As you slowly soared in the air, you took in the area. Brick towers and buildings were destroyed, debris littered everywhere.

The smell of the foul stench came back, making you cover your nose, not wanting to experience the smell again. Looking around, you saw piles of slaughtered bodies of toads. They were littered everywhere, making its stench flow in the air.

After getting away from the stench, you uncovered your nose, you were glad that you were able to breath normally.

As you floated in the air, you come across a brick building, looking like a castle. Light was seen at the openings, seeing that there might be someone here. The boo's started to descend to the ground, gently placing you at the front of huge, woodened doors.

The three boo's opened the doors, making a creaking sound from its hinges. The small boo made a signal for you to follow them. You thought about what was going to happened, but you needed to see who was in there. You made your way inside, following them.

Inside the castle, the walls were decorated with tile shapes of different shades of blue. The floor was in a checkered pattern of black and white. As you went further into the castle, dried blood decorated all over the walls and floor, showing its past of what had happened.

Coming closer and closer, the boo's stopped in front of someone of was sitting on a brick thrown. Next to them was a very long sword, covered in dried blood.

The person wore pale blue overalls with a pale red long-sleeve shirt under it, having splotches of blood. They wore brown shoes, white gloves and a red hat. The first thing that came to mind that this was a Mario. Looking closer, you see that the 'M' on his hat was replaced with a gold star.

He had a stern look on his face, glowing red eyes pierced into yours, seeing that he was trying to study you. The Mario waved his hand to the boo's, making the boo's go into his body.

"Mario...?" your voice softly echoed in his ear. He sat himself up from the throne, grabbing his sword, then walking slowly towards you. You wanted to run, but your body stood still, not knowing what to do.

He stopped a few feet away from you, slowly raising his sword until it was gently brushing against your neck.

You started to shake, feeling that you were done for. He could strike right now, but he didn't. He just stared at you with his red glowing eyes. He then started to speak, his voice was low, yet it echoed softly through the castle.

"We are not the one you call 'Mario'... who are you?"

Chapter Text

The Mario started to walk around slowly in circles, his katana still pointed in your neck area. His red glowing eyes still stared at you, not taking his eyes off you.

The sound of his footsteps walking around you made you nervous, not wanting to move closer.

"Who are you?... Why have you come here?... I thought I got rid of those toads" he spoke in a deep tone, his voice slightly echoed through the area. He saw that your small body slightly flinched. Your mind wondered if you were going to be the next one.

His footsteps stopped, his body now where he was before, right in front of you. The tip of his katana pressed against your chin, lifting your face to look at him, his red eyes pierced into yours. You decided to talk, not wanting to lose your life.

Taking a deep breath, you stuttered as you spoke.

"I... My name's S-sleepy... I come from a different part of the Mushroom Kingdom... I was sent here..." after you spoke, you felt the cold tip of his katana pressed gently against your throat. Small tears ran a path down your face, fear mixed with anxiety was shown by how you were shaking.

"Who sent you here?... Was it my brother?... Or that damn princess...?" he sneered, your mind begins to think his brother and the princess were alive somewhere.

"I don't know who those two are. I was sent here by someone else" you both stared at each other. You saw the Mario thinking, seeing that you were different.

Slowly, he moved his katana away from you, making you feel relief.

"Hmmm...You're not from the Mushroom Kingdom... are you?" with a snap from his fingers, a big boo emerged from the darkness behind him. The boo made its way towards you, it's cold, airy hands grabbed your arms, making you float from the ground.

The Mario turned around, signaling the boo to follow him. You feel yourself moving forward in the air, slowly behind him. At the time, you decided to look around, seeing that it was the only thing to do.

The walls were splattered with blood, multiple limbs of toads littered the area.

Ruined portraits of the princess decorated the walls, showing the destructions of this kingdom. You mind wondered what has happened to this kingdom.

'How did all this happened... was this something to do with Bowser... now that I think about it, does he even exist in this world?'

Your thoughts were then interrupted by the Mario. "How did you find this place, seeing that you don't know what's going on" you thought to yourself, coming up with an answer and also not wanting to go straight to the point.

"I was wondering around the area. Since I'm from a different place in the mushroom kingdom, I wanted to see if there were any places to go"

"When I was looking around, I saw destruction in every path of this place. I wasn't used to seeing it, so I tried to go back. But then I came across some boo's in the area. They led me here"

After you explained your side of the story, the area was now in silence. The sound of his footsteps was the only thing that could be heard. You wanted to know more about what happened, seeing that this was another dimension that was in ruins.

He saw as you observed the kingdoms wall, making him chuckle coldly. "Ah yes, the stench of death, decay, and despair. It's intoxicating, isn't it? It's a reminder of the chaos and destruction we've have wrought upon this land. This is our masterpiece"

"What happened here? If you don't mind me asking" you spoke in a light tone. The Mario's footsteps came to a stop. His fist started to slightly clench, you wondered if you triggered something. You hear him force an exhale before moving on.

"There was a war... It was between the Mushroom Kingdom and Bowser. It wasn't just any battle we had in the past, this battle was much worse"

"During this war, many have died. Losing loved ones in the path of destruction. The only ones that survived were a Mario brother and the princess. After the bloodshed of the war, we started to infiltrate this body"

When he finished his sentence, he said 'We' instead if 'I'. "What do you mean 'We'?" you hear the Mario lowly chuckled at your question.

"After the war, many boo's wandered and haunted the area. Since there wasn't anything to do, we decided to make a plan.

"Take control of Mario, get all the power stars and make this World our own image" Your eyes slightly widen, now knowing that this Mario was possessed. "But why...? Was this Bowsers plan as well?" the Mario shook his head. "No, after the war, Bowser went away somewhere"

"After we took control of this body, we had a goal to take over this world. We left bloodshed of those toads. As some of them discovered what had happened to those, Mario became a wanted man in kingdom, ruining his image and status of others. They called us Devil Mario"

You couldn't do anything but listen. You didn't what to do or figure out what was going to happen. You wondered how many boo's possessed his body, how many they've killed, how many souls were lost in the battle.

"As more of us possessed this body, the more powerful we could get. But we wanted more. The only way we could get more powerful was to take the Power Stars. Obtaining one would give us great power to make this world our image"

The boo that carried you started to laugh, as if the Mario told a joke. It's laughed echoed throughout the kingdom. "Why...? Why would you do this?" you questioned. "Because they were in our way. They were weak, they dared to face us in this form"

"So why haven't you killed me then...?" the Mario stopped. He then turned around to face you. "Why would you ask that?" he questioned you.

"Since I'm a toad, I thought you were going to kill me as soon I entered the castle. I saw that you showed no remorse to the toads that are outside"

He stared at you when you finished talking. He walked his way towards you, stopping when he was a few inches from your face, making you slowly move your head back. In an instant, you felt his cold gloves on your face, making you stay there in place.

Red glowing eyes stared into yours. As he looked at you, he began to notice how you were different from the others. Your eyes weren't filled with the sickly, joyful feeling. It looked out of it, gone, tired. The eyebags added the look of the tired expression you had.

"I find you interesting... you're the only toad that hasn't made a stupid choice of trying to kill me. Your mushroom head as no color as well, its gray"

Taking his hands off your face, he started to walk beside you. "We were so tired of being defeated by the Mario brothers over and over. We were outsmarted by them. Bowser didn't do anything to help us. He just left us in haunted houses and mansions, telling us to wait for them"

"After possessing his body, we caused havoc, getting his brother and the princesses attention. When they heard that we needed the power stars, they took them all and hid them, but now we have to go after them"

You stayed silent, taking in the information the Mario. This was so far, the evilest Mario you come across. This Mario showed no mercy, they only showed greed. All they wanted was power. As the long walk came close to an end, you three stopped in front of a jail cell.

The black bars were rusted, showing how long it's been without any cleaning. Devil Mario opened the door, making a creaky sound that echoed in the area.

The boo that was carrying you, gently placed you on the cold, hard floor, making a shiver go down your spine. The boo then closed the door and locked it behind him, making you now trapped in this cell.

"To make sure you don't ruin our plan, I'm placing you in this cell. The boo's will feed you while I'm gone. Don't try to escape... or you will join the other toads" he spoke in a cold tone. You nodded, letting him know that you understood his words.

One side of his lips raised, a sly smile now forming on his face. "Good. When I get back, I'll see if I can get more information about you later" with that, he then started to walk away.

The boo followed him, but he turned around to look at you. It had a mix of emotions that you couldn't tell. It turned back around and followed Devil Mario.

You were now alone. Sitting in this cold, dark, rusted cell. You didn't know how long the boo held you in the air. Looking around the cell, it was built with brown bricks. The walls were coated with dust, seeing that this cell hasn't been used in years.

Now that you think about it, why was there a cell here? Mushroom Kingdoms never had cells in their castles.

Your thoughts start to wonder off as you felt yourself feeling tired. You don't know how long you were in this dimension, yet it tired you out so quickly. You've been chased, smelling the foul stench and seeing mutilated bodies.

In the corner of the cell, there was a small bed. Going over to it, you wiped off the dust that were littered on it.

Getting on the bed, you made yourself feel comfortable, your hoodie adding the warmth around you. Your eyes started to slowly close, feeling the exhausting feeling take over, lulling you into a peaceful sleep.

Chapter Text

As Devil Mario made his way out of the castle, the area was still dark. The foul stench filled in the air; he was used to the smell. After all, he was the one that made this stench fill the area.

He walked with determination, trying to find where the next power start was. He only needed a few more to be the most powerful in the land. He came across a small building, the walls painted with blood and the mutilated bodies of the toads that were in his way.

When he went inside, toads surrounded the area, guarding the area, but he knew that they were no match for him. He grabbed one and threw then against a group of toads, distracting them.

The toads started to get up and rushed towards him, trying not to let him get closer to the star.

Devil Mario threw various punches at the toads, knocking them out or killing them in the process. One of them tried to escape, but they were too late. He ran quickly behind the toad, grabbing its head, then twisting it.

A satisfying crack echoed in the room and the toad laid lifelessly on the ground. He chuckled coldly before going to the next area.

Entering the next room, multiple toads rushed their way towards him, but all they met was a cleaning slice to their faces. He swung his sword with precise accuracy, slicing them in many ways with ease. He juggled them in the air with his sword as well, wanting to eliminate them faster.

His running footsteps were the only thing you could hear. Going to the rooftops, he looked around, trying to see if there was an area that looked important to look. He came across a small castle that was across from him, a glowing, yellow light emitted the room.

It was a power star, but it was guarded by Princess Peach.

"Hmmm... that damn princess." he muttered lowly. He jumped his way down to the ground area, eliminating the toads that were in way, not caring for any of them.

As he ran through the group of toads, he threw one forward, making their body spilt in half as they slid across the hard floor. As their limbs slid across the floor, you could hear the horrid screams from the princess.

She turned around to see Devil Mario walked slowly towards her, a menacing look was formed on his face.

Before he could launch himself to her, he met face first into a green pipe that appeared in front of him, making him fall to the ground. A second passed as Luigi emerged from the pipe, a determined look on his face.

"Princess, go into the pipe. I'll handled this." the princess nodded before going into the green pipe, escaping the chaos that was about to happened between the two brothers.

Luigi made the first strike, spiking his head into the ground, making them both crash below into the lower level of the castle. They both then rushed towards each other. Mario threw the first hit, able to get in a few punches before Luigi pushed him away. Luigi kicked him right into his stomach, creating more of a distance.

He ran, throwing precise punches at Devil Mario, but he dodged them with ease. He grabbed Luigi's arm and flipped him over and slamming him into the ground. Before Luigi could even get up and react, Devil Mario chopped his neck, hitting his pressure point, knocking him out.

He stared at his brother before jumping out of a window. He fell from great height, but he landed without hurting himself. He looked around to see that there's more toads guarding the area.

"Great... more of them." he muttered in annoyance. He rushed his way towards them, breaking their necks with quickness. The sound of their cracked necks alerted the toads in the area, making their way towards him.

When he finished the small group of toads, he couldn't react when Luigi came flying towards him with his yellow cape. He was tackled to the ground but was able to push Luigi off of him.

Luigi tried to land a few hits on him, but his brother dodged them easily. Devil Mario punched him in the face, stunning him. Grabbing his shirt, he threw him somewhere far, where Luigi would get himself lost at. Devil Mario slightly panted, trying to catch his breath.

All of a sudden, a Lakitu tried to record him, but he immediately threw him off the cloud that he was on. Getting on the cloud he rushed his way to another area, quickly trying to get his hands on the power star. For some odd reason, his thoughts began to show you.

You were... different, odd.

You weren't trying to attack him. He found you interesting. He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts, making him focus on the next area to go to.

Once he landed, he made his way inside the small castle. The area was silent, dead silent. The only thing you can hear was his footsteps as he made his way up a flight of stairs. A small hum filled the air as he went up the stairs, making him look up and see a yellow glow at the top. He rushed his way up the stairs, eagerness and excitement filled him as he approached to see that it was the star.

"It's mine... I finally have it." he muttered to himself. He walked closer to the star, reaching his hand towards it. Before he could touch it, the roof of the castle began to crack. A person emerged below, seeing that it was Luigi.

As he fell from the roof, Luigi grabbed the star.

"I'm sorry, Mario. I can't let you have this star." Luigi spoke. His brothers' eyes glowed red even more, filled with malic and hatred towards his brother for not letting get what he wants. He stood there in place, not moving a single inch. He then started to hear whispers and static that flowed in his ear.

"Get the star..."

"Don't listen to him..."

"He wants you to fail..."

"Get the star."

"GET THE STAR"

"GET THE STAR NOW"

As the whispers began to grow louder and louder, as if the boo's inside him were yelling at him. He then vanished, making him appear behind his brother. Luigi couldn't even react when a fist collied with his face, making him fly across the room. Devil Mario threw punches at lightning speed, wanting to dispose of him.

Before he could land the next hit, Luigi dodged, jumping towards the star. With out hesitation, Luigi grabbed the star, making the power emerge with him.

With quickness, Luigi uppercut Devil Mario, making him launch in the air. He landed on the rooftop, feeling a slight daze within him from the hit. Luigi jumped himself onto the rooftop, rushing his way towards his brother. His hits were more powerful, since he had the power of the star with him.

As he continued, he was then tripped to the floor, he was now annoyed at the cheap move his brother pulled on him.

He then felt the impact of his brother's fist, quickly hitting him multiple times in the face, knocking him out. Devil Mario continued punching him as the power star flew out of Luigi's body. The glowing star started to flow in the air above them. Devil Mario looked at his knocked-out brother with hatred.

'How dare he ruin my plans...' he spoke in head. The boo's inside him chuckled at Luigi.

He made his way towards him and with all his might, lifting his foot, making it come contact with Luigi. His body flew, making his body collide and crash though the building in front of him.

The star then descended towards Mario; his body then absorbed the power of the star. His body started to glow red, emitting a powerful aura around him. He felt the power running through his veins. He looked at the building where his brother crashed him, seeing if he was going to get up.

A few moments went by as he saw a white glow flow out of the broken towers. Before he could make his way over there, a flash of green appeared in front of him, feeling a fist collide with his face. He stumbled across the floor, but he got himself up, staring at him brother with even more hatred.

He rushed towards him, throwing punches at his brother, but Luigi dodged them then landed a hit against Devil Mario's stomach. Luigi tried to attack him again, but he was then launched in the air. Devil Mario jumped in the air, throwing punches while they were midair in the sky.

Holding both of his hands he spiked him into the ground, making Luigi crash into the black and white tiled floor. Blood surrounded him as well, making him look like he was dead.

Devil Mario landed on the floor, looking at his brother. A smirk nearly formed on his lips, thinking that his brother was finally dead. He then saw his brother move slightly, making an angry look form on his face. Luigi then jumped in the air and stomped on his brother's face.

Catching him off guard, Luigi was able to land punches on his face before launching into another building.

He started to get frustrated, seeing that his brother Luigi was able to make a recovery so fast and was able to fight him at the same speed as him. As he slowly got up, a foot collided with his face, making him go flying to another room. As his body came in contact with the brick wall, multiple bricks buried him to the ground.

He quickly emerged from the pile of bricks, jumping towards Luigi. They continued to throw punches to each other before Mario was able to hit Luigi with enough force to make him fly out of the building, landing on the soft grass outside.

"Mario! Why are you doing this?!" Luigi yelled at him. Devil Mario didn't say anything before rushing to his brother. Luigi rushed towards him as well.

They both raised their fists, getting ready to throw a punch. Once their punches connected, a small blow wavered them both, sending themselves flying.

They brothers slowly rise from the ground, feeling pain throughout their body. They stare at each other, Luigi's filled with determination with a hint of worry.

His brother's cold, piercing eyes were filled with hatred, his plans were not going as he well as he thought.

Chapter Text

As they stood a few feet from each other, the toads in the area felt the intense and heavy atmosphere as the two brothers fought. Luigi vanished and appeared behind his brother, trying to unleash a sneak attack, but his brother countered it with a block. They continued to throw and blocked punches until Luigi was able to uppercut him into a green pipe.

Luigi went after him, seeing that the green pipe took them to anew area that involved lava. The heat made them more determined to not fall in. Devil Mario waited until he was distracted before he could land a hit on him, but Luigi dodged and pushed him away.

Devil Mario ran and spiked hit fist over his brother's head. The impact made the bridge break down and landed to the lava while they were still on it.

Their fight became ruthless as they fought over the lava. Mario tried to throw his brother two the lava, but Luigi wall jumped back to the platform.

As the bridge began to melt to the lava, they found an area where they could jump to. Luigi appeared in front of him and knocked him up in the air. He made his way towards him waiting for him to get up. The stared at each other, malice and hatred met with determination.

They both vanished and collided their fists. Fast and blurry punches were thrown, they were both equal in power, but He got the best of the Luigi.

He tripped him before throwing him against the wall. Throwing endless amounts of hits and kicks that he precisely aimed at his face and stomach.

He continued to slam him into the ground, stomping on him before Luigi's last breath flowed out of his body.

He stared at his brothers dying body as it laid there soullessly. Luigi's body started to glow white, then turning yellow as a power star emerged out of his body. Devil Mario fused the star, his body flowed with even more power, a bloody red aura surrounded him and his eye glowed brightly in red.

He stood still as the many toads surrounded him, trying to attack in different directions to stop their corrupted hero from his rampage. One charged towards him as he punched his body, but it didn't even phase him.

All of a sudden, the toads body exploded, it all happened so quickly. They didn't even see him throw a punch.

Devil Mario's body was now an after image as his body disappeared and reappeared as he slaughters the toads one by one. Blood sprayed all around the area as he killed those toads with no mercy. He then walked towards his brother's body, seeing that he was struggling to get up.

He grabbed and lifted him up in the air by his shirt. His red piercing eyes stared into Luigi's dying ones.

"Your struggle is pointless... we have already one. The vulnerable state of your kingdom is now only invites to attack"

As he spoke, many toad armies were now possessed and now heading towards the kingdom. Their eyes glowed with red to show that the possession has already took over them.

"While your focus has been on saving your brother, our army has already attacked and acquired every Power Star in the Mushroom Kingdom. They are near... and once they arrive, the combined force of all Power Stars will be unleashed. Our final purpose will be fulfilled..."

"The destruction, of all creation!"

Before he could make the final blow, Luigi vanished, making the area covered in smoke. As he pushed the smoke away from his vision, he seeing Luigi standing on top of a small building.

"Your ambition won't come to pass! I'm willing to risk everything to stop you!"

"Then FACE ME! ONE LAST TIME!"

As they both declared their ambition to win, they both rushed towards each other, declaring their final fight.

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

Back at the castle where you were prisoned in, your eyes start to flutter open, seeing that you were still in the cell. As you tried to rub the sleepiness out of your eyes, you heard muffled explosions in the area. Looking outside from the barred-up window, you see two figures fighting in area.

One was green and the other was red.

As they fought, they destroyed everything in their path as their fists collided with each other. You were no able to tell who the two were. It was Luigi fighting his possessed brother. Your eyes couldn't keep up as they kept appearing and reappearing in the air.

All you could do was watch as their battle became more ruthless. You rubbed your face as you began to think of how you were supposed to get out. You thought of some ideas but you really couldn't do anything since you were trapped. As you were thinking, the small boo from before emerged from the darkness.

You looked up to see the small boo was there in the cell with you. "H-hey... what are you doing here? I thought you were possessing Mario..." you spoke quietly. The small boo shook his head as it went towards you.

"You don't like possessing people?" it shook its head.

As the boo came closer, it placed their small, cold hand against your forehead making you slightly shiver. You then hear a small, innocent and child-like voice that started to talk to you in your mind.

'Hi... can you hear me...?' you took in the voice as you nodded your head. 'Yes, I can hear you'

'Good. I'm going to get you out of here, okay? Mario is beginning to get more powerful as his army is gathering the other Power Stars...'

'Is there a way that we could stop them...?'

'I don't know... I really didn't like the plan of taking over the kingdom... the other boo's were ready for this plan'

'What would happen if you didn't agree to help them...?'

'They would've banished me... so I had to help them so I wouldn't lose my life...'

A small frown formed on your face, seeing that this innocent boo was forced to do his bidding. 'I'm sorry that you had to go through that'

'It's alright... but I managed to escape and came here to rescue you. I have to find the keys in the area, so hang on for a bit?'

You nodded at you felt the small hand pull back from your forehead. The small boo smiled before it nuzzled against your check, making you softly chuckle. The boo then waved before they went to go get the key. You sighed as you looked at the window to still see them fighting.

You really hope you can get out in time before Mario heads back here.

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

As the brothers continued to fight, Devil Mario pulled out his sword, he then saw Luigi pulled one out too. Their swords clashed as the sound of metal echoed in the area.

They made precise slashes to each other but countered each other by blocking with their swords. As they jumped in the air, their battle was getting intense as they swinged with their mightiest.

As they fought, Luigi was able to find an opening and slashed his brother chest, making blood spread out. He distances himself from Luigi and blocked the incoming hit from him. They decided to go back to fighting with their fists, as they exchanged blows against each other.

Before Luigi could take advantage of the fight, he was sent flying across the area, making him crash against a brick wall. The impact made him cough up blood as his body fell against the ground and went limp.

As the army of possessed toads came closer, they shined a white glow as they combined the power stars they've collected and turned it into a giant star that floated in the sky. The star lowered and lowered until Mario took the power of the star.

Red aura surrounded him, he felt unstoppable. The sky turned blood red as he consumed all the power stars. He finally has the power to do whatever he wants; he knew that nobody could stop him as he walked his way over to his dying brother.

As Luigi took is final breath, memories started to flood back in of how his brother became the monster that destroyed the kingdom, the toads and the brotherly love they had. He felt himself being lifted a few inches of the ground as he spoke his final words.

"M-mario..."

He was the stabbed in the face by his brother's sword. Mario threw the dead body of his brother across the area, landing right in front of the princess. Before she could say anything, she was brutally stabbed in neck.

He carelessly threw her body to the ground.

The power that ran inside with were becoming stronger. It was too much. He could hear is heartbeat ring loudly in his ear. "What? What happening to me?!" he started to shake, making him collapse to the ground.

The boo's inside his body started to screech in pain.

He then felt one of his arms being controlled. His hand grabbed his sword and stabbed himself in the stomach. He started to cough up blood as he wondered what was happening him. He then heard the voices of the boo's.

"IT'S THE STARS! WE CONSUMED TOO MUCH! THEY'RE TAKING CONTROL!"

Before he could do anything, everything in his body began to spray blood everywhere from different parts of his body. The boo's started to evaporate as the stars flew out of his body.

The stars floated in the sky as cracks started to break the stars as pieces of it were flown everywhere, never to be seen again.

One of the pieces were flown to where you were kept at. It glowed yellow as it laid in the grass in front of the castle.

He took his last breath as he was enveloped into darkness, yet the sun that shined brightly in the sky as they shined the lifeless bodies of the brothers and the princess.

Chapter Text

As you were waiting for the small boo to look for the key, a loud explosion echoed in the air. A bright, white light started to light up the area as you covered your eyes. You started to hear small things hit the ground from the outside. 'What was that...?'

Uncovering your eyes, you could hear a jingle of keys coming closer to your cell. Turning around, you see the small boo with the keys in hand. As the boo unlocked the door, you felt their small, cold hand on your forehead.

'Are you alright? I heard an explosion and rushed my way towards here'

'Yeah, I'm okay. I had to cover my eyes because of the bright light'

'Alright, let's get out of here'

Exiting out of the cell, you both made your way out of the castle, seeing the sunshine brightly in the sky. In every direction, you could see massive destruction, dried up blood that was painted everywhere on the floors and the ground.

As you look at the ground, you see small rocks surrounding the area, all of the rocks were a dark gray color. Looking around, you see another small rock, but this one glowed a bright yellow. It let out a small humming noise as you walked closer to it.

'Is this part of a power star? It seemed to be shattered into pieces...'

You slowly and hesitantly pick up the glowing rock, feeling small goosebumps on your arms as you begin to examine it. The piece you had looked like the part of the eye. You then hear humming noise once more as you turn to see the other small rocks glowing as well.

Each rock started to illuminate a yellow hue; you started to collect them one by one. The small boo helped as well as it carried some of the glowing rocks. As you gathered the small rocks, they began to shine brightly as they started to float in the air.

All the rocks started to connect to each other, the humming noise was starting to get louder as it formed into a star. It illuminated the area in a bright, yellow glow. The star started to descend from the sky but floated towards you. Confusion formed on your face, wondering why it made its way towards you.

You slowly lifted your hand, gently touching the star as it shined once more. It started to dissolve and flowed into your hand. You flinched slightly as you started to feel warmth around your body as you were surrounded by a yellow glow.

"What... happened to me? Did I absorb the star?" you questioned as you turned to the small boo. You then felt its hand on your forehead, their voice filled with shock.

'You just absorbed a power star! It'll give you great power if you collect more of them!'

When the small boo finished, you started to wonder about the words that Devil Mario spoke to you when he locked you up.

'The only way we could get more powerful was to take the Power Stars'

As you thought of those words, you shook your head and turned towards the boo. "I think I'm fine with one star... I don't think I can handle anymore"

The small boo turned its head innocently at you, confusion forming on its face as well. "Well, I don't want to be a powerhouse tyrant like Devil Mario... I don't even know what I could do with this power..." The small boo nodded its head, understanding that you don't want another situation to happen.

The yellow glow around you started to dim, seeing that you started to power down in some sort of way. As you settled in the star that flowed through your body, you and the small boo started to look around the area.

Walking around, hearing the dry grass crunch under your feet, a foul stench started to flow in the air, making you cover your nose. As you walk further, you see a familiar sword a few feet away from you. Before you know it, you see three lifeless bodies in front of you.

Three held the familiar-colored clothing. One was the princess while the other two bodies were Devil Mario and Luigi. You looked at Devil Mario's body, seeing the sword was stabbed into his body.

The brothers were bloodied and bruised, seeing that they had some sort of battle. You then looked at the princess, seeing that her pink dress was now drenched in blood.

As you looked around the area once more, you realized that the whole entire kingdom was surrounded by toads.

Your stomach started to slightly churn, never seeing this number of soulless bodies that littered the entire kingdom. You hesitantly walk towards the three bodies as the stench becomes stronger when coming closer. As you walked closer to Devil Mario, your hand started to glow a soft yellow.

You slowly raised your hand to pick up the sword and started to take it out of his body.

As the sword emerged from his body, it was coated in dried up blood, seeing how dark it was. You also began to think about how you were able to pick up the sword, it towered over you, and it looked heavy when you saw it for the first time.

The squelching inside the body made your face cringed slightly in disgust. Once you finally pulled the sword out of his body, your hand started to glow once more as it went closer to his dead body.

Once your hand came in contact with his arm, his body started to glow a soft, yellow hue. Slowly, the wounds on his body started to slowly heal. It made you bring your hand back to you, but it was still healing.

All the cuts and bruises started to disappear, the opened wound from his stomach started to slowly form up. As all the wounds healed, the yellow hue that glowed started to slowly disappear.

His body laid there, as if he was still dead. The small boo gently nudged his body as you see his eyes started to flutter open. You slowly stood back as you saw that his eyes were still red, but it didn't hold any malice or hatred in them.

His red eyes then directed itself towards you, he then saw that your hand was still glowing a yellow color. His voice was hoarse and scratchy as he began to speak to you.

"How... How were you able to get a power star...? They were destroyed... when I was able to achieve them all..." You could hear the frustration that emerged from his voice as he stared at you. He then looked next to you to see that the sword that killed him was next to you and not punctured into his stomach.

Before you could say anything, he quickly grabbed his sword and pointed at you, but he was shaking.

"Why did you bring me back? I was dead! How did you get a star?!" The sword he pointed at you was shaking, seeing that he was nervous and... scared.

"I was supposed to have them! I had it all... but it was too much... I... I couldn't handle it" as he spoke, tears started to slowly pour out of his eyes.

You slowly raised your hands and placed it gently on the sword. He tried to move away from it, but you had a strong grip on it, seeing that it didn't budge. Your hands glowed yellow once more before you snatched the sword away from him. You gently placed it on the grass before you slowly made your way towards him, but he started to move away from you.

Tears started to stream down his face as you came closer.

'They're going to kill me! I have to get away! Why did I lock them up?! Is this karma?!'

As thoughts began to run in his mind, his body felt a tree behind him, seeing that he was trapped. As you came closer, he guarded himself with his arms, the only way he could protect himself. He froze when he felt something soft. He realized that you were hugging his head while you were gently combing his ruffled, black hair as you began to calm him down.

"It's okay... I'm not going to hurt you... " As you whispered those words, his shaking body was starting to slow down, but the tears weren't stopping.

He felt powerless, weak.

He should feel ashamed of himself. Inside, he could still feel a boo that was haunting him inside, but it didn't do anything.

The boo inside him used to be power hungry, filled with vengeance. But he felt broken.

"Why... Why haven't you killed me...?" He questioned as he felt warmth from you. "I'm not here to kill you... I'm here to save you..." You spoke in a gentle tone as you combed his hair with your small fingers.

"I've been sent here to help you feel safe. Happy. Joy. Where I'm from, there are others that have been through a lot like you... I have made them feel better, feel safe, feel happy. I want you to feel that as well..."

As your words flew gently in his ear, he slowly raised his hands and wrapped them around you, hugging you back. As he hugged you, he saw the damage he had done, making more tears pour out of his eyes.

Buildings were destroyed, dried up blood littered the ground as many bodies of toads laid there. He started to shake again when he saw the lifeless bodies of the princess and his brother. You hugged each other firmly as he began to cry once more.

"I'm sorry everyone... I'm sorry princess... I'm sorry Luigi..."

Chapter Text

You continued to comfort him as you felt his tears bleed into your hoodie. The small boo decided to join in as well, slowly petting his head with their small, cold hand. As you rubbed your small hands against his back, you slightly turned your head to the soulless bodies of his brother and the princess.

'I wonder if I can bring them back...' you thought as Devil Mario's cries started to quiet down.

"I'm sorry... Why did I do this...?" His voice was hoarse and quiet, feeling how broken he was. Guilt was the only thing he felt right now. Any other emotions wouldn't be able to make him feel better. Not even sadness. You feel him slowly break the hug, but he didn't want to move out of it.

The warmth that you gave him felt relaxing, but it was still washed over by the guilt he's done to the kingdom.

You sat yourself on the grass in front of him, the small boo made its way onto your lap as a soft smile formed on your face. Your small hand made its way towards Devil Mario's, making them slightly tangle each other's fingers.

"You feel okay...?" You asked him softly as he shook his head. "No... I really don't feel anything... It's my fault that the kingdom is like this" His voice showed no emotion, his red, glowing eyes that held malice and hatred were now dull.

Your small hand gave a light squeeze as you held his hand. His hand squeezed back slightly, showing that he was still here. "You should've left me dead... The place would be a lot better if I was dead, even though it's in ruins..."

He then brought his knees to his chest but still held your hand. "I know that you feel this way... that's why I'm here to help you" You spoke in a gentle tone.

"How can you help me...? After all I've done, you should've left me how I was..." The sad answer made you hum, you really hope you could convince him that there was another way to give him hope, happiness, joy. You took a deep breath and slowly exhaled before you spoke.

"What if I told you... that there was another way that you couldn't feel like this anymore" The question made one of his eyebrows slightly raise.

"What do you mean? How could I feel that emotion when all I've done is mess everything up?" As he spoke, the small boo looked up at you as it made a small noise. "I was sent here to help you. I guide others that are feeling that they have nothing in their lives. I help those that want to feel something. Something that they want to live for"

As you explained, he started to slightly understand but he continued to listen more.

"I was sent here from my world to gather many people to go to my world to feel happy. You are one of those people. I've already gathered a few and I was sent here to get you. There're many different versions of you as well" The explanation made him question himself, not knowing that there's many versions of him.

"How many are in your world?"

"Right now, there's two. They both felt that their lives were coming to an end and there was nothing they could do. But I helped them by bringing them to my world. They've gotten along with others, and I think you'll warm up to them"

He began to think of the explanation you told him. The boo that was still possessing him was pondering what to do now. He closed his eyes as the boo began to speak to him in a low tone.

'Maybe we should listen to them... There's nothing to do here. Would you be happy for you to not have your life? Before the possession, you lived a happy life with your brother and the kingdom'

He then began to speak back to the boo. 'Do you really think so...? I don't want to cause any more trouble that I've done here. It would be nice to go where I can feel some type of emotion. Right now, I don't feel anything'

The two began to ponder, still feeling your small hand that held his in a comforting manner. The small boo that was on your lap places their hand against your arm as you both close your eyes to speak to each other.

'I think this is a good thing to do, Sleepy. I hope that I get to meet them as well'

The child-like voice spoke with excitement, seeing that they can meet new people. 'I hope that I can convince them to come to my world, I know that the people in my world would welcome him. Also, you'll be coming home with me as well'

The small boo giggled with excitement; they were glad that they were able to go with you. As you and Devil Mario's eyes opened, his red eyes were still dull, but you saw a glint of hope in them. He took a deep breath and exhaled before he spoke.

"I think... I'll go with you. Even though there's nobody here, I don't feel welcomed. You are the only one that was able to talk to me, convince me that there is hope for me to happiness"

A small smile began to form on your lips, you were glad that he wanted to go somewhere else that he could feel happiness. He really hopes that the people in your world would be glad to include one more.

"I'm glad that you made the choice. I'll do my best to help you and make you feel comfortable with the others. But there is one thing that I need to tell you"

He tilted his head, slight confusion formed on his face, but he continued to listen. "When we go to the next area, a green pipe will appear, that's how I travel to other worlds. When we go into the pipe, there is a chance that I won't go through the same way as you" He continued to listen as he gave you a nod.

"Whenever I'm bringing someone back to my world, you will go straight to my world, and I will go the opposite"

"When I go in the opposite direction, it means that there is someone in another world that needs my help. If I go the same direction as you, it means that it's time to go home until I'm needed back" As he took in the information, he then asked you a question.

"Do you ever get tired of doing it? It sounds like a big job" You smiled softly before you spoke.

"Not really, but by the look on my face, people might think it is. But it's fine, I'm able to take breaks when I want to. I tend to sleep a lot when I'm not doing anything" Small chuckles flew out his mouth. You both conversed with each other as the morning went by. He was glad that he was able to vent to you.

A few moments have passed before the sound of a pipe echoed in the distance. You both turned to see the green pipe placed in the middle of a field as the sun shined on it. "That must be it"

"Yeah..." Before you both made your way towards the pipe, you slowly made your way towards the lifeless bodies of his brother and the princess. Before you could try and heal them, you felt Devil Mario's hand on your shoulder.

"I think we should let them rest, they did so much for this kingdom. And I think they wouldn't be happy to see me alive" you hummed at his answer before putting your hands into your pockets.

"Let's give them a proper burial. I think they would be happy with that instead of lying on the cold grass" He nodded as he went to grab a shovel as you used your powers to make them float a few feet off the ground and find a place to bury them. You found an area that was covered in daisies, seeing that this was the perfect place to bury them.

He started to dig the holes, making sure that they were able to fit in them. You then gently placed them in their respective graves as he started to put the dirt back, covering them.

Around the area, you found two flowers that stood out of the field of daisies. A green one and a pink one. You picked them from the ground and placed them on their graves.

You could see tears start to water in his red eyes, making your way towards him, you gave him a hug. Your small hands gently rubbed his back as he started to sniffle. "Thank you..." he spoke in a gentle tone. "You're welcome..." as you continue to comfort him, you both break the hug.

"Are you ready to go?" you asked as he started to wipe the remaining tears from his eyes. "Yeah... I'm ready" You both make your way to the pipe, hearing the humming noise that was emitted.

"Remember, when we're in the pipe, there might be a chance that I won't go the same direction as you, okay?" He gave you a nod as you both gave a squeeze to each other's hand before jumping into the pipe, darkness covering your vision.

Chapter Text

The only thing that Devil Mario could see was darkness as he went through the pipe, it felt cold as he traveled through it. His hand felt empty, seeing that you weren't going with him and going into another world.

Deep down, he hopes that the people in your world will welcome him with open arms. He also hoped that you were okay. Going down the pipe, he started to see a bright light, it was getting closer as he emerged out of the pipe.

He landed on the soft, grassy ground. He observed the area, seeing that he was in a forest area. Surrounded by trees and some flowers that blew gently against the soft breeze from the wind. The sound of the pipe made him slightly turn his head, seeing that it disappeared to the ground.

He took a deep breath, feeling himself slowly calm down as he felt peace in your world.

As he took in the area, he started to walk around the area, feeling the soft grass crunch under his feet as he walked. The area felt so much different from his.

There was no blood, mutilated bodies, no destruction, no darkness. No power stars. He felt lighter and at ease in this place, making his anxious behavior from before slowly go away. '

This is... very nice'

Walking further out of the forest, he stopped as he heard a few sets of footsteps walking around the area. His heart started to slow beat faster as he looked around in every direction. The boo that still possessed him tried to calm him down, but itself was feeling rather nervous as well.

You weren't with him, so you couldn't tell him that everything was going to be okay. He slowly guarded himself as he heard the footsteps getting closer.

As the footsteps came closer, he saw two different Mario's, making his face full of confusion. 'Are those two...me?' He thought to himself as saw a taller Mario and a shorter Mario, but their clothing was different from his.

The taller one wore dark blue overalls with a dark red, long-sleeve shirt. The shorter one was wearing soft blue overalls and a light red, long-sleeve shirt.

"Hey, are you alright?" spoke the taller one, his voice spoke in a low tone. Devil Mario nodded, making his guard slowly go down. The smaller Mario smiled softly before he spoke to him. "Another Mario? Now we can have more Mario's than the Luigi's!" Devil Mario froze from the name of his brother.

'Multiple...Luigi's...?'

His thoughts began running through his head as he thought about his dead brother. It was his fault that he was gone.

The two Mario's eyes slightly widened as they saw the new Mario's eyes start to water.

The smaller one made his way towards him and gave him a hug, the contact from the touch made Devil Mario flinch. The taller Mario slowly made his way towards him, making sure that he didn't startle him even more. He crouched to his level and gently patted his back, seeing more tears start to pour out of the new Mario's eyes.

'I wonder what happened to this Mario?'. After a few moments of comfort, he felt himself start to feel better.

"Are you feeling okay now?" Asked the smaller Mario, seeing that the new Mario nodded at his question. "What's your name?" asked the taller one. Devil Mario wiped his tears, but he thought of the name he had. The 'Devil Mario' name that he had would have probably made the two suspicious towards him, so he just translated his name into something different.

"My name is Akuma... Who are you guys?" he asked as his dull red eyes stared at the two. The smaller one smiled before he spoke.

"My name is Beta Mario. I come from a different dimension from a video game" Akuma nodded as he turned to the taller one. "My name is Mario.Exe, but you can call me M. I'm from a dimension where my world was in ruins" He nodded as he took in the information. Beta Mario then asked him another question.

"What was your world like?" His breath hitched from the question. He couldn't tell them the truth of his actions, so he had to lie.

"My world was in ruins as well. Many wars broke out, causing the ones that were close to me to perish from the effect..." He spoke in a quiet tone as he explained what happened in his world. M and Beta gently patted his back, causing the boo that was inside of him to softly smile.

"How long have you guys been here? Sleepy told me that many other people would be here as well" The question made them softly smile. "I've been here for nearly two months. Beta's been here for nearly a month"

"How's Sleepy been doing?" M asked him as he saw a faint smile form on Akuma's face. "They're doing alright. They've comforted me from the war. I was the only one there, so for them being there for me made me feel a bit better"

The explanation made them smile, seeing that you were still comforting others on your journey. "They went to another dimension, right?" Akuma nodded at the question.

"Yeah. They said that if they didn't come with me, they were going to another dimension" He explained. "Yeah, that's about right. I hope they're doing okay" The three nodded as they started to make their way towards the castle.

As they emerged from the small forest area, a big, beautiful castle came to his view. It was way bigger than the one in his world. He heard the cheers and laughter from the many-colored toads that surrounded the area. His world only had one colored toads, which was blue.

As he stared at the beautiful scene, his vision flickered, making the area look like his world. The big castle was destroyed as mutilated bodies of toads littered the area as pools of blood were everywhere. His vision went back to normal as he felt someone tapping shoulder, seeing that it was Beta Mario.

"Are you feeling alright? You spaced out a bit there" He asked in a gentle tone.

"Yeah... just feeling a bit tired. But I'm fine" His voice was wavering a bit, but he controlled it. Going closer to the castle, the toads waved at the newcomer, making him waved back slowly, the toads were very friendly in your world. Walking up the stairs towards the large doors, M opened it, making a low creaking sound echo softly, but caught the attention of more toads.

His vision flickered once more. The hallway became dark as lifeless bodies of toads laid soullessly on the ground, their blood coating the carpet and splattered on the walls. His vision flickered back as he tried to catch his breath, suddenly feeling that he wasn't breathing at all.

His heart kept beating at a fast pace, but it slowly calmed down as he felt M and Beta Mario's hand on his back.

'Poor Akuma... I wonder what happened in his world' Thought M as they made their way further into the castle. "Guys, we have a new visitor!" Yelled out M as he heard multiple steps coming from different rooms emerged to the main room.

He felt his body froze. His dull, red eyes stared at the multiple people that were in front of him.

Two princesses, two Yoshi's and... three Luigi's...

Everyone that was in front of him waved at him with friendly smiles, but concern started to slowly fill their faces. "Is he feeling alright?" Asked one of the princesses as she slowly made her way towards him, seeing that he was still like a statue.

She waved her hand in front of him, snapping her fingers, but nothing worked.

Luigi carefully made his way towards him as he grabbed his gloved hand, he ignored the soft, red splotches on his gloves as he slowly took him to one of the couches. Placing him gently on the soft couch, he checked his pulse on his wrist, he still felt a pulse, but it was beating slowly.

He then gently laid his body on the couch and gently closed his eyes, seeing that they stayed closed.

Luigi made his way towards the others. "Maybe he needed some rest" He spoke as everyone muttered an agreement. "When we found him in the forest, he was nervous as well. When we walked to the castle, he kept spacing out, making me and Beta Mario snap him out of it" M said.

"We'll talk later on," said Horror Peach as everyone nodded and went about their business.

Chapter Text

A few hours had passed, it was around the afternoon when Akuma felt his eyes flutter open. He felt the soft surface of the couch he was laying on, someone must have put him on the couch.

The last thing he remembered was his body going still. He couldn’t move.

Seeing those many people made his whole body stop, not able to function during the situation. He slowly sat up, a tired groan emitted from him as he rubbed his eyes.

Once he looked around the area, all he could see was beautiful colors.

The majority of the area was filled in different shades of pink, surrounded by other colors that compliment each other to make the castle more pretty.

Back in his world, the colors were bland, but the color that highlighted the area was red.

Red from all the blood he littered from the kingdom. From all the toads, the princess, and his brother.

He knew what he did was wrong, he was greedy for the powers stars, not about the others. The boo that was still inside him was pondering. It couldn’t find itself to do anything but sat there.

Deep down, they both regretted their actions.

As Akuma stared motionless at the pink carpet, he felt someone gently touch his arm, causing him to flinch. There were two toads that were next to him. A blue and a green one. They both held concerned looks on their faces.

“Are you feeling okay? You’ve been out for a while” said the blue toad. Akuma stared at the two toads with his dull red eyes before he slowly nodded at them.

“We’re sorry if we startled you. You’re the only person that's been frightened, even scared when you came here” added the green toad. Akuma couldn’t find himself to speak so he just nodded.

The toads hummed as they asked him more questions. “Do you want something to eat?” They saw him nod as the question.

When all those boo's possessed him, he really didn’t have an appetite, but now, he felt empty.

The two toads told him to follow them, making him sit up from the couch and stretch. Multiple pops from his joints made his body feel a bit lighter, seeing that he hasn’t stretched in a while.

He followed the two toads to the kitchen area, nervously waving back at the toads that waved at him with cheerful looks. Coming closer to the kitchen, he smelled different kinds of things that he’s never smelled in a while.

Some were savory and some were sweet, making his mouth slightly water. A rumble emitted from his stomach, causing some of the toads to chuckle. “You must be hungry. C’mon, you can sit here”

As he sat at a random table, he was introduced by a plate full of his favorite food, spaghetti. He hasn’t had that in a while, not knowing how long the boo’s possessed him. Once he took a bite, he felt relaxed.

A faint smile formed on his face as he enjoyed his meal. The boo that was inside him, lightly hummed as they enjoyed the taste as well.

Boo’s don’t really eat, but he could taste the flavor of the food.

The toads in the kitchen area smiled proudly, seeing that he was enjoying the food that was given to him. It looked like he hadn't eaten in a while, so they got ready just in case he wanted seconds.

As he finished his meal, he drank his glass of water. Felling the coolness of fresh water filling his body. The water helped him a bit as he felt himself about to speak, but his voice was still a bit hoarse.

“Thank you…”

The toads smiled at him, they were glad to provide what he needed. He watched as the toads started to clean up and go about their business.

As he sat on the table, he pondered to himself. He needed a bath. All the dried up blood and dirt lightly coated his clothes and gloves.

He didn’t want to walk around in the clothing that he wore when he was murdering innocent lives.

“Excuse me…” he softly spoke to one of the red toads. “Is there a shower that I can use? I feel grimy and didn’t get a chance to clean myself”

“Sure! I’ll get you some new clothing and take you to one of the bathrooms” Akuma thanks the red toad as he gave his dirty dish to one of the cleaner toads. When following the red toad, he saw a room that was away from the others.

‘Who’s room could that be? It’s away from the others…’

Once they made it to one of the restrooms, the red toad gave him some new clothes that were close to his. His was dull colored but the ones he was given were more vibrant. He thanked the toad as he went inside.

Discarding his old clothes, putting them in a basket, he stepped into the shower. Turning it on, he felt the warm droplets come into contact with his body. He felt more relaxed, washing away the dried up blood and grime off his body.

A few moments have passed as he finished his shower. He felt fresh, clean, feeling new. Drying himself off, putting on his new clothing, he walked out of the bathroom. The new pair of clothing made him feel comfortable.

He walked down the hallway of the castle, seeing the toads play around and hanging out. The hallways were decorated, way different from the black and white tiles at the castle in his world. Reaching to the main area, he sat down on the same couch he was in.

Looking around the area, he sees the princess slowly approaching him, making his body tense up.

“Are you feeling alright, Akuma? I’m glad that the toads were able to help you get around” She spoke in a gentle tone as he nodded.

“If you don’t mind me asking, what was your world like? I saw how tense and nervous you looked when you arrived”

He felt himself tense even more, but he felt the boo inside him trying to calm him down. He could really use the comforting presence you had. You made him feel relaxed. He waited a bit before speaking.

“My world’s been through a lot… Many people have died. So many people lost their lives as they tried to escape… There was this person that ended so many lives, even the ones that were closed to him”

He was talking about himself.

He stared at his hands, waiting a bit before he spoke.

“Before I wanted to end my life, there was this toad that was able to help me. They were very different from other toads. They said that this place was able to give me peace. Happiness…”

He then looked at the Peach, his dull red eyes staring into her bright blue ones. “Was this toad named Sleepy?” she questioned.

“Yes, they were able to comfort me and told me about this world. I was hesitant, but I trusted them, knowing that I had nothing”

He felt his voice starting to slowly break down, small tears flowing slowly down his face.

He accepted the tissue that Peach gave him, wiping the tears off his face. “I was glad that they were able to help me. Comfort me when I lost the ones that were close to me…”

When he finished speaking, he felt Peach’s hand gently rubbing his back, but he tense when it came in contact. He slowly relaxed at the comforting touch.

He was glad that he can feel peace in your world, slowly feeling the worries ease off him.

Chapter Text

Back to where you were, you saw the light at the end of the pipe, you were close to your destination. Coming closer, you were out of the pipe, feeling the cold hard ground under your feet.

Looking around, everywhere was in a monochrome like design. Looking at yourself, you were also in shades of black and white.

But the place looked familiar, it reminded you of a video game that you’ve played.

It was a stage level from Super Mario Land 2 for the GameBoy system.

Now that you noticed, you seemed to be in a cold, dark room of the area. You were glad that you wore your hoodie before you left your world.

In the room were familiar items from the game. Mushrooms, fire flowers, coins, even some onions that Peach had when you played the game. But they were in monochrome, giving a dull look to them.

You then felt something. A presence. Sure the room was dark with a few lights, but you see that a corner of the room was even darker than the entire room.

You questioned yourself on why you were slowly getting closer.

Stopping in the middle of the room, you see a figure dressed in familiar clothing, standing still like a statue.

The figure wore a white cap that had ‘GB’ on the front, a white long sleeve shirt that was covered by black overalls and shiney gray shoes.

The figure turned around and took one step closer to you, now seeing their full appearance. It looked like a Mario to you, but its upper face was shadowed over with his hat as well.

You and the familiar plumber stood there for a second, only hearing the small humming that emitted the dark room. The mario slowly lifted its face, now staring at you.

Getting a good look on his face, you froze.

The mario had a huge, distorted smile, showing its pearly white teeth. But you see black liquid slowly dripping out of it. Two outlined circles that represented eyes stared dead at you, feeling a heavy shiver go down your spine.

Its arms were growing bigger, hearing his bones crack while they grew. Not taking your eyes off the grotesque, monochrome of the mario, you felt your back hit the door.

The Mario slowly took a step, inching closer towards you. Its mouth then opened, instead of hearing the cheerful laughter of Mario, it was deep and distorted.

Without hesitation, you quickly opened the door and bolted out of the room. You run as fast as you can, relying on the small feet you have as you try to control your breathing.

‘What was that?! Who is that?!’ As you questioned yourself, you looked at the outside area of the video game world.

The game had a blue sky, now it was just static. Nature around you never took its eyes away from you as you ran.

Tree’s, clouds, mountains, even the bushes had eyes that never stopped looking. Its black pupils were enlarged, taking over the wandering eyes.

Taking sharp turns and shortcuts, you promised, no, prayed to yourself to never stop running.

The small tears that were building in your eyes were starting to slowly stream down your face.

You felt yourself running slower, your feet starting to strain as you kept going. You wanted to stop until you heard a horrific roar that emitted from the mario, causing you to pick up speed.

Looking around, you find a forest area that was littered in black and white trees. With slight hesitation, you ran into the forest, pushing away branches that tried to smack you in the face.

While still running, you made sure not to trip on anything. The chances of falling to the grass would probably cost you your life.

You came to a stop, hiding behind a big tree as you tried to catch your breath.

You felt the dryness in your throat, your face had a soft coat of sweat. But you couldn’t tell if that was actual sweat or your tears.

Quickly lifting up your hands, you firmly held them against your mouth, not wanting to cause any noise. Your body starts to shake with fear, not wanting the mario creature to find you.

You wanted to move but at the same time, you needed to run and find a safe area. You slowly lifted up your foot from the ground and slowly walked.

Hearing the grass softly crunch under your feet, taking one step at a time, you still kept your hands on your mouth. Your breathing calmed down, but you heard your heartbeat ringing in your non-existing ears.

Taking different paths in the forest, still having your mouth covered, you see the trees in the area. It started to form into eyes, their direction looking at you.

A muffled yelp escaped your lips, causing you to stare at the ground.

You didn’t know where you were going, only seeing your small shoes that came across your vision as you slowly walked mindlessly in the forest.

Still feeling the eyes of the trees.

A few moments have passed as you walk in random directions. The grass was now turning into sand, some of the particles landing on your shoe.

Slowly lifting up your head, you were at the beach. It looked peaceful, but still had the monochrome look to it.

The soft crashes of the sea kind of made you relaxed, but you had to stay alert. As you continued walking, you slowly took your hands away from your mouth, putting them down.

Walking in the sandy area, you heard something break causing you to bolt away from the noise. You then heard a roar, turning to see that it was the mario creature, but it was now giant.

His figure loomed over the forest area you were, its white outlined eyes following your small figure.

You couldn’t run as fast from before, the sand affecting your speed as you tried to get away from the creature.

Unfortunately, you tripped, the side of your face softly slammed into the sand.

The taunting chuckles from the mario echoed in the area as he made its way towards you. You tried to get up from the sand and run, but your body was wrapped around the bony hands of the mario.

Its laugh was getting louder as he stared at you. His eyes pierced into your soul as he watched the tears escape from your eyes, watching you struggle from his grasp.

Continuing to stare at each other he opened his mouth, hearing his distorted voice.

“Why are you running when we could be playing a game?”

You opened your mouth, but nothing came out. Your voice was trapped in your throat, making more tears pour down your face. The look seemed to amuse the mario, hearing his chuckles echo.

“How about this? If you collect the six golden coins, I’ll let you go” he saw you quickly nod, not knowing what you were getting yourself into.

You just didn’t want to die.

“If you don’t, you will be stuck here in this loop of a world. Trapped forever. Do you accept it?”

He watched as you wiped the tears from your eyes, making his giant thumb rub gently on your mushroom head.

Thinking to yourself, you needed to do this. To learn about this mario. You nodded your head, accepting the game. The answer made the monochrome mario smile, seeing his pearly white teeth.

“Very well… Let’s began”

You felt yourself being lifted in the air, causing your heartbeat to fasten.

‘What is he doing?!’ you thought as he launched you into the ocean. You were glad that you held your breath.

Before you know it, gloved hands to grab your body. Their fingers dug into your clothing as they pulled you deeper into the ocean. You struggle to get out but it wasn’t enough.

You tried to hold in your breath, but couldn’t do it for long enough as bubbles flowed out of your mouth, feeling your lungs being filled with water.

Looking up, the mario stared down at your struggling body. The last thing you see is the mario waving his hand at you before your vision is enveloped into darkness.

Chapter Text

The sounds of the sea crashing against the shore made your eyes flutter open. You were laying in the damp sand, the sky looked gloomy as you took a second to look around.

The last thing you saw before you blacked out was the uncanny, monochromic Mario staring at you while you were drowning. You slowly stood up from the ground and looked around the area.

Away from the sandy area, you see patches of grass that were a few feet away from the beach. You also saw a trail that led you to different levels from the game, seeing the familiar buildings of mushroom houses.

Before you started to head your way there, you took off your hoodie, which was now drenched from the water and littered with bits of sand. As you placed it on the ground, you saw that it started to move.

You stared at it with confusion, before your face lit up with surprise. It was your little ghost friend from before. It was looking around before they came across you.

The sounds of its chuckles were heard as they floated towards you. They gave you a hug as they snuggle against your cheeks. “How’ve you been doing?” you asked as you saw the boo pressed their small hand against your forehead.

“I’m doing fine. I was hiding in your jacket before you went into another dimension. I’m sorry that I didn’t come out and help you during the situation” they spoke in an apologetic tone.

You gave the small boo a reassuring smile before you gently pat its head, feeling the coolness of its body. Taking their hand off your forehead, you picked up your damped hoodie and started to follow the trail.

Following the trail, it led you to a mushroom house, it was pixelated. Looking around, the entire area was in pixels, seeing that the mario placed you into the video game.

Entering the house, you were transported into the first level. A few seconds passed before you were dropped into the new world. You had a sandy path that was surrounded by water, you could see some of the trees in the background.

The music from the level was playing as well, but was low pitched and distorted. It was a bit creepy but you ignored it and started the level.

So far, it was easy. Hitting the question blocks, stomping on goombas as going through a straight path. You faulted over the light blue pipes that stuck out of the ground and avoided the koopa troopas with wings.

Moving forward, you were able to get to the end of the level. As you step inside a dimmed lighted room, you see items and power ups from the game in a claw machine.

You see a button that controls the claw to go down when pressed. You concentrated as you watched the claw move left to right. At the right time, you pressed it, causing the claw to go down and pick up an item.

A text box that popped up above you as words were being typed.

‘You got a Fire Flower!’

The item then went into your inventory, which you didn’t know that you had. Since you didn’t want to carry your jacket all the time, you placed it into your inventory and walked out of the area.

Emerging out of the first level, you followed the path to the next level, which represented a tree. Entering the level, you see a sign that read, ‘The Tree Zone’ which was surrounded by crows.

Starting the level, you hopped and ducked through the giant tree branches, grabbing coins and avoiding the frog enemies that littered the area. As you saw the enemies grouping up, you saw your hand glowing a yellow hue.

Raising your hand, you were able to move the enemies with a powerful force, causing them to be sent straight into the water. You smile gently at the power before moving onto the next area.

It was a cave area, no light was in sight as you entered the dark cave. As you went inside, you could see some coins that lightly glowed in the area, but it wasn’t enough to show you the path.

Using the fire flower, you summoned a small fireball that levitated above your hand, lighting the area with a soft red hue. Going deeper and into the cave you avoided the spikes that threatened to stab your feet if you stepped on it.

‘How long is this cave area?’ you thought as you were finally at the end of the area. Emerging out of the cave, you let the fireball disintegrate and place the fire flower away in your inventory.

Climbing up the tree, you were finally on the final level, which was at the top that was guarded by a crow. It didn’t pay attention to you, so you entered.

What you didn’t know was that the crow started to transform into the monochromatic mario. It smiled deviously as he watched you enter the level.

‘I wonder how long they’ll survive in this world… It seems that they know around this area’ he thought before he started to walk into the level you were going in, transforming himself into a random enemy.

Right now, you were moving on a trail that led you to a higher area. You then noticed that all the blocks were pressed except one. Hitting it, caused a pair of rabbit ears to emerge from it.

As you put them on, the powerup grants you the ability to jump higher and float with them as well. You jumped with great height as you landed on platforms that floated in the area.

Using the power star, you moved the enemies away from your path, knocking them out as they hit the ground. Moving forward, you saw that the platforms were getting farther from each other.

With all your might, you jumped as high as you could, barely making it onto the platform, but you had to keep going. Making it to the top of the tree, you were now on a giant next with one egg that was in the middle.

You hear a cry from the crow from before it landed on the egg. This was your first boss of the game, making you take guard. The crow stared at you before it started to fly towards you.

As you jumped over it, you stepped on its head, causing it to cry out in pain. You had to hit its head two more times before you could defeat the crow. The crow then flew faster towards you again, but you remembered its pattern.

Stomping on its head again, the crow was getting pissed. It cried out in anger before it flew towards you for the last time. Jumping up and steeping its head, the crow froze in pain before its body crashed down to the ground.

The sounds of the egg cracking caused you to turn around. Once it made its final crack, a coin emerged out of the egg and floated towards you.

‘Alright, that's one coin. Just five more to go…’

Placing the coin in your inventory, you made your way down the tree. As you felt the ground under your feet, you decided that it was time to take a break. Walking around the area, you see a small mushroom house that looked vacant.

Going inside, you saw a bed with a dresser next to it. There was another door that was across the bed, seeing that it was the bathroom. A yawn emerged from your mouth as you sat on the bed. It was comfortable, but you didn’t want to get it dirty, so you decided to take a relaxing bath.

You felt relaxed, the warm water hitting your body as you washed the sandy particles from before. After getting out and drying yourself off, you find some clothes that were the same size as yours.

Putting on some clean clothes, you slowly made your way to the bed and fell face first into the soft pillow. You didn't bother tucking yourself in as you let the darkness envelope you into a deep sleep.

What you didn’t see was the white, outlined circles that stared through the window of the house.

Chapter Text

Your eyes began to flutter open as you stared at the ceiling, knowing that it was time to get up. A tired sigh flowed out your lips as you slowly worked yourself out of the comfortable bed.

Stretching your limbs, hearing the soft pops from your joints, you went to grab your hoodie. Putting it on, the small boo appeared out of your hoodie, giving you a small smile.

It placed their cold hand on your forehead and began to speak. ‘How are you doing this morning?’ they asked.

‘I’m doing alright, about to head out and see if I can find more coins. I need five more’ you then showed them one of the coins that you achieved yesterday. The boo nodded before speaking again.

‘That’s cool. If you need anything, I’ll be in your jacket’ you gave them a nod before the boo went into your hoodie, feeling the slight coolness from the effect.

Grabbing everything that you needed, you started to head outside, not knowing the piercing, voided eyes staring at you from afar.

You felt a cool breeze in the air, hearing the soft winds that flowed gently in the air. Following the trail, it led you up a few feet up stairs. Climbing to the top, you came across a bronze statue of an animal, seeing that it was a hippo.

Entering the level, you came across the same hippo statue, now blowing out bubbles. It didn’t pop when your small hand came in contact with it. As it blew another bubble, you hopped into one.

You were surprised that you could breathe in it, seeing that you were fine to breathe all you like. While in the bubble, you followed the trail of coins that floated in the air, basically skipping the entire level.

Getting closer to the end of the level, you popped the bubble, landing safely on the ground. You thought that was an easy level, but something was off, there were no enemies in this level.

You remembered floating spikes in the level that threatened to pop the bubble you were in, but they weren’t there.

Humming to yourself, you went inside a dark room, seeing that it was another onus room. Pressing the button to activate the claw, you managed to grab a golden coin.

‘You got 250 coins!’

As the pop-up disappeared, you placed the gold coins in your inventory before exiting out of the level. Making your way to the next level, you saw that you were about to go to a space type level.

Looking around, you saw that there was no spacesuit to use, so you used the power star to make your body be surrounded by a yellow hue, making a barrier for you.

Entering the level, you felt yourself starting to float in the dark space, glowing stars that illuminated the area. As you made your way forward, you avoided the stars that threatened to hit you, but you were able to dodge them.

Collecting a good number of coins from the question marked block, you see that you were coming close to a pipe that leads to another area.

As you enter, you see the next boss driving a small mech while floating.

You and the creature stared at each other, waiting to see who was going to make the first move. Waiting a few seconds, the creature started to shoot projectiles at you, making you dodge them.

As the creature made its way towards your way, you jumped in the air and landed on the creature, getting one hit. But you stopped when the boss cried out in pain before it disappeared.

‘Wasn’t I supposed to hit him three times to confirm a defeat…?’

Looking around, you thought about the barrier that you wore from the power star. ‘Maybe that’s what caused it… I defeated it with one hit’

Your thoughts we’re interrupted when you see the second coin floating to the ground, telling you that you completed this area. You placed the coin in your inventory as you made your way out of the level, taking the barrier off around you.

Following the trail to the next area, a monochromatic bunny hopped its way towards you, stopping a few feet. It’s bitty, black eyes stared at you with a soulless look.

You waited for the small animal to do something, but it just stared. Slowly moving around, its eye still followed your every move. Your walking pace turned into a jog, feeling a slight shiver down your spine.

The feeling of wanting to turn around to see if it was still there clinked against you, wanting to make sure if the bunny was real. Turning around, everything dropped to your stomach.

The soulless bunny now featured a wide grin, showing its pearly white teeth. The bunny then started to hop towards you, causing you to start jogging faster. Your jog became a run as you heard a menacing laugh echo in the area.

The bunny now wore a familiar mario hat, but it was white. You ran as fast as you could, hearing the bunnies’ footsteps getting closer towards you. ‘How can a small creature be this fast?!’

Up ahead was a house that was placed in the middle of nowhere. Having no choice, you bolted into the house and slammed the door shut. Putting your back against the door, the uncanny bunny banged against it, trying to force it open.

You stood there holding the door back, praying that the bunny would stop. After a few moments have passed, the banging stopped, yet you held your breath, waiting to see if it wanted you to take your guard down.

Waiting there a few moments, you deeply exhaled as you slid to the wood. As you tried to control your breathing, you looked inside of the house. There was nothing really in it, just the next level.

Slowly getting up from the ground, you see a window that was next to the door. You were hesitant to look, but you needed to make sure nothing was there.

You slowly peeked through the window, seeing nothing close to the house. As you continued to look, you saw the same bunny, watching it hop towards the bushes.

The bunny then stopped, but what it did made your breath hitched. Its body started to twitch, before hearing the gut-wrenching sounds of bones stretching, breaking and reforming itself. Its figure then started to grow, forming into a regular, human body.

Your eyes widened when you saw the figure wearing a familiar white overalls and a black long sleeve shirt, also wearing a white hat. The bunny ears didn’t go away, like it was attached to the hat.

‘It couldn’t be him! He’s following me and he can shapeshift?!’

Your thoughts frantically ran through your mind, not knowing what to do, but you stayed quiet. You could hear his footsteps fade into the forest area as you sat on the floor for a bit.

Calming yourself down, you quickly yet quietly went into the next level. You looked around to see that you were in a house level, seeing that you were on the wooden floor.

Moving forward, you jumped on the ants, gaining points during the way as well. You followed the trail of gold coins that littered the away, making sure to dodge the incoming piranha plants.

Using the fire flower, you aim fireballs at the enemies that littered the area, giving you a clear area for you to continue your path. Going through the pipes, you jumped over the small fire pits, feeling the heat from under your feet. Hopping over a few pipes, you finally made it to the end of the level. Entering the bonus room, you see a small stand that sold food items.

Using some of your golden coins, you purchased some snacks before exiting out of the bonus room. Walking further in the house, you see a pair of stairs that lead to the attic. Moving up, you see that it was another boss level.

As you enter the level, you see a rat emerge from a hole. A slight shiver ran through you as you watched the rats skitter around the small area.

When it was the right time, you hopped and landed on his head, getting one hit. It ran away, giving you time to prepare for the next pattern.

The rat then ran toward you, its sharp nose threatening to stab you. As it got closer you vaulted over the rat, making it crash into the wall, stunning itself. You quickly jumped on him, clearing the second hit.

The rat then went inside the whale where it came from, hearing its frantic footsteps echo in the pipes. You looked around the area, taking guard as you waited for its final attack.

As you heard the footsteps getting closer, you hopped in the air just in time and hopped on its head once more, defeating the boss. It cried out in pain before it turned into the next coin.

Putting it in your inventory, you only need three more coins, and you'll face the final boss of this game. Exiting out of the house zone, you followed the trail to the next area, seeing that it was a giant carving of pumpkin. You deeply inhaled then exhaled before entering in.

Chapter Text

Emerging into the giant pumpkin, it had an eerie atmosphere to it, representing Halloween. Going to the first level in the pumpkin, you were transported to a graveyard.

The area of the level was nighttime, walking on a dirt path as you see tombstones planted in the area. There was a slight breeze in the air, complimenting the cold, dead atmosphere.

Moving forward, you went down a pipe that transported you to the underground area. The area was lightly lit with candles that hung on the wall. Collecting coins, you made sure to jump over the enemies that wore hockey masks.

Coming to the end of the underground area, you jumped into the pipe and went to the surface area. Looking forward, you see multiple boo’s slowly moving around in the area, the haunting chuckles could be heard in the night.

Hopping on the blocks, you made sure to keep an eye on the boo’s, causing them to stop and cover their face, feeling shy from eye contact.

Going into another pipe, it transported you to an empty mine. Using the fire flower, you summoned a small fireball that helped illuminate the area. Moving forward, you aimed fireballs at the enemies that littered the area.

Vaulting a few pipes, making sure that there were no piranha plants inside, you made it to the end of the level. Walking into the bonus room, it was the claw machine game. Pressing the button on the right time, you were able to catch an item.

‘You got snacks!’

Putting the snacks in your inventory, you exited the bonus room and exited out of the level. Walking to the next level, you could hear a witch cackle in the air.

‘Either that's one of the enemies in the next level or she’s the final boss in this area’

Going to the next level, you were transported inside a haunted house. The inside was pitched black, but the light from the windows helped illuminate the area.

Moving forward, the sounds of the floor creaking kept you on guard. Many boo’s littered the area, so you had to make sure to keep a close eye on them.

Walking in the dark house, you could hear a whisper in the air. You wanted to ignore it, but the small shivers down your spine beat you to it.

Your pace was placed at a jog, wanting to get away from the whispers that hid in the dark area. You made sure to jump over the small pits of spikes that were placed in that area, making sure you have momentum to jump.

Eventually, you made it to the end of the level. There was no bonus room this time, so you just exited out of the level. Walking forward, you made it to the final level of the pumpkin area.

The level represented a giant skull, giving a haunting detail in this area. Its sockets glowed a bright light as it was aimed at you, noticing that it was following you.

Entering the level, you were transported to an underground level. The area was still dark, but the candles helped illuminate the path for you.

While walking, you noticed that there were no enemies. No boo’s, no piranha plants, no goomba's with hockey masks. Just the sound of your footsteps.

It was starting to get slightly uncomfortable, wondering why there were no enemies that were supposed to be present in this level. You quietly huffed to yourself as you moved forward.

The sounds of your footsteps weren’t the only thing making sounds now; the whispers were back again. You could feel your heartbeat slowly picking up speed, but you had to keep calm.

Following the path, the whispers made themselves present as they became louder, filling the dark area. Keeping a jogging pace, you felt yourself stopped as you heard a familiar voice.

The sounds of the monochromatic Mario chuckles filled the room. Next thing you know, you hear footsteps walking towards you.

Without hesitation, you booked it.

His haunting chuckles emitted from the shadows, watching you run amused him. He liked keeping you on your toes, but he would’ve loved to find you caught off guard.

The footsteps were becoming louder, as if they were right behind you. Your mouth was kept shut, not wanting to scream or yell out in fear.

You wanted to sigh in relief as you saw a pipe a few feet away from you. Without looking back, you quickly emerged into the pipe. Emerging to the next area, you rested against the wall.

As you tried to catch, you barely dodged the incoming fireball that was aimed towards you. ‘Can’t catch a break in this area…’

Getting up from the ground, the sounds of the witch’s cackles echoed in the room. In the middle were three cauldrons that were covered with lids. Waiting for the witch to appear, you hopped on one of the cauldrons.

The witch then appeared and aimed a fireball at you, but you dodged it and jumped on the witch's head, signifying the first hit. She disappeared as you waited for the next pattern.

While waiting for her, you jumped over the fireball and jumped on her head again, getting the second hit in. She disappeared once more.

As you waited for her to appear again, the sounds of the monochromic Mario distorted chuckles filled the room, causing everything to drop into your stomach.

Was he in the room?

Was he in the shadows?

Was he hiding in one of these cauldrons?

You really didn’t care yet you should. You frantically looked around the room for the witch, same with the shape-shifting Mario.

‘Can this witch hurry up so I can get this coin?!’

Your wish was answered as she appeared one last time. You quickly jumped on her head, signifying the third and final hit as she disappeared.

You watched as one of the cauldrons shook, popping the cover off as the fourth coin hopped out of it. Quickly, you put the coin in your inventory as bolted out of level.

You ran out of the pumpkin area as you rushed your way to the mushroom house. Opening the door, you nearly tripped inside the house, but you caught yourself and slammed the door shut.

Quickly hopping on the bed, you faced forward on the closed door. You didn’t even notice that it was nighttime already, only keeping your eyes on the door.

The sounds of your heartbeat ringed in your non-existed ears as you kept your eyes on the door. You really didn't care if the room was pitch black, you just sat on the bed.

Quietly, you tucked your limbs into your hoodie, not taking your eyes off the door. You were glad that the hoodie was big enough.

While sitting in the darkness, the sounds of knocking on the door caused you to jump. You tried to control your breathing as the knocking continued. It was getting louder as it now banged on the wall.

As you kept watch on the door, you didn’t notice that your whole body was surrounded by a yellow hue. The power star was protecting you; yet you didn't notice it.

You just continued to stare at the door all night, knowing eventually that you were going to pass out from exhaustion.

Chapter Text

The sounds of birds chirping can be heard in the distance. Golden rays from the sun seeped through the blinds through the window. During the night, you passed out.

You felt your eyes slowly opening, covering your face from the morning light. An exhausted groan emitted from you as you looked around the room. Everything was the same.

The uncanny Mario didn’t do anything, seeing that it left a long time ago. The feeling of dehydration and hunger was getting to you, hearing a grumble in your stomach.

Your skin felt cold and dry. Your vision was a bit fuzzy, but you could still see. Slowly stretching your limbs, the small pops from your joints were emitted, you made your way to the bathroom.

The feeling of your skin felt clammy and boney, feeling the cold breeze when entering the bathroom. You decided to take a warm shower, wanting to get out of the sweaty clothes.

A sigh of relaxation escaped your lips, feeling the warm droplets rapidly hit your body. After cleaning yourself up, you put on some clean clothes and place the dirty ones in the washer.

Sitting back on the bed, you took out some snacks from your inventory. A faint smile formed on your lips as you enjoyed the snack, knowing that you had to get more when you start back on your mission.

While mindlessly crunching the food, your eyes made your way to the door. The same door you watched all night before you passed out. You had an odd feeling that it would still be there.

‘I wonder how long he was there for? When did I pass out?’

Finishing the snacks, you took the lightly drenched clothes out of the washer and put it in the dryer. Setting the time, you made your way to the door, this would be your first time adventuring without your hoodie.

You hesitantly raised your hand to grab the doorknob, an uneasy feeling shivers down your spine. ‘He couldn't be out here, right? He wouldn’t stay in that same spot all night…’

Taking a deep breath, slowly exhaling, you opened the door. No one was there. The sun shone down on the area, hearing the soft wave crash from the ocean.

You looked around the area, seeing that everything felt normal. Slowly exiting out of the house, you felt a sigh of relief. Closing the door, you made your way to the next zone area.

Your footsteps were silent as you stepped on the dirt of the area, only hearing certain things in the area that were familiar to you. A feeling of anxiety creeped in your mind, feeling that you were being watched.

Walking past the other levels, you came across a giant toy statue that represented Mario. The statue happily moved around in one spot. The sign next to it was written. ‘The Mario Zone’

Entering the level, you were placed in the robot. The number of gears and tubes filled the area, signifying the structure inside. Looking forward, you saw that the level didn’t continue that far.

‘Looks like I have to travel upwards' you thought as you jumped on the first gear, making your way upwards on the multiple gears.

Going upwards, you collected the coins that floated in the area. You jumped on the koopa troppa’s that walked slowly in the area, collecting more coins.

Finally reaching the top, you looked down in the area, an uneasy feeling sank in your stomach. The goal was on the bottom, telling you that you had to climb down.

A sharp exhale escaped your lips as you carefully made yourself down, avoiding the ball of spikes that floated in the area. Once you finally reached the bottom, you reached the goal.

Making your way through the pipe, you expected to enter a bonus room, but you didn’t. You were placed in a dark room, the anxious feeling was back. Goosebumps littered your arms as you heard your nearly frantic heartbeat starting to ring.

You stood in the same spot for a good minute before you saw a sentence filled with white light plastered in front of you. ‘You’re still here I see… I’m surprised that you made it this far…’

The voice of the monochromic Mario echoed in the voided room. ‘You came this far into the game. A single toad… Very impressive… Nobody has made this far into my game…’

Its voice was filled with a mix of surprise and mockery. You heard a hum emit from you as you felt your body enveloped in a golden yellow hue, barely lighting up the room.

“What do you want from me? Are you trying to stop me from your game?” you question, hearing the slight frustration in your voice. An evil chuckle echoed in the room.

‘Yes, but at the same time, I want to see if you complete it… You only need two coins to finish the game, and you’ll be set free…’ You were silent for a moment before you spoke.

“You want to see me complete it, yet all this time, you’ve been going after me. You’re trying to make me go insane from all your antics. The shapeshifting, the banging, fake animals. You were trying to find a way for me to quit this game”

The entity was silent for a moment, amused that you’ve caught on to his tricks. He hummed when he saw a golden hue surrounding your body. He emitted a chuckle before speaking.

‘I see that you’ve caught on… Very impressive… How about this? Give up now, and I’ll give you what your heart desires’ As he finished speaking, he slowly inched his gloved hand towards you.

Frustration completely filled you, softly scoffing at his words. “Why would I do that when I'm close to beating your game? I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’m not taking any chances”

Your words echoed in the dark room, hearing the disappointed hum from the being. You then heard a yell of pain from the entity. Turning around, its long, boney arm was slightly black. The barrier from the power star seemed to burn its hand. 

You watched its hand retract back into the darkness. A small smile formed when you looked at the light barrier. ‘How did you do that? Fine, have it your way…’

As the words disappear into the darkness, you were transported out of the voided room. You were placed on top of the toy statue, seeing that it was the final level of this zone.

You wanted to question why you skipped two levels before this, but you just shrugged and entered the level. You were transported into a blocky area, reminding you of legos.

The area was light and filled with joy, but you knew deep down that the monochrome entity was around. You made sure to duck under the bullet bills and hopped over the small pits of spikes.

Continuing forward, you see the flying bullet bills coming to a stop. They instantly turned themselves to stare at you, seeing a family pearly white smile from the entity.

Changing the pace, you used your fire flower to destroy the incoming bullets. You focused on running towards the pipe, making sure to dodge or jump over the remaining enemies.

The sounds of rapid footsteps chases after you, seeing that the enemies had the same smile plastered on their faces as well. Summoning a fireball, you keep it on you, making some of the power star's energy enter the fire ball, making it enlarged.

Making it to the pipe, you stopped and threw the giant fireball at the enemies, the sounds of multiple coins from the defeated enemies ringed in the air.

Entering the boss level, you see small houses hanging from the ceiling. Its design represented the three little piggies' houses. The sounds of oinks echoed in the area as each pig popped out of their houses.

They used their bodies to form into a ball-like structure and bounced throughout the room. Using the fire flower, you aimed multiple fireballs at the piggies, the sounds of their pain echoed in the room.

Once they disappeared, the fifth coin emerged from the small stick house. Collecting the coin and putting it in your inventory, you quickly exited out of the level zone.

“Just one more coin and I’ll be done with this. How am I supposed to help this ‘Mario’ join me?” your words come to a stop when you hear a rattling noise from the statue. 

The statue's pearly blue eyes were turned black, its limbs breaking out of its restricted movement, turning towards you. It opened its mouth, hearing the entity's menacing laughter before it started to move towards you.

You quickly ran away from the possessed toy statue, its heavy footsteps boomed in the air, wanting to capture you. Firing multiple fireballs at it, you saw that it did some damage, but not enough. 

The path was coming to an end as you see that it led to the ocean. “This is the only way…” you muttered as you dived into the ocean. Quickly looking up, the statue showed anger.

It stood there for a moment before walking away. Coming to the surface, you catched your breath, looking around to see if there was a way to get out of the water.

You then see a giant shadow loom over you, it was a turtle statue. Before you could utter a word, you were swallowed by the turtle, enveloping you in darkness.

You felt yourself being transported underwater again. The golden barrier surrounded you, making you able to breathe. A sigh escaped your lips.

‘The final area had to be water levels. Great…’

You had a love-hate relationship with water levels from the various Mario games you played. Gently rubbing your face, you made your way into the first water level of the final area.

Chapter Text

Entering the first level, you see that the level took place underwater. You were glad that the powerstar formed a barrier around you as you dived into the water, making you breathe underwater.

Grabbing a fire flower, you aimed the withering fireballs at the fishes that roamed the sea, you made sure to dodge the sharks, seeing that the fireballs didn’t phase them.

You swam to the surface, seeing that you were nearly halfway in this level. Ducking back underwater, you grabbed the coins that mindlessly float in the water.

‘I hope there’s a shop I can use when this level is over’

Continuing to swim deeper, you maneuver your way through different obstacles that blocked certain paths. You started to swim slowly, seeing that more sharks started to appear.

You looked up, seeing the goal sign that hangs over the surface, making you quickly swim into the hole. Emerging out of the water, you were completely dry from underwater, seeing that the powerstar helped you.

Entering the dark, you sigh with relief when you enter a bonus level with a shop. Buying some snacks, you paid for it before heading out of the shop.

Emerging out of the level, the second level was in an abandoned submarine. It looked like it’s been there for years. Once you entered the level, it took place inside of it.

Walking through the hallways, your footsteps echoed distantly on the metal floors. Inside, you noticed that the walls and windows didn’t look damaged at all. The echoes of your footsteps come to a stop when you see a body of water.

A soft huff flowed from your lips as you dived into the water, seeing a soft yellow barrier surround you. Swimming further down into the water, you avoided the spikes that stuck to the ground.

A muffling rumble can be heard as you see the angry eyes of a bullet bill shot straight at you, making you narrowly dodge the projectile.

You began to swim a bit faster, seeing that the next direction was to swim up. Getting to the surface, you vaulted over the floating blocks, seeing that you could take a different path.

Vaulting over the koopa troopas, you traveled upwards in the ship, seeing that you were at the half-point of the level. You sighed when you had to go into a pipe that led underwater.

You made sure to go through the right pipes that led closer to the goal, hoping that you were able to go through the right ones. ‘Why are there so many pipes in this level…?’

After finally passing through many pipes later, you finally found the end of the level. Enter the dark room, it was the claw machine bonus room. You wanted to get something, but at the same time, you didn’t really need anything.

Taking your chances, you were able to get fifty gold coins from the machine. Shrugging at the prize you placed the coins in your inventory before exiting out of the level.

Making your way to the third and final level, you formed a deadpan expression as you saw that the third level was going to be inside a sleeping whale. ‘You have got to be kidding me…’

Staring at the sleeping mammal, you let out a sharp exhale before entering the level. Your body shivered in disgust as you traversed the insides. As you swim deeper, you see small robots walking around the whale.

You wondered why there were robots looking through the whale, but you just shrugged and went about your business. You collected the coins as you saw that you were already halfway through the level.

Jumping onto the floating blocks, you avoided the koopa troopas once more, you finally found the pipe that led you to the boss battle. You were still underwater as you saw a bag that was about your height.

You watched it move around a bit as a small squid with an angry expression float out of the bag. As it got closer, it tried to attack but as soon as its tentacle touched your yellow barrier, you defeated it.

You stood motionless as you watched the squid poofed away as you tried to cover your mouth, wanting to stop the upcoming chuckles from you.

The bag started to glow as the final coin jumped out. Grabbing the coin, you stared at it for a while. ‘This is the last coin. I wonder what I’m gonna have to face…’

Placing the final coin in your inventory, you quickly exit out of the level. Completing the area, you found your way up to get on the platforms. Setting foot on the land, you heard the sound of thunder coming from the distance.

Turning towards the noise, you see a giant castle that emerged from the ground. It loomed over all the levels as a dark cloud floated above from it. Knowing that this was the final boss of the game, you made your way there.

While walking, you weren't able to get to know the entity of the Mario that roamed in this dimension. This was the first person that tried to scare you, maybe even trying to kill you.

You also noticed that there was a chance that you might not get home after this dimension, knowing that the next dimension is going to be worse than this one.

“Maybe there are some people you can’t bring to your home…” you muttered to yourself as you finally made it to the giant door that blocked your way from entering.

The door represented a snake opening its mouth with the name of the game carved onto it. Surrounding it was six holes, seeing that you had to use the coins to enter the level.

Taking out the six coins, you placed them in their represented holes, placing them in order from level to level. Placing the final coin, the ground began to shake as the giant door began to slowly open.

You stood there looking inside the area, it was pitch black in the inside. The sound of a familiar laugh caught your interest, it didn’t belong to the monochromic Mario.

Taking a deep breath and slowly exhaling, you went inside.

Looking around, the atmosphere was silent, cold. Even walking through the place, it was still dark. The only light you had was the light beaming from the giant windows.

In the distance, you hear multiple humming that belongs to machines. Before you know it, you see multiple energy balls aimed right at you. You were able to dodge some of them, but quickly fired a fireball at the beam, canceling it out.

‘Great… Now I have to look out for lasers and energy beams. What is this, DBZ?’

Dodging the incoming lasers, you quickly vaulted over the statues that shoot out the lasers, making sure to watch your step. Going through a pipe, you narrowly ducked under an incoming wrecking ball.

You quickly placed your hand onto your chest, feeling your quickened heartbeat. Trying to calm yourself down, you carefully timed the heavy swings from the wrecking ball. When the time was right, you quickly rolled under it, running to the other side.

You muttered with annoyance as you saw that you had to travel upwards. With determination, you quickly climbed up the platforms that led you higher off the ground.

Making it to the next floor, you felt the temperature rise up, making you freeze at the next obstacles. What laid in front was pools of molten hot lava. The only thing to travel safely was the small platforms that floated above it.

A sigh of frustration escaped your lips as you carefully jumped on the small platform. You carefully kept your balance, not wanting to fall in the lava pits.

As the platform went on, you carefully jumped on the next one, making sure to lay still on it. Small beads of sweat started to slowly drip from your forehead, making you wipe it off.

You swallowed the lump in your throat as you carefully jumped to the end of the hallway, thanking yourself that you passed the lava pits. Laying on the cold, hard ground, the laughter from before can be heard again.

Controlling your breathing, you went into the pipe that led up to the doors of the final boss. “This is it. I’m finally beating this horrific game” you pushed the doors open, revealing the boss.

Looking at the boss, your eyes widened at the boss. Its wide smile, spiky mustache with a big pink nose can be shown. It wore purple overalls and a yellow shirt with green elf shoes.

“Wario?”

Your confused words made the man emit the loud laughter as he sat up from his chair. “Yes. It is I, Wario! I can’t believe a single toad made it through the whole game without losing!” he announced with a mocking tone.

A smirk formed on his mouth as he watched you take guard. Jumping from his chair, he landed heavily on the ground, making the entire room shake.

You knew that it was going to be easy. Just three hits and he’s gone. He began to rush towards you, but you quickly jumped in the air and jumped on his head. “Thats one”

His face wore an angered expression before charging at you again. A confident smile formed your lips as you vaulted over him again, hitting his head again. “That’s two”

He emitted a pained scream as his face started to show red. He became frustrated as he saw the smirk on your face. Steam emitted from his nostrils before he quickly charged towards you even faster.

You couldn’t jump over him because of his speed. Watching him come closer, you maneuvered yourself out of the way from him, making him crash to the brick wall.

Doing the third and last hit in his head, his body started to glitch. You were about to celebrate the easy boss battle, but it came to a stop. His body fell to the ground, making the atmosphere go quiet.

A confused expression formed on your face as you watched him lay lifelessly on the ground. ‘Isn’t he supposed to poof away?’ you thought as your eyes began to widen.

His body started to change. The sounds of his bones began to crack as his body grew slightly bigger. His appearance appeared to be glitching before his skin turned all white. His clothing turned black and white as you watched his body stand from the ground.

“No… It can’t be…” You watched the Wario body change as its head shape started to form into a Mario shaped head. He looked up from the ground to stare at you with the familiar wide smile.

His piercing black eyes stared into your soul, emitting the haunting chuckle from your shocked expression. “It’s good to see you again,” standing up tall, his monochrome form was present.

“Sleepy…”

Chapter Text

The tall, menacing figure loomed over you with a wide smile, showing his pearly white teeth as white outlined circles for eyes stared down right through your soul.

"What do you want from me?! Why won't you let me finish the game?!" you questioned, feeling your frustration rise up. Your words only earned you a deep chuckle that echoed in the room.

"Because you're the only one that has made it this far. Especially for a toad. All my victims had fallen throughout the game. Nobody has set foot into this castle" he replied, his deep voice booming in the room.

He stepped closer a few steps, crouching down as you took guard, not knowing what trick he was about to pull. "You're different. You stood your ground and fought your way through the entire game"

You watch his eyes narrow when he sees the familiar yellow glow surrounding your body. A low hum was emitted from him as he lifted a finger and tried to touch the barrier, only feeling the familiar heat from before.

"What is that protecting you? You think you're going to defeat me with that?!" he let out a sinister chuckle before he tried to throw his giant fist towards you. With quickness, you were able to dodge the attack.

There was a chance that you had the advantage, seeing that he couldn't keep up with your small figure. Running under his legs, you charged up a fireball with the powerstar and fired it on its ankle.

You had never used the powerstar in full combat, but now was the time for you to learn it.

He let out a pain grunt before he slammed the palm of his hand to ground, creating a huge dent in the brick ground. Lifting his hand, he saw that you weren't there.

Quickly looking around the room, he felt a sharp pain on the back of his knees, making him nearly buckle to the ground. Hearing your quick footsteps echo in the room, he swatted his hand when the sounds came closer.

As his hand made contact, you were slammed onto the brick wall. You hissed in pain but quickly got back up, the barrier taking most of the damage. Running towards him, you continued to aim powerful fireballs at his legs.

'I need him to collapse to the ground, it'll probably be easier, but I have to be careful' As you spoke to yourself, you felt more of the powerstars energy flow into you, making you gain more speed.

The monochromic Mario grumbled with anger as he tried to aim an attack on you, but with your quickness, he couldn't catch up. His eyes widened when you jumped with great height and landed a punch on his lower jaw.

You watched his body slid back a few feet from the blow, feeling the area shake as the Mario caught himself on the wall. His black lit with rage as he raised his hand, making you take guard.

"Not bad of a punch, pipsqueak" he mocked as he summoned a black fireball from his giant hand. Cocking his hand back, he threw it towards you. You weren't able to dodge it as you raised your arms to cover yourself.

You let out a pained grunt as you felt the burning attack, you felt yourself being pushed back, but the barrier brightened, making you deflect it. The fireball crashed into the walls, making the entire castle shake.

Looking down on your arms, you see burn marks plastered on your arms. But you noticed that the star was slowly healing you. You hear a low hum as he starts to charge up another fireball.

Taking the advantage, you aimed small fireballs with one hand at his face, distracting him a bit as you started to charge up a blast with your other hand. He grumbled with annoyance as he tried to stomp his feet on the ground.

You were quick to jump from the ground, making sure that you didn't trip from his stomps. The castle began to shake as the bricks on the ceiling started to fall to the ground.

'I have to get out of here! If he continues this, this whole castle is gonna crash down on both of us!'

When it was the right time, you fired a powered-up blast towards him. He smirked when he threw the fireball at the beam, making them clash.

The attacks began to push each other back, making you both struggle. The monochromatic Mario fully stood up and added more force to his attack, making it go closer to you.

Gritting your teeth, you slowly felt the burning heat coming closer, making you put more force into the blast. Your body began to slowly push back, but with confidence, you slammed your foot to the ground, making you stay in place.

You felt a new feeling of anger as you stared at him, making his smirk falter. Before he could utter a word, you placed your other hand onto the hand that fired the blast and put more power to it.

The energy beam glowed brighter as it began to push back the enemies attack, making his eyes widen. "How are you doing this?! You can't beat me!" he yelled as he tried to push back.

Your blast was able to make the fireball disappear as it now made contact with the entity. A roar of pain echoed in the castle as the walls began to crumble from his weight from being pushed back.

He crashed into the wall as the powerful blast blew him out of the castle. His body flew into the air as he crashed into the ocean, making water splash everywhere from afar.

Your heartbeat ranged in your non-existent ear as you tried to control your breathing. Black smoke flowed out of your hand as you stared at it. It was covered in black gunk with soft burn marks on your hands.

Deep down, you knew that this wasn't over. Just in case, you began to charge up another blast, but you placed your hand behind your back, making sure that he doesn't see it.

You stood there in silence, waiting for something to happen. You stared out into the opening of the gaping hole on the wall, hearing some of the bricks fall to the ground but you stayed focused.

A minute had passed as you heard a loud rumble echo outside. It grew louder and violent as the uncanny Mario emerged out of the water. His face was messed up but showed his pearly whites.

His white overalls were now burnt with black in his chest area from his blast. Taking a closer look, you eyes widened in shock as you see a gaping hole through his chest. 'How is he even alive?"

Your thoughts were interrupted when you saw his body go entirely ink black. His body formed into a giant glob as it finally landed on the surface. It was surrounded in his flesh, seeing multiple eyes emerging out of them.

A haunting laugh was emitted from the blob as it rushed its way back to the castle. It destroyed everything in its way, tearing down multiple buildings without a care.

As it came closer, you fired the blast once more, making the ball of flesh yell out. It was stunned for a bit before it rushed back to the castle. You looked around to try to find an opening to escape the rampage, but there was none to be seen.

Getting an idea, your hand glowed with power as you punched the wall behind you, making an escape. You were quick to get away as you heard the castle going down into ruins.

The black ball of flesh chased you around the area, making sure not to trip. It then summoned black tendrils from its body, grabbing buildings from all around and throwing them at you.

The only thing you could do was run and dodge the incoming projectiles. At the same time, you placed your hands in front of you, no other choice but to charge up a bigger blast.

'This is going to take a while. I have to make sure that this attack will defeat him!' Your thoughts were interrupted when you felt a tendril smack you away, making you tumble to the ground.

You were determined to keep the attack charging. Quickly getting up, you continued to run a far distance from him, but you hissed when you were slightly limping, making your speed falter.

It let out a distorted laugh before you were once again smacked with the tendril, making you crash into a mushroom house. You felt excruciating pain everywhere in your body, feeling a single tear flow down your face,

Your breathing was getting heavier, making you cough a red substance. It was your blood. You would've never thought about coughing up your own blood, making more tears stream down your face.

Gritting your teeth with anger, you felt the powerstar giving you more energy, making the charged-up blast grow brighter and bigger. You were completely surrounded in a bright yellow glow as you watched the entity rush quicker towards you.

Slowly getting up from the ground, you felt yourself buckle but you were able to stand down. Once the entity came closer to your range, putting your hands together, you fired all your strength into the glowing blast right through its dismembered face.

The air got heavier as the blast began to break down the glob, making a pained screech emit from its mouth. You watched the blast fire into the air, watching it glow in the night sky.

"No! You can't do this to me! I can't die here!" a heavy distorted voice yelled out before the entire blob exploded, black substance painting the entire area.

You fell to the ground, catching yourself as you felt your burning hands touch the destroyed ground. You calmed yourself down as you felt the powerstar powered down.

The only thing that could be heard was your labored breaths. 'I... I did it... I actually defeated it...'

With the small strength you had left, you sat on the ground, leaning back against the nearly destroyed wall. You felt dirty. Dirt, gunk and dried up blood plastered on your body, emitting a uncomfortable groan.

You lifted your hands to see that some of the burn marks have been healed, seeing the scars lightly plastered on your small hands. You thanked the powerstar for helping you with this battle.

Then suddenly, a frown formed on your lips. You weren't able to help him. Study what was wrong with him. What angered him. Realization then hits you.

You killed someone.

Never in your life have you ever thought of killing someone with your own hands. You didn't acknowledge the tears streaming down your face, too exhausted to wipe them off.

'I couldn't help him... '

As you sit still in the destroyed mushroom house, you see a white orb emerge from the remains of the blob. It flew closer to you, your dull eyes stared at it with confusion.

When the orb comes closer, you see someone inside of it, being the monochromatic Mario. Placing your hand out, it landed gently on your hand. The Mario was back to its normal form from when you first met him.

You heard him speak in a low tone, barely hearing how defeated his words were. "You're the first to defeat me... Beaten by a toad..."

His words didn't phase you, too tired to even say anything. How are you supposed to bring him back? Can you even help him?

Looking around, the entire house was in ruins. But the kitchen was barely intact. Finding the energy to stand up, you limped around the kitchen area, seeing if there was a way to keep the soul of the entity.

Looking through some of the damaged cabinets, you were able to find a small jar. You were surprised that it didn't break as you slowly headed back to where the soul floated.

Sitting back down, you raised your hand to let the soul land on it before placing it into the jar. Closing it up, you stared at it for a while. 'Looks like it's going to be the only way for me to take him back to my world...'

As a matter of fact, you didn't even know if you were going home after this dimension.

Placing the jar beside you, your dull eyes stared into the gentle glow of the moon, the only light that shined down on the now destroyed game area.

Your body was starting to slowly shut down from exhaustion, emitting a tired exhale before closing your eyes. Falling asleep in the aftermath of destruction.

Chapter Text

The entire game area was in ruins. Buildings were damaged, debris littered everywhere, covering the green grass. Some of the ground was burnt, making the atmosphere more heated. The sky held no sun, just a dark sky, leaving a depressing feeling.

Even when everything was in damage, there was still a mushroom house that wasn’t damaged by the event, which was your house. Inside laid the small boo that’s been with you for a while.

It floated around the bedroom area, wondering where you were. It felt nervous that you weren’t back home yet, seeing that you’ve been gone for hours. The boo decided to look outside, seeing if it can find you.

Flying through the walls, a confused expression laced its face as it saw the unknown destruction that was surrounding the house. The usual cheery world was now dark, depressing, as if this place was abandoned.

Floating around, soft crackles of small fires could be heard from its non-existent ears, thinking who could destroy such a beautiful scenery. The atmosphere was cold, the more it traveled, the more it could find destroyed buildings and homes.

A foul odor can be smelled in the stale air, but it didn’t bother the small ghost. It then came across a huge splatter of a black substance, it lightly bubbled, affecting the grass with it.

It also found a red substance that lightly littered the grass, seeing that it was blood. Their black eyes widened in fear, hoping that the blood didn’t belong to yours. Continuing to move forward in a hurry, they see a similar mushroom house up ahead, but half of it was destroyed.

The house was in shambles as black smoke was lightly moving in the air, as if a fire was put out. Once they came closer, they saw an unconscious body lying on the ground next to a jar.

It was you.

The boo hurried by your side. Cuts, bruises and burned marks littered your body. Dried up blood, grime and dirt littered your skin. On your stomach was the blood you coughed up earlier before passing out. It placed their small, cold hand on your neck, hoping to find a pulse.

A few seconds had passed as the boo sighed in relief, finding a faint pulse. Their small hands continued to travel carefully on your body, seeing which body part needed bandages.

Once it came to your hands, the evidence of black gunk with burned marks was present. ‘They used the power star! How much did they use? What were they fighting?’

Gently placing your hands on your stomach, they see a jar that lightly glowed on the ground. Picking it up, they see a familiar figure, the features of a Mario. The small entity sat in the glass, not caring who was staring at him.

Putting the jar down, they looked around the kitchen area to see if there was anything left that could help you. Looking into each cabinet and drawers, they found nothing but broken glass.

The boo floated for a bit, pondering what it wanted to do next. They could try to pick you up and carry you back to the house, but they didn’t want to risk opening up your wounds. They didn’t want to make double trips back from the house to here.

Coming to a decision, they decided to bring you back home base. They picked up the jar and placed them inside their bodies, knowing that they could carry things with them.

They placed their small hands under your body, making sure that you didn’t feel any discomfort; even though you were still unconscious. Getting a good grip, they slowly and carefully started to make their way to the house.

Still looking at your wounds, they noticed that some of them were healed, knowing that the power star helped healed them. But they could still see some cuts and bruises that weren’t even healed yet.

After a few moments of flying, they see the house in the distance, exhaling a sigh of relief as they flew a bit quicker. Arriving at the front, they quietly opened the door and entered, making sure to close the door behind them.

They gently placed you on the bed, making sure you were comfortable. Taking the jar out of their body, they placed it on a small dresser next to you, knowing that it was important for you to keep.

Going to the kitchen, they found some bandages and alcohol. Getting some clean tissues, they carefully cleaned your wounds, hoping you didn’t wake up from the burning product. Silently cleaning your wounds, they wrapped cleaned bandages everywhere.

Your fingers, hands, arms, forehead, legs, torso, neck, etc.

A gentle smile was expressed as they finally bandaged you up, making sure to place small band aids on your cheek. Cleaning up their mess, they put the items back in the kitchen before they floated back to you.

There was a calming atmosphere in the house, glad to have you bandaged and having you safe in bed. Since they were in a video game, they decided to take a look in your inventory.

You had hundreds of gold coins and some food. They noticed that the six coins you were supposed to collect were gone, seeing that they made it to the final area. They wanted to know if you actually beat the game.

Deciding to look outside, knowing that the house was close to the giant castle, they saw that it was destroyed. Multiple gaping holes were made, seeing that this was where the destruction started.

On top of the ruined castle was a white flag with written words of ‘END’ on it, signifying that you beat the whole game. The boo was in relief that you beat the game, now you can finally rest.

An idea formed up as they took the hundreds of gold coins in your inventory. Leaving the base, they decided to get some supplies that they needed. They knew that there was a small shop near the beginning of the level.

After some traveling, they found the shop, but it was abandoned from the events that took over a while ago. They purchased some food and healing items, wanting to be prepared just in case that you weren’t going home after this dimension.

Even though there was nobody here, they still paid a responsive number of coins, not knowing if the person who managed the small shop was coming back. Making the trip back to the house, they placed the items in your inventory.

Looking at the bed, they see you still unconscious on your bed with layers of bandages on your body. Floating above you, they laid next to you, gently snuggling against your arm.

Even though that boo’s didn’t need any sleep, they decided to take the peaceful moment you both had and rested.

Chapter Text

There was a gentle breeze that blew into the air, giving it a calm atmosphere in the land of destruction. After some time, you finally opened your eyes.

Your vision was hazy, barely seeing the things that were on the ceiling. Your body was still as you pondered about what had happened before you passed out.

All you remembered was putting the soul of the monochromatic Mario in the jar as you blacked out in one of the destroyed mushroom houses. The only thing you could feel was the soft bed that you didn’t remember being here.

‘How did I get here…?’

You tried to move any parts of your body, but they’ve barely moved on the bed. The only thing you could move was your eyes. You felt the dryness of them, seeing that you probably slept for a long time.

Looking around the area, you see that you were back at the house from the start of the game. You were glad that this house wasn't destroyed, knowing that the rest of the land was in ruins.

You felt a slight coolness on your left arm, making you direct your eyes to see that it was the small boo. It snuggled against your arms, seeing that it had fallen asleep.

You also noticed that most of your body was wrapped in layers of bandages. Finding the low courage, you finally lifted one of your hands towards your face. It was one of the limbs that were the most bandaged.

The bandages left soft pink spots on them, seeing that it was almost time to change them. You let out a silent exhale as you slowly lifted your hands to the bed, wanting to lift yourself up.

The process was slow and painful. You felt pain everywhere on your body, limbs shaking from the stimulation of being used, knowing that they needed to heal before they could be used.

After some time had passed, you finally were in a new position as you sat up on the bed. You slowly groaned in pain as your back was thumping in pain, wanting to move once more.

Letting out a shaky exhale, you slowly moved yourself against the wall, placing your back against it. Getting comfortable, you sighed in relief. Your hands traveled slowly around your body.

‘Did the ghost apply these bandages on me?’

While you were moving, the small boo was still asleep, watching its body rise slowly up and down. Slowly lifting your hand, you gently petted the small ghost, emitting a silent chuckle as it leaned against your hand.

‘You know, I should probably give you a name… You’ve been traveling with me for a while now…’

You were left to your thoughts, trying to come up with a name that would fit its appearance. ‘I’m gonna call you cloud… It’s a simple name, but I like it’

Staring at the small boo, you watched it move slowly on the bed, seeing that it was trying to wake up. It floated a few inches off the bed as its eyes squinted. Rubbing its eyes, it smiled brightly when it finally saw that you’ve awoken.

It gently tackled you into a hug, it showed a joyful expression, seeing that it was happy that you’ve finally awoken. You gave them a gentle smile as you embraced the boo, not able to speak for a bit.

Cloud emitted a small giggle before placing their small, cold hand on your arm. ‘You’re finally awake! You’ve been resting for quite a while now’

You replied with a gentle nod before replying. ‘Yeah. I noticed that I was wrapped in bandages as well. Did you do this?’ The boo replied with a nod. ‘Thank you, I’m glad that you were able to look for me’

While you were battling the uncanny Mario figure, you noticed that Cloud could’ve been in danger from the rampage and energy blasts. Your thoughts came to an end as the small boo gave you a gentle nudge.

‘You feeling alright? You looked lost for a moment’ Cloud noticed, seeing that you haven't spoken for a bit. ‘I’m alright. I’m just glad that you’re safe…’

Your voice was raspy, feeling the dryness. You sound so exhausted from the battle. The eye bags under your eyes started to lighten up, but they were still dark.

‘How are you feeling Cloud?’ you asked, wanting to break the silence. The small boo titled its head, wondering why you’ve given it a name. ‘You’ve given me a name? Boo’s really don’t have any names…’

‘I know. I just wanted to give you a name because you’ve been travelling with me for a while, you deserved a name. Do you like the name Cloud?’

The small boo pondered for a bit before a joyful expression laced their face. ‘I love it! I finally have a name!’ Cloud emitted a joyful laugh, hearing it gently echo in the house. The light moment was disrupted by the sounds of your stomach grumbling.

It’s been a few days since you’ve last eaten anything. ‘While you were unconscious, I took the rest of the gold coins from the inventory and went to get some supplies. Also, I wanted to congratulate you that you’ve beaten the game!’

Your eyes widened at the words, seeing that you almost forgot when you were battling the final boss of the game. Now that you noticed, the soul of the Mario that was placed in the jar wasn’t here.

Looking in your inventory, you see plenty of food and water. You were left with a bit of gold coins, seeing that they were used to get supplies. You also saw that the jar wasn’t there as well.

You felt a gentle tap on your shoulder from Cloud as they pointed to the dresser across from you. There was the jar that had the monochromic Mario in. It was sitting in the jar with its back turned to you.

‘He’s been sitting in that same position for a while now, probably ever since you captured him…’ Cloud muttered as they turned to you. ‘I’m gonna change your bandages and then you can eat’

Giving them a nod, you carefully lift your arms and legs as they unwrap the used bandages and replace them with new ones. Looking at your slightly healed wounds, you noticed some permanent scars that were finished healing.

As soon as you return home, knowing that you probably wouldn’t be going after this dimension, you knew that everyone in your dimension would probably want you to stay.

After the newly wrapped bandages were applied, you thanked Cloud as they threw away the old ones. Going in your inventory, you took out some snacks and a bottle of water.

You felt your energy being replenished, feeling the cool water flowing through your body. Cloud was happy that you finally were able to eat. You asked if they wanted any, but they politely declined.

Once you were finished, Cloud threw away your thrash as you stared at the dresser across from you. You emitted a raspy cough as you deeply inhaled and exhaled.

‘Can you hand me the jar?’ Cloud gave you a nod as they carefully grabbed the jar and handed it to you. Carefully rotating the jar, you see the silent Mario looking up at you, as if he was waiting for you to speak.

‘I wonder what I should call you…’

It seems that he could hear you as they slowly sat up to give you your attention. ‘You can call me GB…’

Chapter Text

The monochromatic Mario had spoken, a hum was emitted from your lips as you continued to study him. “What made you become like this?” you questioned.

GB sat there in the jar, pondering if he should tell what he is and what he wanted. Letting out a sigh, he had no choice but to talk, seeing that he would probably be stuck in the jar for a while.

“I’m an entity that wonders in this game. I first came from Mario Land, and then I came to Mario Land 2 to haunt this game.” he explained in a monotonic tone. “I mimic myself to look like a Mario, so I can blend in when people play my game”

An acknowledged hum escaped your lips as you felt Cloud sitting next to you, wanting to see who this other Mario was. “Has anyone ever beaten your game besides me?” you wanted to know if anyone has ever defeated him.

“There was one girl that came close to beating my game… She was at the beginning stages of the final area. She came close to encounter the ‘Wario’ of the game, but she wasn’t strong enough”

‘So she was that close… Would I be able to beat him if I didn’t have the powerstar?’

More questions began to flow through your mind, wanting to ask him more questions. But at the same time, you didn’t want to overwhelm him. “What made you come up with the name ‘GB’? It’s a cool name” you complimented.

The monochromatic Mario’s body was slightly shaking, as if he was chuckling. “I named myself ‘GB’ because it can stand for ‘Game Boy’; since both Mario land games were on the game boy. There’s another which is called ‘Golden Boy’ was because its well-known”

A faint smile landed on your lips. “I like the name, GB. It’s unique” you replied. He let out a gentle chuckle, seeing that you were interested in him. Nobody would want to talk to an entity that could kill them in an instance.

“Have you ever met anyone else in your world? Like Luigi, Bowser, the princess. Or maybe a toad?” you asked in a light curious tone. He explained that when he haunted both of the games, there was nobody here.

“Since I was the only person here, I decided to make it my homeland” he replied. He pondered for a moment before asking you a question instead.

“From the beginning when you first encountered me, what did you mean about other versions of ‘Mario’s’? Are you not from this game?” he gently pressed, not wanting to pressure you into answering.

‘How did he know about that? I didn’t speak about it…’ you thought as you heard him chuckling in your head. ‘It’s because I can read other minds’’ he answered in your head.

You lightly pressed your lips together, not knowing that he could do that. “Back in my dimension, I’ve been recruiting other versions of Mario’s and others. My place seems to be the only world that could bring happiness to others, seeing that it’s the original dimension”

GB gave you a nod, continuing to listen to your explanation. “I’ve been going into different dimensions to rescue others that have been through a lot. I try to convince them to come to my world, so I can help them feel happiness”

The monochromatic Mario hummed, seeing that you were trying to help him. “How many people are currently in your world right now? If you don’t mind me asking?” he questioned.

“No, it’s alright. Right now, there’s three Mario’s, three Luigi’s, two princesses, two Yoshie’s, Bowser, and hundreds of toads” you listed. “If I were to convince you home to my world and lived in peace, you would be the fourth one,” you added.

GB hummed at your answer, seeing that you’ve been traveling for a while. “Have you ever come across a version of you or a toad?” he questioned.

“No, I haven’t. Either toads had moved away, died, or they’re non-existent. I also happened to be a rare toad; I don’t have colored spots like the others” you answered, remembering some of the dimensions you travelled to.

You then explained that you were a gray toad that was different from the others. “I’ve never encountered a toad that was strong as well. Toads were kind of known for serving the princess” he complimented, earning a chuckle from you.

“I have to train in some way. Whenever I go to a new dimension, I have to prepare just in case something is going to happen in a violent way” you explained, earning a nod from GB.

The Mario entity was silent for a moment before speaking. “I apologize for the pain that you’ve been through. I knew I pushed you a lot during this time in this dimension”

Your eyes widened in surprise, not knowing that he was going to apologize this early. Looking down your arms and legs were the bandages that were wrapped around your wounds. You weren’t angry at him, but he would have to earn your trust, which was going slowly.

“It’s alright. I was warned that I would be going to dimensions that would be hostile and would be very dangerous” you replied in a light tone. Cloud, who was sitting next to you, wanted to ask a question to GB.

“How old are you? If you don’t mind me asking” their child-like voice questions. GB let out a light chuckle, seeing that the small boo was more innocent than the other boo's that he encountered.

“I really don’t know actually. I’m an entity that's been haunting the games since the early 90’s. Well, in this dimension I assumed” he explained. Now that you think about it, were the other dimensions you came across happened at the same time span.

In some dimensions, they took place in the early-mid 90’s, like Mario 64. In your dimension, it took place in the modern times. In the meantime, you three conversed in the light atmosphere, getting to know each other.

After a few moments have passed, you hear noise coming from outside, alerting everyone to turn their gaze near the door. You were about to get up, but Cloud had stopped you in your tracks.

“I’ll go check it out, your wounds aren’t fully healed yet” they chimed, earning an understanding nod from you. You watched Cloud float through the walls, carefully wanting to see what was outside.

A few seconds passed as they floated back inside the house. “It’s a green pipe! Just like the one that popped up in the last dimension” they announced, watching your eyes widened at their words.

“Is that how you travel to other dimensions?” asked GB, earning a nod from you. “Yup! That’s how I got here” you added. GB hummed at your words; whenever someone entered his game, they were sucked in by the gaming consoles.

“We’ll wait for a while; you need to rest and make sure your wounds are healed. We’ll leave when we’re ready” insisted Cloud, understanding that you don’t need to rush things.

“Alright, looks like we’ll be getting to know each other more now. I really haven’t talked to any other people in a while” GB nodded, taking in your words.

In the next few days, you would be resting in the small house, getting to know GB even more. At the same time, you didn’t know if you were going back home or going to another dimension.

‘Wherever I go, home or not, I’ll be prepared…’

Chapter Text

A few days had passed, and you were able to walk around the place, since all your wounds were healed. Battle scars littered on your arms and other parts of your body, reminders of what you face during this dimension.

“I think we’ll be able to go to another dimension today” you lightly announced, earning a nod from Cloud. GB was still in the jar. He was let out a few times, but he mainly stayed in the jar.

“I’m gonna get ready, do you know where my hoodie is?” you asked Cloud, knowing that you left your hoodie at the house before you started your adventure here. “It’s in the dryer with your other clothes; they’ll be done in a bit” the small boo replied.

While you wait for the dryer to be finished, you made sure that you had enough food, water and bandages in your bag. Just in case that the next dimension you traveled was going to be the same level as this dimension.

Or worse…

Gently picking up the jar, you sat on the bed and engaged in a little conversation with the monochromatic Mario. “I don’t know if you’re going with me to this other dimension, we’re gonna have to see how this is going to go”

GB silently nods at your words, seeing that he might have to travel with you. You then explained that he might have to stay in the jar when you go through the green pipe.

“If you were to stay in the jar, I think you won’t be able to go through a different way from me. Whenever the others were traveling with me, they were automatically sent to my dimension” you added.

After the small conversation, the dryer eventually finished, alerting you to place the jar down and go over to the dryers. You took out your hoodie, feeling the warmth as took out your other clothes.

Making your way to the bathroom, you changed your old clothes and put on some fresh ones. You took some time to trace the scars on your arms. ‘This is going to be difficult to explain to the others in my dimension…’

Placing your hand out, you use some of the star power to form an orb, seeing that the energy of the power star was still present. ‘I don’t know where I’m going… But I know that this star is going to help me’

During the days you were resting, you were able to slowly train yourself to control the power. After your thoughts died down, you put on your freshly cleaned and warm hoodie, feeling yourself slightly relaxed at the feeling.

Exiting out of the bathroom, you saw that Cloud had prepared your bag, thanking them for preparing it. “You guys ready?” you asked the two, earning nods from both of the entities.

Grabbing your bag, you picked up the jar that held the monochromatic Mario. “I don’t know where to put you. If I were to keep my hands on it, it would probably force it out” you contemplated how you were about to do this.

“I can hold him for you. I can place items inside of my body” insisted the small boo, earning a nod from you. Giving Cloud the jar, they carefully placed it inside their ghostly bodies, watching the jar lightly float inside.

Once everyone is ready, you all exit out of the house, gazing at the destruction that laid outside. A few feet away from you was a bright green pipe that stood there in the ground, waiting for you to enter.

“It’s going to be quick travel, but I need you two to be careful, alright?” Cloud and GB nodded, taking in your explanation. You took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before hopping into the pipe.

Cloud and GB followed shortly, feeling the cool air that blew against them. They were all surrounded by darkness, but up ahead was a small light that was at the end. The sounds of the harsh wind were present as well.

‘Let’s see where we’re going…’

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

The green pipe emerged from the ground, emitting the pixelated sound as the three of you emerged out of the pipe. Landing on your feet on the brick floor, it was familiar to Devil Mario’s world.

Turning to see if the other two were okay, you saw that GB was still inside of Cloud, making you sigh in relief. Cloud took the jar out and gave it to you. “You feeling alright, GB?” you asked in a gentle tone.

“Yes, I’m alright. I didn’t know that we would be traveling that fast” he replied, earning a light chuckle from you. “Yeah, but you’ll get used to it” you replied as you looked around the scenery.

From ahead, you see some bricks floating as you see a pipe and a single goomba. “It looks like we’re in the mario game from the NES” you announced. Looking around some more, you saw that the color pigment of the world was different.

The regular blue sky was mixed with gray, giving it a gloomy color. The floating blocks were a bit lighter, same with the pipe from ahead. Everything was tinted a slightly different color.

The world felt… Normal? But at the same time, it didn’t. The atmosphere was slightly off, getting an eerie vibe from it. The music was in a lower pitch, as if it was an older version of the original game.

Looking up in the sky, you knew that there was supposed to be a time limit in the game, but you saw that the timer was blank. “No timer…? That’s weird” you muttered with slight confusion. Continuing to look up, you see a name that wasn’t familiar to you. 

“Who is Lucas?”

Before you know it, your question was answered as another pipe emerged from the ground. A few seconds had passed as a pixelated Luigi character emerged from the pipe. Their color textures were slightly darker.

“Luigi…?” you guessed, but he shook his head before speaking in a text box. “My name is Lucas… Who are you?” the character asked, wanting to know why there was a toad all the way in the beginning of the level and a boo here as well.

“I’m not from here. I was transported here” you replied, earning a slow nod from them. Their facial expression was filled with worry, with a hint of fear. “Are you alright? You seemed to be worried about something?”

Lucas was hesitant to speak in the text box, but he guessed that you three weren’t going to harm him. “I’ve been in this place for too long… I’ve died so many times… I’m not supposed to be here…”

The Luigi character model’s body started to shake, seeing a single tear stream down its face. Making your way towards him, you slowly patted his back, seeing that you were trying to comfort him.

“How old are you? If you don’t mind me asking” you questioned in a gentle tone. Cloud and GB watched in silence as you tried to calm the Luigi model. “I’m eight years old…” they lowly answered, watching your eyes widen in shock.

“You're just a kid... What are you doing here?” you whispered, making sure you didn’t yell, not wanting the kid to be scared. “I just wanted to play Mario Bros… But I got transported here. This is a corrupted version of it” Lucas explained.

“Corrupted?” you questioned. Before you could utter another word, the goomba that was mindlessly walking had glitched out of the world, causing the boy to slightly flinch. “He’s already here…”

The kid muttered in a low tone, seeing that they weren’t the only ones here. “Who’s here?” replied GB, seeing that the kid was starting to feel distress. Lucas was hesitant to speak, as if they uttered their name, something bad would happen.

“It’s someone who’s been tormenting me…” The kid answered.

A confused expression laced your face as Lucas wiped the tears that were threatening to pour out of his eyes. “I-it’s an entity that haunts this game” the kid added as they made their way forward.

You, GB, and Cloud looked at each other with worry, seeing that the kid had been through a lot. Not wanting to pester the boy, you placed the jar back into Cloud and followed Lucas.

Following the boy was easy, knowing the way of the game that you’ve played many times back home. Once you all made it halfway through the level, the sky turned pitch black, making you nearly freeze in your tracks.

Your heart started to slowly beat faster, but you were able to control your breathing as you continued. Moving forward, you heard something calling a name out in the air.

“Lucas…”

Something had called the kid's name, making him emit a shaky exhale. “It’s going to be alright. It’s going to be alright. It’s going to be alright…” the kid continued to repeatedly mutter the affirming words to himself, guessing that he was trying to calm himself down.

The more you moved forward, the background music slowly started to distort itself, the audio going in and out as well. Eventually, you climbed the familiar hill of blocks, seeing that it was close to finishing the first level.

They boy had stopped, making you stop as well. “Before we get to the top of this, I need you to be ready” you gave the kid a nod, making you take guard, not knowing what was going to happen.

Making it to the top, the deep haunting voice spoke once more. “Innocence doesn’t get you FAR…”

Looking at the small castle and the long pole with the flag, where the toad was, another figure landed on the ground. It was the Mario character model, but something was off about it.

The atmosphere became cold as the sounds of bones cracking echoed in the air, making you all slightly cringe at the sound. The Mario grew bigger, hearing its bones break and reform as it stood tall with great height.

The Mario model had white skin with a haunting wide smile. The overalls were a dark red as it wore a black long sleeve shirt with white gloves and black shoes. It had no eyes, just soulless black sockets that stared at your souls.

The giant Mario’s chuckles eerily echoed in the air, feeling shivers go down your spine, but it alerted you to keep guard. The giant entity picked up the toad, hearing its screams for help as they were launched near the pole.

You stared in horror as the toad was split in half, their intestines flew everywhere as blood splattered the pole and the ground. You all stood there in silence as you heard the familiar theme of the time running out.

RUN!

With quick movement, you all turned around and booked it back to the start. Loud footsteps echoed in the air, knowing that the entity was chasing you. You thanked yourself that you played the origins game so many times, knowing where to jump and where to duck the floating blocks.

You were all getting closer to the beginning, until the world glitched out, making the blocks rearrange itself into a new path. You were able to jump over in time, but you slightly stumbled to the ground.

“C’mon, we don’t have much time!” Lucas quickly alerted you as you quickly picked yourself up and ran as quickly as you could. The heavy footsteps were coming closer, hearing the blocks being destroyed at the same time.

Up ahead were the blocks from the beginning as a pipe emerged from the ground. You all continued to run as you all dive one by one into the pipe, hearing the entity road in anger.

You all entered a small room, trying to catch your breath from all the running as the sounds of your heartbeat ringed in your non-existent ears. “W-was that the entity?” you stuttered a question as the kid nodded his head in silence.

“Yes… I can never escape him” the boy answered in a low tone. You checked to see that Cloud was alright. In the jar, GB was still alright, seeing that he wasn’t fazed by it, but was sort of surprised by the encounter.

'I will find a way to escape this world. I will find a way to defeat you, MX' The boy promised himself, hoping that you were able to help him.

From outside the room, back in the game level, the giant Mario entity stood there in silence, feeling their anger boil as they started to speak in a low and gruff tone.

“Lucas… It’s fun, isn’t it? We’ve been doing this for a while now, but I’m having so much fun chasing you. This game isn’t over.” he promised in a threatening tone.

“Remember that, Lucas. Especially that toad that was able to escape. I feel like they can make this game even more fun. I can’t wait to see how much they play. So long you two…”

Chapter Text

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

Everyone sat in the cold dark room in silence. Your mind processed the thoughts on what this dimension was going to be. 'I wonder how I'm going to convince this Mario type to join me in my world?'

While thinking to yourself, Cloud and GB went to go check on Lucas. "How are you feeling, Lucas?" the small boo asked, seeing the Luigi character model sat there in silence.

"I don't know what to feel..." the boy responded in a dull tone. The two could hear the exhaustion in his voice. He looked like he'd been through so much. And he's just a kid. "I just want to get out of here and go home"

Lucas missed his home very much. All he wanted to do was play some super mario. The amount of joy he emitted while playing made himself love the game very much. He felt wondrous joy when his parents were able to get him a NES Classic for christmas.

But that day turned out to be the worst christmas gift he's ever received.

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

December 25th, 1985. Christmas day. The day where every kid received the NES classic. Lucas was one of those kids.

He played the game all day. He took small breaks, but he was determined to beat the game in one go. Until he came across a level. He was just minding his business in the third world in the game, and he was slightly struggling.

The game started to glitch, the game's audio was going in and out, the appearance of the game itself kept getting lower, making him not see the game.

He felt the frustration rise, but he kept himself focused, not wanting to make himself upset on christmas day. After a few minutes had passed and suddenly, the living room tv turned off, making Lucas freeze in place.

His heart began to race as he hurriedly scooted close to the tv. He made sure that everything was plugged in, including the tv itself. His mind was racing as he could hear his heartbeat ring in his ear.

'No! I have to get it back on! I'm in the third world and I didn't save my game!' Lucas hoped and prayed that a miracle would happen. He hoped the tv would turn back on and the game would still be the same.

With no other options, he started to bang his fist onto the tv. It would sometimes work when he was watching tv, but he needed to play his game. Bang after bang, and there was still nothing appearing on the tv.

He was starting to lose hope, and at the same time, he didn't want his parents asking him what was going on. After one final bang, he heard the tv turned on, making him sit right in front of the tv.

He watched with hope as the tv was in static, which was no problem for him. Pressing the buttons to turn it to the channel to where his game was, he waited patiently. After the static cleared, all he got was a black screen.

Confusion laced his expression. The tv was still on and his console was still on as well. After a few minutes of waiting, he heard his tv start to glitch as a low hum was emitted from it.

Looking at the screen, red bold letters started to form on the tv. This never happened before. Once the letters started to form into words, he felt himself shrink, his eyes widened in shock with a feeling of fear rising inside.

"Hello Lucas"

The boy stared at the tv, wondering why his name was on the screen. "How do you know my name?" the boy asked, his voice starting to slightly break. The red bold words disappeared as they formed another sentence.

"Let's play a game, Lucas"

The low hum from the tv was starting to get louder, a slight feeling that the living room tv was going to blow up. A single tear streamed down his cheek, he wanted to turn off the tv and run back to his room.

But he couldn't.

The words disappeared once more before it formed another sentence, this time, more tears started to pour out of the corner of his eyes.

"Let's see how your innocence will help you"

The threatened words struck the boy, making him cry in fear. He wanted to make a run to his parents' rooms and stay with them. He would beg them to take the console back. Before he could get up from the sitting position, he fell to the floor.

Fear started to rise as he couldn't feel both of his legs. "I can't feel them! I wasn't even sitting for that long!" The only thing he could do was to crawl on the cold carpet, dragging his legs against it.

The loud humming from the tv echoed throughout the house as an unknown force dragged him back towards the tv. "Mom! Dad! Help me!" he called for his parents, his horrid screams pierced in the air.

But his parents couldn't hear him.

He clawed his fingers to the floor, wanting to stop moving, but his weak body couldn't do anything as he was sucked into the tv. After the child was abducted, the tv turned back to the game.

The sound of the beginning theme of the mario game played innocently in the air, as if someone if nothing happened. Nothing seemed to be out of place, except for the boy that went missing on christmas day.

The boy could only see darkness, his body felt numb as he floated in the dark space. He didn't know where he was being dragged to. He wanted to go back home. He wanted to run to his parents and demand them to take the console back to where they bought it.

All he could do was curl up into a ball as he floated in the cold dark void.

He didn't know how long he was floating until he felt himself being pulled once again. His thoughts were starting to race in his mind as he was now transported into the game itself.

The darkness went away as his bright color's envelope his vision. He surveyed the area with confusion and fear. Looking down, he saw that he was standing on a brick floor. The sky was blue, and he saw a yellow floating block with a question mark.

He froze in place as realized where he was. 'I'm... I'm in the game?! Why? How?!' Lucas couldn't believe what was happening. He looked at his appearance, wanting to see if he was the same.

His body was now pixelated, characterized as a video game character. He looked just like the Mario character model, but the colors were different. It was switched from red and brown to green and white.

Lucas was hesitant to move forward, still not believing that he was in the game. The game audio played in his ears, guessing that he was in the first level of the game. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before going forward.

With one step, nothing happened, making him feel slightly at ease. Slow steps then turned into walking, trying to see if it was okay to go on. Once he felt that it was safe, his walk turned into a jog.

Fear had flown out of his body as it was replaced with joy. He was inside a video game. To him, this was the coolest thing he could do. He jumped in the air with great height, smashing bricks that gave him the gold coins.

He jumped on the goomba's head, feeling the small boost when landing on one. He was having so much fun, why didn't this happen before? He could stay here all day.

'Maybe I could beat the game like this! This is so much fun!' As he continued forward, he could see the flagpole in the distance, making him smile brightly. "I'm almost there! Then I can go to the second level!"

Once he hurriedly made his way to the mountain of blocks, he stood there at the top, ready to jump. Before he could take another step to initiate him to jump, the sky turned black. The friendly music turned into static that could be heard in the background.

He looked down where the toad should be at. The game character that represented the toad was jumping repeatedly. That never happened in the game. Next to it was Mario, the character he was playing.

But something was wrong.

The Mario character was starting to turn into a giant, horrendous version of himself. His big, wide smile was present as black eye sockets stared dead at him. The fear that he felt before was back, making him step back.

"Hello Lucas. Are you having fun?"

The voice of Mario was loud, it boomed in the air. It took a step forward and grabbed the toad by its neck, hearing a horrid scream that was emitted from it. A taunting laugh echoed loudly in the air as he threw the toad against the flagpole, splitting its body in half.

The boy felt tears stream down his face, a sick feeling was mixed with fear. Before he stood there in silence, clutching his stomach as he heard the familiar noise of the time running out.

The Mario let out a laugh before he ran towards the boy. Lucas turned to run away from the monster, but he tripped and fell down the blocked hill, feeling pain all over his body. Before he could get up, he felt everything freeze in place.

He was captured; it was over. The only thing he could hear was the game over sound effect as he felt his vision enveloped into darkness. The only thing that could be heard was the haunting voice of Mario.

"Let's play again, Lucas. I'm not done yet"

All of a sudden, Lucas was transported back into the beginning. The music played innocently in the air, as if he didn't just die in the game. He curled himself into a ball, laying on the cold hard floor.

'What am I going to do...? I'm trapped here with this  monster ... Why me?'

His thoughts were interrupted as the taunting voice of Mario spoke to him. "Let's start again, Lucas. From the top"

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

Lucas was interrupted from his thoughts from the past as he turned to see who was rubbing his back, seeing that it was you. A comforting expression laced your face. "We're going to help you, Lucas. We promise"

Your kind words slowly enlightened him, as if he felt hope once again. He had died so many times that he would lose count. He slowly turned his gaze to Cloud and GB. They both wore comforting smiles, making a tear go down the boy's face.

"Thank you... Thank you all for helping me. I'm so glad that there's people going to finally help me..." his voice was starting to crack as he wiped his tears. A small smile laced his lips as he slowly stood up from the ground.

"I... I think I'm ready to start the next level..." he gently announced, his voice lightly filled with confidence. You, Cloud, and GB gave him a gentle smile as you all started to get ready.

A green pipe was summoned as you all jumped in, making your way to the second level.

Chapter Text

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

A dull green pipe sprouted out of the ground as everyone jumped out, landing on the cold hard floor. This would be the second level of the game, but there was a feeling that all the levels that you all might go through won’t be the same as the original game.

A foul oder flowed in the air, causing Lucas to nearly gag at the smell. You were used to it already, from the many dimensions you came across with the familiar smell, it really didn’t bother you.

Turning towards where the smell was emitted from, a messy group of mutilated goomba's were littered on the ground. Blood was splattered everywhere as you and Lucas made sure not to step in it.

Up ahead, there was a pipe that came out of the wall, knowing that you were going to go to the second level. Once you all entered, everyone stood in darkness for a short second, reminding you that this is not the innocent game you played.

Once the darkness was gone, you were all in the underground level. The background music for this level couldn’t be heard, only silence. “Have you made it past this part, Lucas?” you quietly questioned not wanting to startle the boy.

The Luigi character model pondered for a bit, wanting to come up with the right words of what he wanted to reply with. “I was familiar of this level when I wasn’t in the game, but when I was trapped, I could barely pass the first level”

A knowledgeable hum escaped your lips as your group continued to move forward, knowing that they could only go in one direction. Cloud was surveying the area, not used to being in different games levels before.

With GB, he seemed to be familiar with this, knowing that he had traveled through a lot of old-school Mario games. Moving on, you see that the bricks were in the air in random patterns, guessing that the game glitched them to do that.

Your footsteps came to a stop, causing the others to stop as well, giving you questionable looks. “I hear something…” you quietly announced, making sure that the others could hear you.

You hesitantly took a step forward as you heard something breathing in the background behind you. Slowly looking behind the brick wall, there was a giant face of the giant Mario from before, making you quickly step back.

“What is it?” asked GB, wanting to know what you saw. You raised a finger to your lips, signaling them to be quiet. “There’s a giant Mario face behind the wall” you explained as you looked to your side.

The game head on had small pillars of bricks spaced away from each other. A questioning look plastered your face as you took out two gold coins. You turned around to make sure that everyone was focused on your upcoming plan.

Throwing the first coins to the open area, giant teeth clamped down on the floor with quickness, making everyone flinch at the sound. Getting the second coin, you flicked far enough to the next bricked wall up head.

Nothing appeared, seeing that it can’t get past the wall, even when there’s a slight noise. You turned back to everyone as you explained what you just did. “You see those walls over there?” you pointed, getting multiple nods.

“Whenever you’re in an open area, you have to quickly take cover to the next wall. The face won’t see you if you’re taking cover. We don’t know what could happen, but we don’t want to know”

Everyone took in your instructions as you were the first one to go first, wanting to give them a demonstration. With quickness, you ran towards the next wall that was a few feet away.

A sigh of relief quietly escaped your lips as you signaled Lucas to do the same. The Luigi character model nervously looked around, feeling a wave of anxiety slowly enveloped around him.

Emitting a shaky exhale, he quickly ran to the wall where you were, nearly tripping on the floor, but you caught him in time. Everyone stood in silence as the low breathing was starting to get louder.

You quietly signal Cloud to move next, it was faster since GB was still in the jar inside of the small boo. They quickly floated to the next wall where you were, making it to safety.

Looking ahead, you knew that you were going to repeat that pattern until you all got past the hiding section. One by one, everyone started to follow your instructions, making sure their movement was precise.

Continuing on, you noticed that the walls forward on were getting smaller, seeing that you had to come up with another plan. “Okay, we’re gonna have to have one person to a wall for now” you instructed as you showed one finger.

“Once I have a wall to myself and the next person is about to go next, that is my signal to move forward so the person behind me will get the wall I was on before” The group understanded the new plan as you moved forward.

The breathing from the background was starting to get louder, even harsher from before, as if it was angered that you found out what to do so quickly. Once you moved to a smaller wall, you signaled the next person to go, making you move forward at the same time.

The atmosphere was cold and tense, if any of you were to trip right now, it would be game over. You didn’t have the knowledge if you were able to restart the level, or you would just die and never be able to continue.

A light proud smile formed on your lips as you all were close to the end of this section. Crossing over to the final wall, you made it safely. Turning to the others, you quickly told them to hurry, but at the same time, be careful and watch their footing.

Cloud and GB were able to make it, but Lucas was still behind. His body was shaking with fear as little colored dots streamed down his face, guessing that he was sweating. “It’s going to be okay, Lucas. Just focus”

Your reassuring words were able to help him a little bit, but he still felt the familiar fear inside of him. He didn’t want to get caught, not wanting to hear the distorted ‘game over’ sound in his mind.

Deeply inhaling and exhaling, he quickly ran to a wall, he was close. One more and he would be able to regroup with you guys. With the little confidence that he found, he ran as fast as he could.

He was about to celebrate to himself as he felt himself trip to the ground. His body collapsing to the ground caused it to echo as a low, haunting laugh followed. With quickness, you quickly pulled the boy forward as pearly white teeth nearly slammed down on him.

The giant Mario emitted a low chuckle once more before going back into darkness. Lucas laid on the cold floor as he was shaking once more. You gently soothed your hand on his back, reassuring him that he made it.

“MX nearly got me… I was nearly eaten by him…” The boy muttered in a shaky tone, making you take in his words. ‘So this version of Mario is named MX…’

After some time comforting the boy, he was able to sit up, wiping away the sweat and tears from his face. “Are you ready to continue?” you asked, wanting to know if he was okay to continue the level.

The boy sat there in silence before he turned his gaze towards you. “Y-yeah… I’m g-good to continue…” he shakenly answered. Giving him a nod, you made sure that Cloud and GB were okay before moving on.

The level was starting to get slightly harder as you all had to jump over small blocks and green

pipes. You knew that it was easy to do, but since MX was present in this level, you all had to stay vigilant.

Quietly hopping over the obstacles that were designed to be in the way, you noticed how vines were starting to form on top of the level. “How old is this place?” you muttered as you continued on.

This level was definitely longer than the first level. Yes, the first few levels of the game were short, but this level was longer than the few beginning levels combined.

After some time, you come across a small flag that stood in the way. It was a blank, as if no one wanted to claim it. Slowly going towards it, you gently touched the golden part of the flag, hearing it emit a small fanfare with small confetti words.

“CHECK POINT”

As the words glitched away, you turned towards the group to see if they wanted to take a small break. You received a nod from them as you all sat down. A small noise was coming from Lucas, seeing that he was hungry.

Grabbing your bag, you gave him some snacks that you were able to buy from GB’s dimension. Cloud really didn’t need to eat, so they just floated next to you. “Can you give me GB for a second?” you asked.

“Sure” they replied before they took the jar out of their body. Carefully opening the jar, you watched the monochromatic Mario crawled to your hand. “Are you hungry, GB?” you asked.

The silent Mario gave you a nod before you pulled out a snack for him. Giving him a cookie, one that was slightly bigger than him, he began to slowly eat it, as if he was savoring the sweet flavor.

“Thank you…” he replied, guessing that he enjoyed it. You emitted a small chuckle as you enjoyed some snacks as well. You all sat in the cold darkness, but you were glad that the check point was in a closed area, not wanting to get ambushed by MX.

Chapter Text

Snack time eventually came to an end, seeing that everyone had finished what they ate. Lucas stood up from the ground and stretched, knowing that they were sitting on the cold hard ground for a while. He just hopes that everyone will make it past this level.

Finishing your snack, you took a glance at everyone, seeing if they were ready or not. Cloud was floating around the area, wanting to discover this place before you all had to go to the next level.

You looked down to see GB sitting down on the floor, guessing that he was waiting to be put back in the jar. Gently picking him up off the ground, he turned his gaze towards you. "Do you wanna just hang onto my shoulder? I feel like you're getting tired of being trapped in the jar..."

A surprised expression laced his face before it reverted back to the blank expression he wore. The monochromatic Mario pondered for a bit before he lifted his gaze towards you. "Yeah... It won't be too bad. I just hope I can get back to my regular size soon..."

A small smile laced your lips as you gave him a nod and placed him on your shoulder, making sure that he was comfortable. You turn around to face Lucas, an uncomfortable expression plastered on his face.

"Are you feeling alright?" you gently asked, watching the boy freeze for a moment before a wavering smile landed on his lips. "Y-yeah, I'm fine... I just want to get this level over with" he answered the best he could without stuttering.

You went over to the Luigi character model and gave him a pat on the back, reassuring him that he was going to be okay. "Just follow my lead, kid. I'm going to make sure that you get through this" you promised firmly.

The Luigi sprite' lips quirked up to a pixelated smile, expressing that he was glad that you were able to help him. Cloud then went towards you and nuzzled your cheek; a light chuckle escaped your lips.

"I know, we're about to go. Are you ready?" you asked, earning a hurried nod from the small boo. After everyone was reassured that they're ready, they passed the checkpoint area and moved forward with caution.

Footsteps echoed in the dark area, hearing it echo as well. The entire area was covered with old bricks, guessing that this place was built a long time ago. Looking around, you see vines sticking from the ceiling and the ground, evidence of showing that this place was very old.

As you all continued to move forward, you heard the sound of water a few feet away from you all, making your movement slow down. Stopping at the location of the sound, you see a huge body of water up ahead.

You began to survey the area, wanting to see if you could come up with a plan to move forward. A cold presence pressed against your side, seeing that it was Cloud. You gave the small boo a questioning look, seeing the scared expression on its face.

"I don't want to get touched by the water... If we touch too much of it, it'll evaporate me" they explained as you felt their presence quiver at the thought. You raised your hand to gently pat them on the head, feeling the coolness surrounding your hand.

"It's going to be alright, little one" you quietly reassured. "Do you wanna just shrink down and hop into my hoodie?" you insisted, earning a grateful nod from the boo. Once they shrunk down to GB's height, they floated their way into your hoodie, shivering at the cold feeling.

"Alright, how are we gonna get through this...?" you silently asked yourself. You could swim in it, but you would be risking Cloud's and GB's life. You also didn't know if Lucas could swim as well.

Before you could turn to the pixelated Luigi character, a small metal platform floated towards you. An idea popped in your head as you carefully walked on the platform, seeing that it didn't falter from your movement.

You turned around and reached your hand towards Lucas, silently instructing him to grab it so he could hop on. The body was hesitant to take the hand, his eyes wavered around the body of water.

His thoughts began to run through his mind. What if he missed and fell face first in the water and drowned? What if you pushed him off the platform and had to struggle to get out? What if something in the water grabbed hi-

"Hey, it's going to be alright" you spoke, breaking his train of thought. His eyes landed on your hand as he gave you a silent nod. Lucas firmly grabbed your hand as he quickly hopped onto the platform, a sigh of relief escaped his lips.

Once you all were on the metal platform, it began to move across the water. Lucas held onto your hand, not wanting to let go, just in case something happened. You made sure to keep watch, wanting to see if there was another platform to hop on.

'We have to get out of this area... No telling what creature could be in these waters...' you thought as you felt a small hand touch your cheek, seeing that GB was trying to get your attention.

"We're gonna have to jump onto the next one" he explained as he pointed his gloved hand upwards. You thanked him as you gained momentum and jumped onto the next platform. Anxiety and slight adrenaline overcame your body, but you were determined to move on.

You knew that Lucas could do it, since his character model was Luigi, he had the ability to jump higher than the other Mario cast. Lucas waited a bit, wanting to control his breathing before he jumped.

Calming down, he jumped with all his might, feeling relieved when he felt his feet on the platform. A smile stretched on his lips as he silently celebrated to himself, seeing that he was starting to overcome his fear in this place.

Tapping his shoulder to get his attention, you pointed forward to see there were multiple floating platforms floating in the area, seeing that a challenge was placed. "You ready to do this, Lucas? We have to be quick with this"

"Yeah... I think I'll be fine" he replied. With confidence, you both carefully hopped on platform to platform, making sure not to trip and not wanting to fall into the water. As you both continued to hop, your movement stopped as you felt something was wrong.

You quickly raised your hand towards Lucas, telling him to stop what he was doing. "What's wrong?" he whispered, trying to see what you saw. You turned your gaze towards him and pressed a finger on your lips as you pointed a head.

Lucas looked around to the area you were pointing as he froze at what he saw. There was a giant gloved hand that was laid flat on the ground. It had dark red sleeves, seeing that the hand belonged to MX's.

"We have to be very quiet" you whispered, earning a shaky nod from the boy. All of his confidence seemed to have washed away and was now replaced with fear. You hopped forward on a platform, causing a slight echo to ring out.

You felt your body freeze, holding your breath as you watched the gloved hand slightly twitched before it went limp. A huff of relief escaped your lips as you quickly told Lucas to move forward, making sure that he followed you quietly.

Continuing to hop on the next platform as you finally landed at the end of the section. You turned around to see that Lucas needed to hop onto one more platform and he could finally land at the end of the section.

"You can do it, Lucas. Just focus on your movement and we can get out of here" you explained in a hurried town. The boy nodded as he stepped back, wanting to gain momentum as he jumped onto the final platform.

Now all he had to do was to jump where you were, nearly finishing the level. That's all that he needed to do.

He then jumped, confidence overflowing in him once more. But then he realized something. His jump was too short. Fear began to creep onto him once more as he watched your eyes widen.

Once he made it to the end of the section, only half of his body made it to land. His bottom half splashed into the water, creating a loud noise. You both froze as you saw that giant hand violently twitch before it began to rise up.

"We need to go, now!" you shouted as you quickly grabbed Lucas out of the water. A haunting laugh echoed in the area as you both took off running. Tears began to stream down his face as he continued to run as fast as he could.

He felt the presence of the giant hand behind him, making him nearly trip. Before the hand could grab him, he watched an orb flow past him as it hit the gloved hand. He looked forward to see a soft yellow glow surround you.

"You go ahead of me! I'll stop MX!" You instructed, getting a nod from the Luigi model as he ran past you. You continued to run behind the boy, but at the same time, you used the power star to create small fireballs and aimed them at the giant hand.

A roar of anger echoed in the air as you saw the glove darkened a bit from the burning attacks you sent out. "I found a pipe!" announced Lucas. You gave him a nod and told him to go inside, hearing the sound effect of him going through it.

You charged up some of your star power and held on to it, wanting to damage it a bit more before going into the pipe. You stopped at the entrance of the exit, facing the giant hand with an angered expression.

Once it came close to the right range, you fired a powerful blast, watching the attack envelope the hand with a burning feeling. A pained screech echoed in the air as you watched the now burnt hand revert into the darkness.

You controlled your breathing as you made sure that GB and Cloud were safe as you entered the pipe, quickly following Lucas. A few minutes had passed as a giant Mario figure walked towards the pipe.

MX wore a strained wide smile as he looked at his burnt hand. He felt angry from the sudden attack, but at the same time, interest and excitement could be felt as well. He never had a powerful opponent like you.

Maybe in the next level, he could see you show that power more. "What wonders has this toad hidden from me... They just made the game so much fun now..."

Chapter Text

"Is everyone alright?" you called out, wanting to make sure that they weren't dealing with problems while you were on the other side of the pipe. "Y-yeah, we're fine..." replied Lucas as Cloud and GB gave you a nod.

A curious look plastered the Luigi character model as he walked towards you, a question forming in his head. "Why were you glowing bright yellow?" he asks in an innocent tone.

You gave the kid a small smile, seeing that he was curious about what power you had. "I've gotten this power from another dimension. It's been very useful for me since I got it" you replied as you glowed a bright yellow hue.

You noticed that it was brighter than usual. When you first got it, the color was a soft yellow hue, but now it's brightened even more. You thought that since you were able to control the power star, you would notice it grow more stronger within you.

Lucas gave you an understanding nod, seeing that it will help them with your journey to get out of this cursed game. He missed his home and his family. He couldn't wait to get out of this game and destroy the cursed console.

But at the same time, he knew that he wasn't going to get one anytime soon. They were very expensive to get. Maybe he'll just give it away to someone else, but he would be passing down a curse to another.

"Lucas? Lucas" you called, seeing that he had spaced out again. "Do you need anything before we go?" you wanted to reassure him that he was going to be fine. You had to protect the kid, promising him that you would get him home.

"Yeah, I'm sorry" he felt a gentle pat on the back from you, earning you a wavy smile from him. "You two ready to go, GB and Cloud?" you questioned, earning nods from the two. GB hopped on your shoulder as you all moved forward.

The group traveled for a bit in the darkness, guessing that they're about to arrive in the third area. The dark scenery changed into a gloomy, autumn area. The ground was now brown with withered leaves littering the area.

The air was very dry in this area as well.

Turning your gaze towards the sky, it was still pitch black, but there was a hint of brown in the sky. Huge, bulky mountains were in the background of the level, giving it a dark yet eerily calm area.

"This place is different from the others" Spoke Cloud, wanting to know why the other two areas were dark and scary, but in this area, it looked like autumn was about to start.

The slight feeling of being watched from the background still hung in the air, making you all take guard while moving forward. The pipes in the area weren't the shiny, candy green like the others. They were rusted and looked like they were about to crumble any second.

Jumping over the small gaps that were placed in the level, you all made sure to jump on the goombas head, knowing that they could be a problem if you leave them be.

Instead of them mindlessly walking around, these goombas would actually follow you.

Continuing on, a cough emitted from Lucas, making you stop in your tracks. "You need some water?" you questioned politely as he gave you a shaky nod while covering his mouth. Giving him a bottle of water in your bag, he chugged half of the bottle.

"I don't know why I'm feeling so dehydrated..." he muttered as he saved the other half of the water. After he said that, your mouth was starting to feel dry as well. Getting a bottle of water from your backpack, you drink some of it to refreshen.

As you finished, you felt your mouth slowly become dry again. "What is going on?" you questioned yourself. You turned your gaze slightly downwards towards GB. "Is it happening to you?"

He answered by shaking his head at a no. "I don't need food or water to help me stay functioning," he added. Cloud was a boo, so they didn't need it. "Is it just happening to us?" asked Lucas.

"I think so... This area is probably causing it" you replied. "We should speed up" you insisted as your walk became slightly faster, wanting to hurry out of this world. The more you guys moved forward, the dehydrated you and Lucas started to get.

Moving along, there was a fountain that was planted in the middle of the area. It sprouted out fresh water as well, watching the blue water flow out of the spouts. "Are you sure it's okay to drink this...? S-something could happen" stuttered Lucas.

You felt a tap on your shoulder, turning your gaze to GB. "I can go check and see" he insisted. Putting your hand out for him to land on, you asked if he was sure that he wanted to try out.

He gave you a nod, reassuring you that it was fine. Giving him a nod, you placed your hand near the water, leaving a tiny gap between your hand and the water. The monochromatic Mario ducked his head to take a sip.

You and Lucas carefully watched him as he stood up on your hand and made a motion with his hand, telling you to bring him up. "The water is fine, it actually tasted good" he replied with a hint of a surprised tone.

Thanking him, you placed him back on your shoulder, you told Lucas to refill his water bottle. A hopeful expression laced both your facing as to hope that the water will last you both through the level.

Walking past the fountain, you made sure to tell Lucas to take small sips of the water, not knowing if there was going to be another water fountain up ahead.

The path that you all continued to walk on was starting to run out of ground. Stopping your tracks, you all stood a few feet from a small body of water, silently telling you that this was the next place to go.

Your lips turned into a firm line, guessing that you all had to swim into the next level. 'Great... Water levels...'

You turned around to face Lucas and Cloud, a confused expression laced Lucas's pixelated face while Cloud wore a more frightened and uneasy one. You knew that boo's weren't supposed to touch water, they would evaporate when touching too much of it.

"Do you know how to swim, Lucas?" you questioned, wanting to know if he's ever swam before. "I have before, but it was a while ago..." he answered in an uncertain tone. A hum escaped your lips as you told Lucas and Cloud to come towards you.

"I'm gonna put a barrier around you two. This will help you breath under water safely" you instructed as your hands glowed bright yellow. Placing your hands on Cloud's cold ones, they were surrounded by a yellow barrier.

A small chuckle escaped the boo's mouth as the barrier slightly tickled them. You did the same with Lucas's as his character model was surrounded by the barrier. "Thank you, Sleepy"

"No problem" you replied with a small smile. You looked towards GB. "Do you want one?" you asked, wanting to see if he needed one or not. He sat there on your shoulder for a bit before giving you a nod.

Letting a finger out, his small hand made contact with it as he was surrounded by the barrier. "You guys ready?" you asked as you earned affirming nods from them. "What about you? Don't you need one?"

"I need to make sure you guys are safe first. If we're swimming in a deep place, I'll place a barrier around me" you replied with reassurance. Everyone stood at the edge of the ground. "I'll go first. I'll give you all a signal to jump in"

Making sure to place GB down, you let out a sharp exhale and jumped in, creating a small splash. Opening your eyes, you surveyed the area to see that it wasn't going to go that deep.

You expect it to be pitched black down here, but you could see clearly. Swimming up to the surface, you gave them a thumbs up, letting them know that it was okay to jump in.

GB was the first to jump in. With hesitance, Lucas jumped in next. He opened his eyes slowly to see that he was okay, making him swim freely in the blue water. The frightened look from Cloud was still there as they stared at the water with worry.

"It's okay, Cloud" you reassured as you placed your hands out. "We'll both sink into the water slowly. I promise" Cloud floated there for a moment before they slowly floated down to your arms.

"On the count of three, I sink us down, okay?" you spoke in a gentle tone. They give you a nod as you started the countdown. "1... 2... 3..." with that, you both slowly sink down into the water.

Cloud's eyes were closed, feeling afraid that water would fully envelope them and would evaporate on the spot. But it didn't happen. They slowly open their eyes as they see a toothy smile on your lips.

"See, you're fine" bubbles came out of your mouth as you spoke.

Cloud began to swim, learning how to slowly move their little arms in the water. You looked at the three to see if they were ready to go. Giving you a nod, you all swam at a good pace, making sure not to leave anyone behind.

Turns out, swimming in that water wasn't that bad. You thought that it was going to make you all swim deeper, but it was only a few minutes of swimming. You pointed in front of you to alert the others to see a green pipe.

In hurried movement, you watched Lucas enter the pipe. Followed by GB, Cloud, and then you entered. The sound of the pipe echoed as it sprouted out of the ground. Exiting out of the pipe, it disappeared into the now rocky ground.

The barriers around the three disappeared as they all looked around the new area. This time, the entire background was a single color of dark red, almost burgundy.

Up ahead were stone floors that led forward into the level. The area was surrounded by a red-orange light, bubbling noises can be heard as you slowly walked forward. Stopping a few feet from the edge, your eyes widen to see a pool of lava.

You slowly turned to the group with a firm line on your lips as you made your way back to the group. "So... We're gonna be dealing with lava on this level" your words entered Lucas's mind as he started to shake with fear.

"W-what?!"

"Hey hey, it's going to be okay. We're gonna have to be careful. I'll lead the way" you replied quickly. An audible gulp was emitted from the kid as he gave you a shaky nod. Once everyone was ready, you made sure to put GB on your shoulder and hopped onto the floating platform.

The overwhelming boiling heat from the lava made you begin to sweat, feeling a soft layer on your forehead as you all hopped onto platforms with caution. The feeling of anxiety and confidence were mixed together.

All of a sudden, a loud rumble echoed in the area, making you all stop where you were. A haunting voice then echoed, causing Lucas to nearly jump out of his skin, knowing exactly who it was.

"Lucas... You've made far... I'm impressed" MX spoke in an amused tone. It was silent for a moment before he spoke again. "The little toad is here in one piece... I knew they were going to make it. I'm so delighted..."

'What...? What did he mean he knew...?'

Before you know it, a snap of fingers echoed in the air, making everyone's vision darkened. The cries from Cloud and Lucas can be heard as it started to echo out. "Sleepy! Help!" Lucas calls out in fear as the darkness finally unwrapped your visions.

With hurried movement, you looked around the area to see where you were. You were placed in a giant building as you couldn't see your friends anywhere. "Sleepy, help us!"

Turning towards the voice, you see Lucas and the others in a metal cage that hangs from the ceiling. "Are you guys alright?!"

"Y-yeah, but why are you not in a cage?!"

Before you could answer the question, a loud boom rumbled the ground, making you nearly bounce off it. Huge footsteps echoed in the air as it stopped, making you turn your gaze to see MX.

Dark, hollow eyes bore into you as you took guard, not knowing what he was going to do. Looking slightly downwards, you see that his right hand was still burnt from your attack from earlier.

"Hello there, Sleepy... It's wondrous to see you here" he spoke in a low tone as a wide smile landed on his lips, showing his pearly white teeth. He chuckled at the angered expression that you wore, finding it cute.

He then pointed his giant gloved finger towards you, making you place a barrier around you. "Sleepy, I challenge you to a battle..." your guard started to loosen as you stared at him with a confused expression.

He then pointed towards the cage that held your friends. "If you manage to win the battle, I'll let your friends go..." he then emitted a low chuckle. "If you lose, you'll spend all your eternity here"

Your eyes widened at his words. Spending here? For all eternity?

"That's not going to happen" you spoke firmly as your barrier glowed brightly. "I'm not going to let you torture Lucas anymore"

MX's smile widened with joy, feeling enlightened by your promised words. "Yes... I want to see how much power you hold" Lucas, GB, and Cloud watch you both stare down each other, feeling the tense atmosphere enter the area.

'Please win this, Sleepy. You're our only hope...'

Chapter Text

The sounds of fire torches can be heard softly crackling in the background as you and MX stared down each other. The three in the cage felt the present cold air. Lucas was shaking with fear and anticipation, wondering what was going to happen.

Cloud's small hands grasped the cold cage bars, they could easily go right through the bars, but an invisible force was sealing them inside. The small boo had faith in you, knowing that you were able to fight with purpose.

GB stared at your small figure with hope. Even though you all can barely see his face, it was still present. He knew that you were powerful, you were able to defeat him. Whatever power you hold, he hopes that you use it to succeed.

The giant, looming figure of MX stared down with a wide smile, feeling excitement and thrill from not having a fight in so long. The last time he had a good fight was against his best friend of a hedgehog.

He watched the yellow barrier surround you, seeing that you weren't backing down from the fight. He wanted to know how a small toad could hold such power.

"Let us begin, Sleepy..." he announced as he got into a defensive stance, his giant feet caused a small rumble to the ground. A sharp exhale escaped your lips as you took off your slightly drenched hoodie and threw it behind you.

You hoped that training back in GB's dimension paid off. Moments of Cloud telling you to rest as you tried to find ways to train the power star within you.

A hum that was filled with interest flowed out of MX's lips. He now sees healed battle marks on your arms and neck. Excitement crept inside of him; his opponent was experienced in battle.

You both stood still before a moment you vanished from the ground. MX's eye sockets widened for a bit as he quickly looked around the area. He felt a small hot spot on his shoulder as he felt a punch to his jaw.

His movement slightly faltered before he tried to grab you from his shoulder, but you weren't there. You appeared in front of him and sent a blow to his giant nose, making him step back a few steps.

A low, frustrated groan escaped his lips as he soothed his jaw and nose. He pulled his hand back when he saw a red liquid on his gloves, making him chuckle. "There we go..." Looking downwards, he saw you standing there, waiting for his move.

"Now this is what I've been waiting for" With quickness, he threw a punch to the ground, aiming it right at you. Moving swiftly away, you reflected the small debris that was flown in the air, making sure to get a clear view of your sight.

The giant Mario aimed multiple punches towards the ground, hoping for you to trip from the effect, but you just dodged his attacks like there were nothing. As he punched the ground once more, you quickly ran up his arm as you fired small blasts at his face.

MX was able to swipe most of them away, feeling small burns littered his face. He let out a menacing laugh as he swatted you away, making your body dive into the ground, leaving a dent.

"Sleepy!" shouted Lucas, his wavering eyes watching as you got up from the attack and moved forward. Slight cuts and bruises littered your upper body, but you didn't bother with it as you continued to aim bright beams at MX.

For his size being twelve feet tall, he was able to maneuver his way away from the bright attack, feeling the heat from it. 'I wonder how long this toad has held this power...?'

He watched you disappear from the ground, quickly looking to where you've gone. He felt a hot feeling at the back of his neck, making him quickly grab what was behind him. Pulling his hand towards you, his smile widened as he watched you struggle from his tight grip.

"C'mon, little one... I want to see more!" he taunted. You stared at him for a few seconds as a smirk fell on your lips as he watched the barrier grow bright yellow once more. You cocked your head all the way back before slamming it against his nose, hearing a small crack.

As his grip slightly loosened, you forced power into your hands and slammed them on his gloved hand, escaping from his grip. Once you landed, you jumped with great height, ground particles were pushed back from the force.

Getting into range, you quickly forced the power to your right hand and aimed a powerful right punch. The powerful force from the attack caused him to slam against the brick wall, causing bricks to fall to the ground.

The giant groaned in pain as he gritted his teeth with annoyance. He looked downwards to see you standing there with a focused expression, cuts littered your face as he heard something humming near you.

He finally forced himself to stand fully as he clenched his face. "Not bad... But let's see if I shrink to your size..." you took guard as you watched his body decrease in height, his empty sockets never taking your eyes off you.

You watched him stomp his foot to the ground, feeling yourself slightly shake from the loud rumble. 'Does he have more power when he turns smaller?' you questioned. After he stopped stomping, he caught you off guard as he appeared in front of you.

He tried to throw a punch at your face, but you barely dodged the giant hand. He found an opening as he aimed a punch at your gut, feeling your breath hitch as you were sent flying towards the wall.

A hiss escaped your lips as your body left a dent on the wall. Slipping off the wall, you were able to land on your feet. Heavy breathing escaped your lips, you were glad that the barrier helped you.

Because if you didn't have that barrier, he would've caused even more damage.

Your eyes widened at the quickness from MX as he appeared in front of you and threw a punch. You quickly moved your head away from his gloved fist, knowing that there was an indent beside you.

Swiftly, you focused your power to your hands and pushed him away with great force. MX grounded his feet to the ground, making his movement stop as he watched you run towards him.

You threw multiple punches, your fist glowing with star power. MX dodged and blocked most of them as he felt one of your punches land on his face. He tried to counter by aiming a fist to your gut, but you grabbed his arm and flipped him over your shoulder, making an effort to slam him into the ground.

As his back impacted the ground, a loud boom echoed in the air, causing the cage that held your friends to shake. Lucas continued to stare with unmoving eyes, watching you fight the beast that tortured him.

He felt a light pat on his shoulder, making him flinch out of his thoughts. Looking to his left shoulder, GB can be seen sitting there with a gentle expression, but Lucas couldn't fully see it.

"How are you feeling...?" the monochromatic Mario asked in a nonchalant tone, but the boy could hear the gentleness in his voice, guessing that he was trying to comfort him. The Luigi character model felt a bead of sweat slowly flowing down his body.

"I'm scared... I'm scared that Sleepy is going to lose the fight" he finally answered, his voice felt like it was going to break, but he held it in. GB took in the boy's words before he answered.

"They're not going to lose," he replied with a firm tone. "Before they came to this dimension, they had to fight me" The boy's eyes widened at GB words, words were stuck in his throat as he tried to process what to say.

"It's true" spoke a voice, turning his gaze to see that Cloud had joined the conversation. "They have this power that is able to help them in battle. Sleepy was able to use it while they were battling GB"

The small boo then pointed to where you and MX were still fighting, small splatters of blood littered the ground. "That's why they have so many scars all over them. They had to fight their way to get here..."

Lucas continued to stare at the two people fighting, feeling himself calm down from the words of reassurance. There was hope that you would defeat him once and for all, and he would escape this cursed game.

"Just believe in them, Lucas..." The small boo pleaded as they continued to watch the fight. All of a sudden, the boy felt a presence next to him, making him slowly turn his gaze towards it.

The boy's character model eyes widened in fear as they see a dark blue hedgehog that floated next to them. Its quills were unkempt and dirty, the tips of them were coated with a dried patch of blood.

Black eyes with red pupils stared into his soul as a grin stretched on his lips, its teeth sharp and yellow. Its gloves were slightly torn as his shoes were black and wrinkly. The hedgehog didn't say anything to the boy as they stared down at people battling.

"So... MX found a new opponent, huh Lucas?" spoke the demonic hedgehog, catching the boy off guard. "H-how do you know my n-name...?" stuttered the boy, feeling anxiety creep up.

"MX has told me so much about you... He told me that he was able to find a kid that he could torture. You should've thrown that game away when you got the chance..."

Lucas stood there in disbelief as the hedgehog continued to watch the fight. "So this is Sleepy, huh. I can feel the power that MX has told me about... He wasn't lying when he said that they were able to hurt him"

"Hurt him? What do you mean by that?" Lucas questioned, wanting to know more. The hedgehog chuckled at the boy's curiosity. "You see, MX gets a thrill for fighting. He only had one opponent... And that opponent was me"

The conversation stopped for a bit as the demonic figure continued speaking. "I'm glad that he was able to find another, it got tiring for me...."

"How do you know this 'MX' guy...?" questioned Cloud as GB silently listened to the conversation, taking in the information. "I'm his best friend. Friends since the mid 80's. We were born in corrupted versions of our games, and that is how we met..."

Lucas thought long and hard as his eyes widened, feeling his memory flow in his mind. "Wait, I think I know you" he uttered with an unsure tone. The hedgehog turned towards him with a cocked-up brow.

"Y-you're Sonic, right? Your game was announced to be released in a f-few years" The hedgehog gave him a nod, telling him that the boy was right on the money. "But how?"

Chapter Text

Minutes seemed to turn into hours as the fight continued on. Battle damage littered both of your bodies as you stared down each other.

MX's dark red overalls were nearly shredded, showing the black undershirt he had on. His gloves were torn as blood slowly streamed down his face.

With you, new cuts littered your arms and hands. A small stream of blood flowed down your non-existent nose. You didn't know how that could happen, but you ignored it.

The tank top you wore had scratch marks that tore through some of it. Your heartbeat ringed in your non-existent ear as the power stars barrier started to flicker off and on.

"I haven't had this much fun for so long, Sleepy..." he spoke, trying to control his heavy breathing from the fight. Your dull eyes stared at him as you gave him a small sly smile.

"I never would've thought that this fight would last this long..." you replied as you took a defensive stance. An amused chuckle escaped your opponents lips, feeling excitement course through him.

From the cage above them, Lucas was still watching the fight. Anxiety began to course through him as he turned his gaze towards the hedgehog. "C-can't you stop this?! It's been going on for too long!"

The demonic hedgehog stared at him before shaking his head slightly at a no. "Whenever MX is in a fight, he doesn't want anyone to interrupt. If you disturbed him, you'll be thrown into the mix. Eventually getting yourself killed" he simply answered.

The luigi character model stared at the hedgehog in disbelief. "D-does he kill his opponents...?" He stuttered a question, hoping to get the answer he wanted. "It depends... If his opponent is able to keep up with him, he'll keep him alive"

The boy sighed at the answer, but the hedgehog wasn't finished. "If the opponent were to lack the skill of fighting back, they would've been killed with no hesitation"

The demonic hedgehog stared at the boy and the other with a sincere expression, it was genuine as well. "So be glad that your friend is still alive" he added as he turned back to watch the fight.

Lucas opened his mouth to say something, but his words were stuck in his throat. He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled before speaking. "Has anyone survived...?" He asked with hesitation.

The hedgehog was silent for a moment before answering the kids' questions. "Just one person... Me" he answered, not looking back at the kid.

It was completely silent, as if no one was here in this room.

With no warning, he charged towards you. Throwing the first punch, you blocked it and headbutted him, causing him to be pushed back slightly. While he was stunned, you aimed a blow to his gut, making him spew out blood.

He then countered with a forceful knee to your gut, making you gasp for air. Putting his hands together, he tried to spike you to the ground, but you dodged it in time. Gathering some power from the star, you landed a blow to his jaw before landing a kick, pushing him away.

The giant snarled with anger as he punched the ground with enough force, causing debris from the ceiling to fall down. Using it to your advantage, you pushed your hands out as some of the debris glowed bright yellow.

You then forced your hands towards MX as you used your telekinesis to throw the debris at him. He covered his face with his arms, blocking the incoming projectiles. Small groans of pain escaped his mouth as each piece of debris caused a lot of damage.

As he was distracted, you charged towards him and delivered a kick to the gut, making his body go flying to the wall. As his body left a dent, he quickly stood up as he heard a hum coming from you.

Your body glowed brightly as you charged a blast from your hands. He let out a chuckle and stood there, waiting for you to fire the blast. He wanted to feel how much power you still continue to hold.

In a flash, you vanished, causing MX to take guard. A few seconds passed as you appeared in front of his face. You then fired the bright blast right into his face and emitted a roar of pain from the burning feeling.

The blast caused him to fly through the wall, collapsing into a new room. The sound of sizzling can be heard as you make your way towards the giant hole in the wall. You stopped your movement to see MX laying in a pile of debris.

Black smoke flowed from the upper part of his body. You continued to slowly approach the downed giant. Stopping to where his feet were, you stared at him, waiting for him to do something.

You noticed that his mustache was frizzed up from your attack. A muffled groan escaped MX's lips as he slowly sat up, placing his back against the wall. He then took a good long look at his opponent.

The toad held a firm gaze, their expression filled with determination. This was the second opponent he fought that was able to keep up with him. Even hurting him as well. He would've never thought that a toad would be able to fight, which left him even more curious.

You watched the giant's body start to shake, but he didn't make an attempt to attack. The sound of a low chuckle could be heard as it started to slowly become louder. His head was pushed back as his laughter echoed in the giant room

A confused expression laced your face, wanting to know what was going on. His laughter started to quiet down into small chuckles as a sigh escaped his lips. "Thank you, Sleepy..."

You slightly tilted your head in confusion, which caused him to chuckle once more. "What for...?" You questioned as you felt the barrier around you slowly disappear.

"I haven't had a good fight in a long time. You're the second person to be able to keep up with me" he stated. "Who's the other person?" You questioned.

A genuine smile laced his lips. "The other was my best friend. He's around here somewhere" he replied before getting up from the ground. He raised his arms to stretch, pops from his joints echoed.

You watched as he started to grow back to his normal height, which was around twelve feet high. He then started to make his way towards you, making you slightly tense up from his loud footsteps.

Coming to a stop, he placed his damaged gloved hand in front of you, wanting you to hop on. You were slightly hesitant, not knowing if he was going to crush you instantly. Letting out a shaky breath, you slowly walked onto his hand, hearing a chuckle emit from his lips.

Walking back into the main room, a wide toothy smile landed on his lips as he waved towards the hedgehog. "How's it going, Lord X?" He greeted, earning a chuckle from the demonic hedgehog.

You began to study his appearance, which looked like Sonic the Hedgehog, but more demonic and horrifying. It didn't frighten you, it actually surprised you, not knowing there could be other versions of Sonic.

You also noticed that his height was way shorter than MX, seeing that he was around three feet tall, which was slightly taller than you. "Yo, MX" He greeted back as the two friends exchanged fistbumbs. Lord X then turned his gaze towards you, giving you a small toothy smile.

"I see that you've found your new rival" he spoke as he floated down next to you. He then pushed out a hand, making you push your hand out to shake hands, greeting each other.

"What were you doing here? I thought toads didn't exist here" he questioned. You pondered on what words to say, trying to figure out what to explain.

"I'm from another dimension... I came here to help people that aren't happy in their world and take them back to my dimension" you continued to explain that the ones that were trapped in the cage were going with you as well.

The giant Mario and the hedgehog stared in confusion, but they continued to listen to your explanation. "Wait. So you're here to get me from my dimension and take me to yours?" MX questioned as he pointed to himself.

"Yeah..." you answered, slightly scratching your arm. The power star was starting to slowly heal your wounds, which left light scars all over your arms, torso, and hands. "There's others back in dimension who are similar to you, but at the same time, they're different"

Taking in your words, a wide smile laced MX's lips, causing Lord X to emit a chuckle. "So there's more people to battle?" He questioned with excitement, but the hedgehog stopped him from speaking. "Maybe there's a reason why they're in Sleepy's dimension. They probably wanted to be there to feel safe and rest"

MX thought long and hard about yours and his friend's explanation. He was bored of his dimension, but he had his best friend to hang with. "Also, can you let the kid? You've been traumatizing the kid ever since he got the game" the hedgehog added.

The giant plumber looked upwards to see that your friends were still in the cage. "Oh right, my bad" he muttered before snapping his fingers. The cage then floated towards MX's hand as the door was unlocked.

Lucas was the first one out of the cage as he pulled you into a hug, feeling his body shaking with relief. "I'm s-so glad you're okay..." he lightly stuttered. He felt a gentle pat on his head from you.

Cloud and GB were next out of the cage. The boo enveloped you into a hug, feeling their cold presence behind you. Turning your gaze towards the monochromatic Mario, you noticed that he'd grown a bit taller, his height was at your shoulder.

You gently patted his head as you watched him lean into the touch, seeing that he liked it. MX stared at GB with wonder. "So there's others that are somewhat like me?"

Answering with a nod, you explained that GB was in a dimension that represented a different Mario game. He noticed that GB was more introverted.

While you were speaking to the giant, Lucas hid behind you, not wanting MX to see him. Without turning around, you gently patted his shoulder, silently reassuring him that he was going to be okay.

"So when do we go? Is there a way that you travel?" Questioned the hedgehog. "We'll have to wait a bit. Soon enough, there should be a green pipe popping up-"

As soon as those words were spoken, a familiar sound effect echoed in the giant room, making everyone turn their gaze towards the sound.

There it was. A shiny green pipe was there in the middle of the area.

"Should we get going?" Asked MX, turning his gaze back to you. "Yeah... But" you started as you brought Lucas next to you. "On one condition... Apologize to Lucas and let him go back home" the boys eyes widened in shock as a hopeful feeling started to rise within him.

MX gave you a nod before his empty eye sockets stared at the boy, making him flinch. "I apologize for my actions... I have caused you so much damage to you"

The eight year boy continued to listen to his apology, feeling tears of relief starting to form. "As you go back home, this dimension will be deleted from your game... I hope you can accept that"

The Luigi character model stared at MX. He lowered his head, fidgeting his fingers as tear drops slowly dripped down. "I... I a-accept... Please bring me back h-home..." he stuttered his answer, gently soothing your hand on his back.

Lucas then started crying, feeling himself be brought into a hug from you. He was finally going home. He didn't know how long he was gone, he only felt relief.

"T-thank you... Thank you for everything..."

Slowly breaking the comforting hug, he wiped his tears off his face as he faced MX. "I'm ready" he spoke, earning a hum from the giant. With the snap of his fingers, Lucas started to glow a white hue.

His body slowly started to fade away as he gave you, GB, and Cloud a wave goodbye. "Bye everyone..." he spoke in a gentle tone before his body disappeared. A sigh escaped your lips, feeling glad that Lucas was back home.

It was silent for a moment, but you began to speak, gaining everyone's attention. "Are you guys ready to go?" you questioned, getting multiple nods from everyone.

MX carefully placed you, GB, and Cloud on the ground as Lord X slowly descended to the ground. You watched as MX shrinked into a different size, which was around six foot. "I can get used to this size..." he stated as he turned towards his friend.

"Can he come along too? I don't want to leave him behind" he asked, not wanting to leave his only friend behind. "Sure, I don't see the problem" you replied as the two jumped with joy before giving 3ach other a high-five.

Everyone made their way towards the pipe, surrounding it as everyone felt tense. Especially you.

You didn't know if you were going home or not, but you silently prayed that you'd be going home this time. A shaky sigh escaped your lips as you looked at everyone with a hopeful expression.

"Everyone ready?" You questioned, receiving firm nods from everyone. With that, you were the first to jump in, hearing the sound effect from the pipe. Next was Cloud, followed by GB, Lord X, and MX.

As everyone hopped in, the pipe disappeared into the ground.

Somewhere around the world.

There laid a small house that was covered in a soft blanket of snow. Inside were two devastated and broken parents that sat at the table.

Dried tear marks were visible on their faces as each of them stared at their son's missing poster. It showed him with a bright smile on his face with the parents' phone numbers.

Their son has been missing for days, a couple of days after Christmas. They didn't know what happened. The last time they saw their child was in the living room playing his NES console that he got for Christmas.

"What are we gonna do...?" Spoke the mother, her voice was silent yet hoarse from the non-stop crying. She felt her husband's hand being gently placed on hers, making tears start up.

"We're going to find him... I promise" replied the father, wiping away his tears. "But we tried so much... We have to find h-him..."

"I know, honey. We'll do our best to find Lucas" getting up from his chair, he embraced his wife, feeling her body shaking as she cried against his shoulder.

It was silent for a moment, the only thing that could be heard was the mother's tears. That was until something softly banged on the floor in the living room, making them freeze.

With quickness, the husband instantly grabbed a bat that was next to the fridge. "Stay behind me" he whispered as he held his wife's hand. They slowly crept into the living room, wondering what that sound was.

As they turned the corner to the living room, they froze. The only thing that could be heard was the bat falling to the ground.

In front of them was a boy that was sitting on the carpet, looking around the dark house. The boy turned around to see two people staring back at him with shocked expressions.

He didn't notice the tears streaming down his face as he broke the tense silence.

"M-mom...? Dad..."

He didn't receive an answer as he was tackled to the ground into a firm hug. "Lucas! Lucas, you're here!" cried the mother as their son hugged her back. His father envelopes them both, making it a group hug.

"M-my son... My son is back home!" stuttered the father as warm tears began to pour out of his eyes. "I miss you guys so much!" cried the boy.

"We miss you so much!" replied the mother as she gently cupped his face, wiping away the tears. "Where did you go?! What h-happened?!" she asked with urgency.

Lucas tried to stutter an answer, but more tears streamed down his face as he couldn't control his hiccups. "It's okay, Lucas. D-don't force yourself" whispered the father as the family embraced each other firmly.

Chapter Text

Somewhere, at Princess Peach's castle.

Peach and Horror Peach can be seen walking around in the flower garden. Toads can be seen giving maintenance, planting, or just hanging. The sun shined brightly on the field, making the flowers look more vibrant.

Peach wore a knitted sweater that was her favorite color with some white leggings. Horror peach had a more relaxing attire, wearing some shorts and a long-sleeved shirt.

The two princesses decided to sit on a bench near a field of pink flowers, wanting to sit and enjoy the view of their favorite color. “Don't you just love the smell of fresh air in the morning?” Said Peach, wanting to start a conversation.

Her horror counterpart formed an unsure smile on her lips, she wasn't sure how to answer the question. She wasn't really a morning person, even if it's coming from a princess, she wasn't used to it.

Back in her dimension, she would stay inside in either her ruined castle or some old bunker with M. “It's okay…” she finally answered before continuing. “It feels peaceful, I'm just not used to the sun shining this brightly”

Peach gave her an understanding nod. It's been three months since M and Horror Peach arrived here. While she was giving orders to toads and relaxing outside, the other stayed inside.

She was delighted to finally have her outside, wanting to have to have some girl time. Maybe next time, she could invite Toadette and her two other princess friends as well. Horror Peach let out a sigh before turning her gaze towards Peach.

“Peach… I just want to say thank you… For letting us stay here” Peach tilted her head at her horror counterpart words. “If Sleepy hadn't come to our dimension, I don't know where I'd be…” A single bloody tear slowly streamed down her cheek.

With quickness, Peach pulled out a pack of tissues from her pocket. Giving her a tissue, she gently patted her back, comforting her. “You don't need to thank me. I'm more than glad to have you guys here”

Small sniffles could be heard as she continued to speak in a gentle tone. “You guys have added more fun in our lives. It's always me, the mario brothers, the toads, and bowser. But we should be thanking Sleepy for all this”

The horror version of her gave her a small smile. “I know, it's just that I've never been so relaxed before… I feel more peaceful” she stated, her voice slightly breaking. All her worries were slowly washed away when she arrived.

“I just hope that Sleepy will be okay” she added, knowing that everyone had missed you. It's been nearly two weeks since you were gone.

“Why don't we all do something fun together? We shouldn't be worried about them” she then placed her hand on her chest. “Sleepy is always on my mind, but I can't let that stress me out. That's why everyone is here… To relax”

Horror Peach's smile grew slightly bigger, taking in the comforting words. Her mind then went onto something else. Does Bowser exist in this dimension?

She knows that Bowser has plans to kidnap the princess almost every time, but she hasn't seen any appearance from him. She decided to let it go, not wanting to ruin the enlightening mood.

As they continued to converse with each other, her horror counterpart was finally opening herself to her. They both had many things in common, but they liked different things as well.

Their conversation was interrupted when small, rapid footsteps could be heard coming towards them. Turning their gaze towards the sound, they see a green and yellow toad running towards them. Their expressions held excitement, but they could see worriedness as well.

“Princesses! The pipe in the forest! It's glowing!” The announcement caused the two to hurriedly stand up from the bench. “While we were walking around, we heard a hum coming from the forest. So we traveled to the sound and saw the pipe glowing!”

The princesses thanked the toads for the information, they quickly ran out of the garden, making their way towards the location of the pipe. Their hearts beat with excitement, hoping that you were coming back home.

But at the same time, they had to be cautious, not knowing if it's another person you sent here while you went to another dimension. Halting their movement, they found the glowing pipe, hearing the sound of the humming grow louder.

The two waited in silence, waiting for someone to come out. Their excitement was slowly being washed over by anxiousness. As the pipe glowed brighter, someone exited out of the, it was someone small.

It was spinning in the air, trying to stop themselves from getting dizzy. As the individual stopped, the princess finally took its appearance. It represents a boo, but it was smaller than normal. Its black eyes held curiosity as it didn't bare its sharp teeth like a regular boo.

This one looked innocent. They also noticed that it didn't shy away from them, guessing that this boo wasn't scared of eye contact.

“H-hello…?” The boo greeted innocently, causing Peach's blue eyes to widen in shock. The voice held a child-like tone. “You can talk? I didn't know that boo's could talk?” The boo nodded at her words before giving them an innocent smile.

“You must be the two princesses Sleepy was talking about, right?” The two nodded at the boo, watching the smile grow wider. “I'm Cloud, one of the people that was rescued by Sleepy” it introduced.

Taking in the information, it seems that more than one or two people are coming here. “Did another Mario happen to come here some time ago? He has red eyes” the small boo questioned.

“Yes, are you from his dimension?” replied Horror Peach, getting a nod from the boo. “How is he feeling?”

“Akuma is… alright. He really doesn't speak that much. He always looks upset or gloomy…” stated Peach. Cloud hummed at the information, seeing that he was still the same when you all left that dimension.

It also noticed that he decided to give himself a name, guessing that he doesn't want to be called ‘Devil Mario’ anymore.

“Are more people coming here? You said that you were one of the few” questioned Peach, earning a nod from Cloud. “Yes, they should be here any second”

A few seconds had passed as another figure hopped out of the pipe. This one represented Mario, but it had a monochromatic theme. He wore a black long-sleeved shirt with white overalls over it and a white cap with gloves. His cap covered most of his face that had ‘GB’ on it.

The monochromatic Mario surveyed the area, seeing that they arrived in a forest. Turning his gaze towards the princesses, he gave them a small yet polite wave. “This is GB. He was the next person Sleepy had encountered” informed Cloud.

The princesses chuckled to themselves, seeing that another Mario joined. “My, this entire place is going to be surrounded by Mario's” Peach lightly joked. “What dimension did you come from?”

“My dimension is based on a video game called Super Mario Land 2” he answered in a monotone voice, but in a polite way. “Does your name stand for something?” Questioned Peach, earning a faint chuckle from the new Mario.

“It stands for ‘Golden Boy’, but I like GB better” he replied as he felt himself growing slightly taller. He was now at his full height, but a couple of inches shorter than Peach.

“So this is the place Sleepy told us about… It's very bright out here” he spoke as he surveyed the area once more. There is more color, life, and nature to it. In his dimension, his world was only a color palette of black, white, and teal.

In the distance, he could see toads either watching what was going on or they were minding their business. “So how many people are in this dimension?” He asks, wanting to see how many people were saved by you.

“Well, this is my dimension,” Peach pointed to herself as she placed a hand on her horror counterpart's shoulder. “This is Horror Peach, so far the only Peach that's been brought here” she then pointed some fingers up.

“There's four Mario's, including you and three Luigi's” she stated. “That's a lot, but I think you're gonna have to count one more Mario. And a new person” he informed, watching a confused expression laced Peach's face.

They turned to see the pipe glow brighter once more as a tall, slightly large individual hopped out of the pipe. As they landed, they caused the ground to slightly shake. The princesses eyes widened at the hulking figure of another Mario.

He was six feet tall and had white skin. Wearing a black long-sleeved shirt with some gloves as well, but its dark red overalls were shredded. His wide smile showed its pearly white teeth as its voided eye sockets stared at them. His dark red cap had ‘MX’ on it.

“Hello…” he spoke in a low octave, yet they could hear an awkward tone to it. “H-hello there, what's your name?” Stuttered Peach. Horror Peach noticed that he was a foot taller than M.

“It's MX…” he replied as he scratched the back of his head. Looking around, colors seemed to bloom in his sight of vision, even though he didn't have eyes. It was very different from his world, only seeing the colors of gray bricks and dull blue water.

He also noticed that one of the princesses wasn't normal like the other one, wanting to see how many people looked normal from him.

He then thought of something as he looked around him and the new people in front of him. “He's not here yet…” he muttered. “Who's not here?” Uttered Peach. “He's waiting for his best friend. Sleepy said that he was okay to bring him” informed Cloud.

The pipe glowed again as a shorter individual. Taking a look at the newcomer, he represented a hedgehog, who looked very familiar in the past.

Its blue-gray quills were spiky and unkept, his shoes weren't red, it was black and wrinkled. He had black eyes with small red pupils with sharp teeth. They noticed that he had a giant scar that formed into a ‘X’ shape on his stomach. His height was slightly taller than a toad.

Before the hedgehog could speak, he was pulled into a bone-crushing hug from MX. “You're finally here! I thought I was gonna be alone here!” He spoke with excitement, as he gave his best friend a noogie. The hedgehog chuckled at him before breaking out of his hold.

“So this is the place, huh?” He spoke as he turned towards the two princesses. “I'm Lord X, but you can just call me X. I really don't like the name” he spoke in a polite tone as he slightly bowed.

Horror Peach chuckled at X and MX's playfulness, wanting to see how they became good friends. “So how did you guys meet?” She questioned, watching a proud smile widen on the hulking Mario's lips.

“We were born in a corrupted version of our games. When the first Sonic game released a few years after my game, his corrupted soul seemed to be transported into mines” he stated as Lord X added to the statement.

“We became rivals when both of our games were so popular, people didn't know who to like more between the two franchises” he then gave his giant best friend a playful punch to his arm. “But we decided to settle our difference and became best friends”

Peach was now starting to understand, this hedgehog was supposed to look like Sonic. There were times where her people would have events with Sonic and his friends. But those were years ago.

“So has Sleepy arrived here yet? We want to thank them for bringing us here. It was getting boring in our dimension” he received a no from the princesses, watching their eyes filled with sadness.

“How was Sleepy when they arrived into your dimensions?” She questioned, wanting to get to know more about the newcomers. “Well, they make a good sparring partner” MX informed, watching Peach's eyes widen in shock while Horror Peach chuckled with amusement.

Sleepy? Fighting? They would've never thought that their adoring toad would be fighting. “I-is there any more?” She stuttered a question, watching GB and Cloud raise their hands.

“Akuma had died in battle, but Sleepy was able to revive him and turn him back to normal. He was possessed in my dimension” spoke the small boo.

“And with me, we had a fight when they collected my six coins. When I saw that they had some sort of power, I knew that they weren't a regular toad” added the monochromatic Mario.

The princesses sighed with relief, knowing that their toad was safe. In the meantime, they decided to converse with each other, learning about each other's worlds.

What seemed like a few minutes passed as the green pipe glowed once more. There was only silence in the forest as the pipe popped out the final person. As they landed on their feet, you had finally arrived back home.

Peach and Horror Peach took in your appearance, seeing that it was different when you left again.

Healed scars and wounds littered your arms. The bottom of your tank top was slightly shredded, showing more of your healed scars. Bandages were wrapped on some parts of your arms, seeing that you didn't have your hoodie.

A tired smile slowly stretched on your lips as your dull eyes gaze towards everyone. “Hey guys…” you spoke as you were pulled into a group hug by the two princesses.

Chapter Text

As the two princesses broke the bone-crushing hug, a few groups of toads surrounded the group, watching their confused expressions turn to excitement and relief. Their cheers lightly echoed in the area, causing everyone to smile at the moment.

“You've been gone for a while, Sleepy. How was the trip to the other dimensions?” Questioned a purple toad, watching the other toads nod in agreement. “From all the other dimensions, these were different from my experience.”

Turning your gaze towards Cloud and the others, you gave them a rare toothy smile. “But, I still managed to help them the best I can.” The toads clapped from your speech, watching a sheepish smile land on your lips.

A sigh flowed out of your lips as you turned towards the castle, seeing that it's still in one piece. You don't know how long you've been gone for, but everything looked different when you left.

“How are the others doing?” You asked, turning to face the princesses. A small yet sad smile laced their lips, knowing that the others in the castle missed you.

“Everyone is doing great. The Luigi's are always in the game room, the Mario's tend to be by themselves, but they're okay.”

Taking in the status of everyone, you turned towards the newcomers, a gentle smile graced your lips. “Are you guys ready to meet the others?” The group answered with nods filled with excitement while GB gave you a thumbs up.

A small huff escaped your lips as you led everyone to the big castle, waving at the large groups of toads that hopped with joy. The princesses followed close with you as Peach told some of them to get everyone ready.

Walking up the steps, you stopped at the two large doors. A shaky sigh escaped your lips, you were back home once again. Peach gently patted your head, reassuring you that you were okay. Giving her a smile, you pushed the doors open, hearing a loud creak from its hinges.

As you opened the doors, the bright colors of pink and blue clouded your vision. The decorative hallways, floor design, and the ceiling were all remodeled. “What made you want to change the place up, Peach?”

A toothy smile graced her lips, she was happy that you noticed the main area was remodeled. “Well, since we don't know how many people are going to be living here, we decided to upgrade.”

She explained that her horror counterpart came up with an idea. Since you were gone for a while, they didn't know how many people you were going to bring back. She also added that it hasn't been remodeled in years, so she took the opportunity.

As she finished her explanation, you heard multiple footsteps coming towards the entrance, making you face forward. MX held a wide smile when he sees multiple variations of himself, hoping to challenge one of them.

The first one to respond was your Mario. “Sleepy! I'm glad you're safe!” You were then pulled into a big hug from the Italian plumber. One individual seemed to join in, seeing that it was Luigi.

“How've you been, Sleepy?” He questioned with a bright smile. “It's been good, I've brought in some more people.” Pointing behind you, their eyes widen at the newcomers.

“Whoa! This-a version of me is huge!” MX chuckled at the shorter Mario, making crouch down to his height. “Man, I'm probably the only tall Mario here…” That was until another version Mario walked towards them.

MX sockets seemed to widen slightly when another Mario was nearly the same height as him. He wore a neutral expression, his black and red eyes surveyed the group. “MX, this is M. He's one of the first ones I've rescued.”

The larger Mario extended his hand out, watching M firmly grab it. His smile widened at the firm grip, knowing that he could make another great opponent. He sees a smirk laced on Horror Mario's lips. He could make a good rival.

“How do you like living here?” He questioned in his gruff voice. “It's great. I feel relief from getting away from my dimension.” M answered with a low yet smooth tone.

The horror counterpart noticed a dull blue hedgehog next to him, but his appearance was very different from the games he watched the Luigi's play in the game room.

“This is my best friend. He wanted to come with us because he didn't want to be by himself.” MX teased, which earned him a punch to the shoulder.

“Don't listen to him.” He spoke as a light chuckle escaped his lips. “You can call me X, I know that I look like a certain hedgehog, but I'm a corrupted version of him. Same with MX.” M nodded at the information, seeing that he would get along with these two.

As they conversed, Cloud went to go meet the Luigi's. There were three of them, to be exact. There was the original one, another Luigi had a gloomy appearance, but they had a bright expression. Then there was the last one, who slightly towered the other Luigi's.

“Hi! What are your names? Well, I know that you're different kinds of Luigi's.” The boo spoke, shocking the original Luigi. The boo held a slightly shocked expression as well, noticing that they weren't afraid of them.

“A boo that can talk? That's different.” He spoke before pointing to himself. “I'm Luigi from this dimension,” he introduces before going towards the other Luigi's and placing his arms on their shoulders.

“This one right here is Beta Luigi. He came from the dimension that he was trapped in a haunted mansion to save his brother.” He explained that you had helped Beta save his brother. He held a pale, depressing appearance but held a happy glint in his eyes.

“I wish we had Polterpup with us, he would've become great friends with you.” Spoke Beta, nearly forgetting that he had a ghost dog. The two exchange waves as Luigi introduces the other Luigi.

This one had darker clothing than the others, and his skin tone was slightly tanned. A shadow had covered the upper part of his face. “This one is L, he came from a dimension from an older Mario game.”

L had given them a small wave, seeing that he wasn't very talkative, which was okay. In the small boo's dimension, their Luigi wasn't a coward. He was bold and brave, knowing from watching him fight his brother, who was possessed by multiple boo's.

With GB, he was introduced to two Mario's. One was the original, and there was one that had light shaded clothing. “I like-a your appearance! Which dimension did you come from?” questioned Beta Mario.

“I come from a dimension that took place in the gameboy era. That's why my appearance is more different from yours…”

The two Mario's smiled brightly, telling him that their favorite games were from the gameboy as well. A ghost of a smile had laced his lips, seeing that these Mario's were happy.

But that was until he saw another Mario a few feet away from them.

This Mario held his gaze towards the ground, as if he was shy to speak to the newcomers. His clothing was more vibrant than the originals, but he didn't have a plumber hat. He also noticed that he had healed scars on his cheeks with dull red eyes and dark circles under them.

Has he been through something?

Mario noticed that he was looking behind him, his expression saddened a bit. “That's Akuma… He's very distant from everyone, but he comes around sometimes.”

GB gave him an understanding nod before stepping towards him, making sure to startle him. He watched the red-eyed Mario look towards him, making slightly flinch. The monochromatic Mario held his hands slightly up, telling him that he meant no harm.

“What has happened to you, Akuma?” He questioned with a light yet monotone voice. He noticed his body was starting to shiver, making him pat his back. “Take your time…” he watched a tear stream down Akuma's face, but he quickly wiped it away.

He let out a shaky huff before fully looking at GB. His voice held an emotionless tone. “I've lost so much… My life was normal in my dimension, but my body was taken over…” he stopped right there, feeling the memories of the hundred of individuals he massacred.

“Have you told this to anyone?” GB received a small yet shakh nod. “Not to everyone though… Sleepy knows what happened. You're the first person I've actually spoken to about it…”

The monochromatic Mario hummed at the answer. “I should be dead right now… But I was saved by the toad.” He heard a faint chuckle flow out GB's lips. “I should be dead as well… But Sleepy had captured my soul before it disappeared.”

There was a comfortable yet awkward silence, only hearing the background conversations from the others. “How did you come across them?” Questioned the dull, red-eyed Mario, breaking the silence. GB explained that the toad had to collect sic coins so they could escape his world.

Going into more detail, he also told Akuma that you defeated him with some type of power. Akuma frozed at the mentioned power, knowing actually what it was. GB had noticed that Akuma was spacing out, making sure to tap his shoulder gently, bring him back.

“You were stuck like that for a bit… Is everything alright?” The dull, red-eyed Mario gave him a shaky yet reassuring nod. “Y-yeah… My mind kind of drifts off sometimes.” The monochromatic Mario knew that someone was going through Akuma's head, but he decided not to pressure him.

“Well, it was nice to meet you…”

“GB. It was nice to meet you as well.” Exchanging nods GB helped Akuma introduce himself to the newcomers.

Back with you, a group of toads surrounded you, listening to your words about your journey to other dimensions. You then felt someone pick up from the ground and pulled into a hug. The person who picked you up was tall, so this was either M or L.

Moving back a bit in the person's arms, you saw that it was M. “How are you feeling?” He questioned in a gentle tone. “I'm feeling alright, a bit tired though.” You replied.

You watched his black and red eyes examine your arms and neck, different shapes, and sizes of healed scars were littered. His gloved hand gently traced the scars, a glint of sadness could be seen in his eyes.

“I know that it looks bad, but I was to help them. I knew that I had to be prepared when I was done with Akuma's dimension…” you explained, earning a hum from him. Gently grabbing one of your hands, he placed a gentle peck on a scar on the center of your hand.

You felt his lips lightly travel up your arm before planting a kiss on your cheek, chuckling at your flustered expression. “I'm glad that you're safe.” He muttered before bringing you into another hug.

After everyone had introduced themselves to one another, Peach decided to have a big feast for the newcomers. She and her horror counterpart led everyone to the dining room, watching them sit down around the huge table.

The Mario's sat together, but Akuma had sat between you and GB, seeing that he's only familiar with you both. The Luigi's and Cloud sat next to each other, talking about what game they insisted on playing later on.

One by one, everyone told the toad chefs what they would like to eat. You told them that you wanted your favorite, knowing that you were craving it while you were gone the past few weeks. Turning your gaze next to you, Akuma can be seen having his head down.

Gently tapping his shoulder, his head turned towards you, watching a faint smile grace his lips. “How are you feeling? I know I couldn't check on you while I was in another dimension…”

The red-eyed Mario gave you a sheepish look, not expecting to have so many conversations today. “I'm okay… Still getting used to everyone being nice and relaxing.” A hum flowed out of your lips, knowing that the others were trying to befriend him.

Surveying the dining room, you see that M, X, and MX were happily conversing with each other, guessing that they have things in common. You enjoyed the comforting atmosphere, watching everyone engage in conversations with the newcomers.

Not  knowing if this was the last time you were going to other dimensions, you were definitely prepared for anything if you had to go back. Your thoughts were interrupted when the smell of your favorite food was present in the air.

The doors to the kitchen opened as multiple toad chefs held plates filled with food. Everyone thanked the toads before digging in. As you took a bit of your food, a delighted hum escaped your lips, missing the taste.

Chapter Text

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Lively chatter can be heard in the diner room area. Mostly everyone was finished with their food, deciding to catch up and get to know each other more. The princesses converse with the toads, giving thanks to the chefs.

The Luigi’s discussed what games they should play, all having different likes in certain games. Luigi liked open world, adventure games. Beta insisted that they should play suspense or thriller. And with L, he wanted to relax and play puzzle games.

With the Mario’s, Mario and Beta chatted with each other, excitement filling their tones as the two were the most joyful ones out of the bunch. GB and Akuma quietly spoke to each other in silence, getting the feel that these two were going to hang out a lot more.

The demonic hedgehog snickered at his best friend, observing the taunting conversation between MX and M. It seems that MX wanted to have a quick sparring match when they were finished. Maybe they could have you there with them as well.

A content sigh escaped your lips, feeling full from the meal. You felt a satisfied smile laced your lips as you placed your arms on the table while putting your head down. Now you need a nice, long nap.

The sounds of dishes being picked up from the table caused you to lift your head, making sure to give the toad chefs your dirty dishes to clean. Once everyone was finished, they were dismissed off to do whatever they wanted.

Getting up from your seat, you quietly walked down the hallway where your room was, waving to the other toads that were hanging out. Opening your door, a gentle sigh escaped your lips. “My bed…” you whispered with a small smile.

All you wanted to do was to lay down in bed and pass out, but you need to freshen yourself. Stepping towards your drawers, you pulled out some comfortable clothing, holding the soft material against your chest.

Making your way to the bathroom in your room, you decided to run a bath this time, a bubble bath. As the water was running, you placed your ripped and dirty clothes in the trash, having no use of them anymore.

Stepping into the tub, a heavy sigh escaped your lips, feeling your body relax in the warm water. The fresh smell of vanilla soap was present in the air, steam softly flowing from your body. The water was up to your neck, but you moved yourself so the water can be covering your mouth.

Your eyes closed from the warm, feeling the stress being washed over relaxation. You mindlessly played with your hands in the water, feeling the gentle flow in the water. For some reason, you felt your body sink deeper into the tub.

The tub was pretty big, and since you were a toad, you could fully submerge in the water if you wanted to. As your body slowly sank, the only thing that could be seen was your mushroom head poking out of the water that was surrounded by bubbles.

You kept your eyes closed, you felt like you were going to melt in the relaxing bath. ‘This is nice…’ you thought, while sitting back up. Washing the parts of your body, you decided that it was time to get out, knowing that your fingers were slightly wrinkled.

Hopping out of the tub, you grab your towel before draining the tub, making sure to wash away the soap so it won’t stick and become dirty. Drying off, you shivered at the cool air that brushed against your skin.

Putting on the comfortable clothing that you chose to wear, you exit out of your bathroom, closing the door behind you. Slowly walking towards your bed, you immediately face-plant onto the soft covers, a tired smile stretched on your lips.

You could literally just fall asleep like this, but you maneuver yourself to sit up. Laying against the soft pillows on your bed, turning your gaze towards the closed curtains, you see that the sun is starting to set.

Looking at your small dresser that was next to your bed, you picked up your hand-held console, seeing that it was charged. Scrolling past the hundred games that were listed, you picked the one game that you haven't played in a while.

The sounds of buttons being pressed was the only thing that could be heard in your room, the tv across your room was on a screen saver, glancing at the pictures that were shown. It was silent for a moment until there came a gentle knock on your door.

Pausing your game, you hopped off your bed before stepping towards the door. Opening it revealed L; he was wearing some sweats and a gray shirt. “Hey L…” you greeted in a gentle tone, watching a small smile laced his lips.

“Hey.” he greeted back in a soft, raspy tone, causing your eyes to slightly widen before going back to normal. You haven’t heard his voice in a while, he was the silent one out of all the Luigi’s.

Taking in more of his relaxed appearance, his plumber hat wasn't on his head, now getting a look of his eyes. You could slightly see his eyes that were covered by a shadow. He didn’t have blue eyes like your Luigi, he had dark green eyes that looked like they could glow.

His eyes held a relaxed glint, he still enjoyed living here with everyone. Especially you. Grabbing your hand, he slowly led you towards the game room, guessing that they wanted to play a game with you.

While walking towards the room, toads can be seen going to their rooms for the night or still hanging around with others. Once the two of you were there, L opened the door to reveal Luigi and Beta in their pj’s.

A chuckle escaped from your lips as you saw the excited expressions of their faces. L had led you to the couch where everyone sat, making sure that you were comfortable. “We’re glad you’re here, Sleepy! We were about to play some horror games.” Greeted Luigi.

Your tired expression brightened; a wide smile laced your lips. Horror games are one of your favorite types of games to play. Feeling the excitement and thrill when you're either playing alone or with others.

“What are we playing?” you questioned, your tired tone was mixed with eager. “It’s a game where you have to survive a certain time to move on to the next level. You have to keep a lookout for animatronics, so they won’t get to you.” explained Beta with a smile.

As Luigi started to boot-up the game, you examined the table in front to see different kinds of snacks and drinks that were placed. “Alright, it’s done!” Luigi announced as everyone turned towards the tv.

Luigi was able to connect his computer to the tv so everyone could see what was shown. There was a total of five nights to survive, the screen shows a brown bear with dull blue eyes, eerily staring at everyone.

L looked next to him to see that you were nearly shaking with excitement, causing a low chuckle to escape from his lips. You felt his gloved hand envelope yours, causing you to look up at him and smile.

Luigi pressed a button to start the first night. The screen turned black for a few seconds before it showed an office. On the wall in front, there was a poster that said giant words of ‘Celebrate!’ on it. It also showed two more animatronic animals.

Besides the brown bear was a purple bunny equipped with a red guitar and a yellow chicken that wore a bib and held a small plate with a pink cupcake. “They look creepy…” muttered Beta, a nervous chuckle flowed out of his lips.

After the phone guy finished his instructions, the night began. Luigi switched through the cameras, each room was creepy and grimy. The place was the inside of a pizzeria, but how could a place like this look this creepy?

“It’s 1am, now… Is something supposed to happen?” muttered Luigi, continuing to flicker through the cameras. You carefully surveyed the cameras he went through, and something was missing.

“Wait, put the camera back on the stage.” Luigi quickly placed the camera on the state where the animatronics were; one of them is missing.

“Um… Where’s the bunny?”

Your question earned you a wide-eyed stare from Luigi, causing Beta to nearly burst out of laughter as the original version of himself quickly clicked through the cameras. “He’s there! In the supply closet!” pointed Beta.

Clicking towards the respective camera, the purple bunny was staring dead at the camera. Its dull yet piercing magenta eye held no life in them. It stood in silence in the small room. Looking at the clock, it was 2am.

You held your breath as you watched the camera go dark before turning back on. The bunny wasn’t there.

“Where is he?! He was just here!” L chuckled at Luigi’s outburst, watching his body shake with anxiety and fear. Placing a hand on your mouth, you tried to hold in your laughter at the tense scene. It then turned to 3am.

Luigi placed the tablet where it showed the cameras down as he went to go check on the doors. Pressing a button that turned on a small light, a noise was emitted from the game as the purple bunny stood near the door.

“CLOSE IT!” shouted Beta, making you burst out in laughter. Your hands held your stomach, feeling tears starting to water in your eyes. Examining the screen, you noticed that the power was slowly going down.

You tried to warn him that he was starting to lose power, but laughter continued to pour out of your lips. After a few seconds passed, Luigi checked the door again, sighing in relief when the purple bunny was gone.

“See if the others are moving yet.” you insisted, watching the camera go to the stage. The bear and the chicken haven’t moved yet. It was around 4am, you, L, and Beta continued to alert Luigi on where to look.

As he continuously clicked through the cameras, he found the bunny in the backstage, staring directly at the camera. Its magenta eyes were no more. It was empty sockets that held small, white irises in them.

Your body slightly shivered when you heard low, raspy breathing from the game. “There’s no way these things are breathing…” muttered Beta, his expression filled with disbelief. “Why would they even make them move around? Who came up with that idea?” replied Luigi.

A minute had passed, it was now 5am. You insisted that they should stay out of the cameras and focused on the doors, feeling that something was going to happen. Luigi started to check the doors, making sure to conserve his power.

That was until he checked the left door again, pressing the light button to see that the bunny was there. With quickness, Luigi pressed a certain key on his keyboard to close the door, but it didn’t go down.

“Luigi, close the door…” you spoke, but only received silence.

“Luigi, the door.” Beta followed; his voice was slowly building up with anxiety. L began to chuckle when Luigi rapidly pressed the key to close the door, but nothing happened.

“Dude, the door!”

“...I can’t close it…”

Beta quickly ran towards Luigi’s computer, rapidly pressing the button that was supposed to close the door. “Why won’t it close?! What did you do?!” More laughter began to pour out of your mouth, watching the two argue as they crouched down to the floor, but they still kept their eyes on the screen.

Your hands slowly reached your face to cover it, but L grabbed onto one of them, giving you a reassuring smile. You all waited for something to happen, king that it was about to be game over.

That was until a bell could be heard, followed by the sound of children cheering. The screen showed confetti as five am slowly turned into six am. Sighs of relief flowed out of everyone's lips, successfully beating night one.

“We have to do four more nights? Of this?”

“...I think it’s time for bed.” Insisted Luigi, not wanting to play the game all night. He did not want to have a nightmare tonight. “Alright, goodnight, guys.” spoke Beta, exchanging fist bumps with everyone before heading to his room.

Hopping off the couch, you gave Luigi a hug, feeling his rapid heartbeat from the horror game. Waving him goodbye, you and L exited out of the game and walked your way towards your room.

“Did you have fun, L?” you questioned in a light tone. He answered with a nod, a smile slowly stretched on his lips. Arriving at your door, you felt yourself being lifted off the ground, being pulled into a hug.

A tired chuckle flowed from your lips; your small arms gently wrapped around his neck. You were pulled back slightly, not breaking the hug as L gave you a gentle kiss on your cheek. A shy smile laced your lips as you felt your cheeks warming up.

The tall Luigi chuckled at your flustered expression before gently placing you down. “Goodnight Sleepy…” he spoke in a low tone before waving with a small smile. “Goodnight, L.” you replied with a tired smile, walking into your room and closing the door behind you.

Stepping towards your bed, you lifted the soft covers before enveloping yourself in them. A gentle sigh escaped from your lips as you snuggled against your pillow, lulling yourself into the peaceful darkness.

Chapter Text

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The golden rays of the sun streamed through your blinds, the sounds of birds chirping lightly echoed in the trees. A light groan escaped your lips as your eyelids slowly opened. Softly exhaling, you directed your eyes towards the windows, seeing that the sun had risen.

You placed your face right into your pillow, wanting to go back to sleep. This was your time getting a good night's rest when you came back from dimension traveling. Finally having the courage, you slowly sat up from your bed.

Your eyes stared blankly ahead in your room, sitting there on the soft mattress. Nothing was going through your mind, just sitting there in silence. But that silence was interrupted when you heard something coming from your closet.

The muffled sound of things being knocked over onto the ground made you question it. You did not move from your spot, only rubbing the tiredness out of your eyes as your eyes continued to stare at your closet.

When the sound stopped, you felt an unsure feeling slowly building up in your chest. You felt your body slowly glowing a yellow hue, feeling the power star activating on its own. Before you could make any movement, a familiar boo floated through the closet door.

The appearance made a silent sigh escape from your lips, the glowing hue slowly disappearing as a gentle smile laced your lips. “Hey Cloud… What are you doing in there?” you questioned, your voice still groggy.

“Sorry, I was just sleeping in here. One of the princesses told me that your room was in here, and I didn’t want to disturb you. So I just slept in the closet.” The boo replied with an apologetic smile.

You couldn’t help but chuckle at the explanation, opening your arms. “That’s okay, Cloud. You could have slept on my bed.” you reassured as your arms gently closed around the small boo, giving them a hug.

A joyful laugh escaped the boo’s lips as it started to wander around in your room. They examined the items that you had in your room. Your dressers filled with figures and other items, your tv that played the sounds of rain was paused. They’ve never seen these items before.

“You have a lot of stuff in your room; are you a collector?” they asked, tilting their head with curiosity. A sheepish smile stretched on your lips as you gave them a nod, explaining the various items from your favorite cartoons, video games, and movies.

“This one is one of my favorites.” hopping out of your bed, you picked up a small statue that represented your favorite character. It had blonde, spiked hair with a halo over it. Baggy white pants with a blue sash tied at the hem of it. Its expression wore a serious one with teal eyes.

“He’s one of my favorite characters from an anime I watch.” you explained the details as you placed the statue back on the dresser. “Maybe I can join you when you’re watching your shows.” said the small boo.

Cloud had never seen a tv before, they were only paired in a group with other boo’s from Akuma’s dimension. Stepping over to your closet, you picked up the stuff that fell over, seeing that it was just a few clothes that fell.

Choosing a comfortable outfit to wear, you made your way to the bathroom, closing the door behind you. Taking Off your pjs and putting them in the clothes bin, you put on some comfortable clothes. You then refreshen yourself, brushing your teeth and washing your face.

Stepping out of the bathroom, you made your bed, also cleaning around your room a bit. As you finished cleaning up, the soft knock on your door stopped you in your tracks. Opening the door, it revealed a toad; Toadette specifically.

Her iconic welcoming smile was stretched on her lips as her pink ponytails lightly bounced. She was one of three toads that were different from the other hundreds of toads. You, being the gray toad, Toadette being the pink toad and being the only girl toad, and original toad, having red spots on his mushroom head and a blue vest.

All the toads in the kingdom see you three being siblings, in which you three liked the idea of it.

“Hey Sleepy! How are you this morning?” she greeted in a light tone. “I’m doing fine, just woke up and got myself together for today. There was a point where I didn’t want to get out of bed.” you both emit a chuckle from your words.

“Classic Sleepy. Want to head towards the dining room for breakfast?” you answered with a nod, feeling your stomach lightly growl on cue. Turning around, you waved your hand over to Cloud, telling them that they could come along.

The small boo smiled brightly, showing its small but lightly sharp teeth before floating over next to you. You three walked your way through the halls of the castle, waving the other toads good morning as a few were already awoken.

Closing in on the dining room, the smell of delicious was present in the air, a delighted hum escaping your lips. Walking towards a table with three chairs, you three waited patiently for the food. “How’ve you been doing, Toadette? I haven’t seen you in a while.” you questioned, placing your chin on your arms on the table.

“I’ve been busy, really. Me and Toad have been preparing games and activities for everyone to enjoy.” she explained, playing with her ponytails. Cloud watched you two quietly converse, now fully seeing another toad that was different from you.

Back in their dimension, all the toads were the same, red spots on their mushroom head and blue vests. In your dimension, there was a variety of toads here, and they all had their own personalities. This was their first time seeing a girl toad.

They felt at peace when they saw the toads interact with each other, play and hangout. In their dimensions, toads were only seen as soldiers; soldiers that fought against Devil Mario, only for them to die quickly.

A gentle tap interrupted their train of thought, catching the light expression of concern plaster your face. “Are you feeling alright? You were stuck for a bit?” you questioned in a gentle tone. “Y-yeah. I was just in my thoughts.” they stuttered a reply in their child-like voice.

A light skeptical expression plastered your face, but it went back to normal. Maybe you’ll talk to them later on. The trio resumed their conversation, the chef toads entered the dining room with plates full of your favorite food.

You felt your mouth water from the smell of your favorite food, hearing a light from the pink toad. She watched your dull eyes shimmer from the food. You three thanked the chefs for the food before digging in.

Taking the first bite, a delighted hum escaped your lips, loving the sweet and savory flavors of your favorite breakfast dish. You noticed that Could received some type of spirit food, watching a bright smile stretched on their lips.

You never knew that the chefs could make something for boo’s, but you learn something everyday. Surveying the large dining room, most of the tables were filled with other toads waiting for their food.

“Where’s everyone? I thought they would’ve been awake by now… I’m surprised that Peach isn’t here.” your tone laced with confusion. Looking towards Toadette, a grin was present on her lips, but there was something about it. Like she was planning something.

“Oh they’re awake. They’re just preparing for the big race me and Toad prepared for them.” you replied with a hum as you continued eating your food. “You’re also going to be involved with the race, too. Me, you and Toad are going to be commentators!” she explained with excitement.

Your eyes slightly widened at the information; you’ve never commentated before. “That sounds cool. I haven’t seen Toad in a while. What kind of trophy are you going to give the winner?” you questioned. “Actually, we decided to change the prize into something else…” she replied.

You then asked her what the prize was going to be, slightly confused on why they changed it. The answer you received was only silence, watching a sly smile stretch on her lips. “Toadette… What is the prize?” you asked once more, a nervous smile slowly stretching on your lips.

“The prize for the top three competitors is… A kiss from you.” she replied with an innocent tone, but you could see the playfulness in her eyes. The sound of your fork dropping on your plate can be heard as you cover your face with your hands, feeling your face heat up. Three people?!

“Toadette, please tell me you’re joking…” you whined, your hands muffled your speech. You received a playful chuckle from her. “It’s because I want to. I also want to see how the people you rescued are competitive enough against each other.” she simply explained, your cheeks slowly turn a tint of pink.

“Who’s gonna be at the race?” you managed to question. “You’re gonna be surprised at the people there. But I think you can name a couple of people.” she replied. A sigh escaped from your lips, knowing who some of the people that were going to be there.

‘I know that M and L are going to be in the race. The princesses are probably going to be there as well, maybe the Mario brothers, too... I don’t think X, MX, and Beta are going to participate…’ you thought as you started to finish eating your food, washing it down with some juice.

You both stared at each other, an embarrassed blush was present on your cheeks while Toadette had a playful glint in her eyes with a taunting grin. Cloud couldn't help silently chuckle at the situation.

“When did you come up with this plan?”

“Right after you went to sleep.”

Your mushroom head banged against the table, causing some of the toads to dart their eyes at the sound before going back to what they were doing. “You’re lying. You’re actually lying!” you retorted back with a smile.

The pink toad shook her head, the glint in her eyes told you that she’s telling the truth. She snorted with laughter at your flustered expression. After Toadette and Cloud finished their food, you gave your dirty plates to the chefs and made your way out of the dining room.

You felt her grab your hand. “C’mon! I bet they’re all waiting for us!” she practically dragged you to the racing stadium. Heading outside, the bright sun shone in the blue sky, watching the white clouds float by in the air.

The sounds of cheerful chatter from the toads can be heard from the gardens and around the castle. You three waved at the toads as you continued the long walk.

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

Making it to the stadium, you see hundreds of toads in the stands, the muffled sounds of the conversations can be heard as you three made your way up the flight of stairs. At the top of the metal stairs, you opened the door to the commentator's room to see that Toad was already there.

A sly grin laced Toads lips as he hopped out of his seat. “I can’t believe you actually went with her plan.” you muttered in disbelief with a smile, earning a chuckle from him. “What can I say, she comes up with the best plans,” he replied, exchanging fist bumps with his sister.

“Let’s get onto our seats, I think the drivers are getting ready.” you three hopped onto the three wheeled chairs that were in front of a table stand. Looking ahead, you could see the racetrack and the people in the stands clearly.

“So how are we gonna do this?” you questioned, waiting for either of the two to explain. “It’s basically Mario Kart rules. Four races with three laps, 150cc, normal items, and the top three get the reward.” Toad explained, earning a hum from you.

“But we get to pick where they race!” Toadette added.

Facing forward, you three equipped your headphones on and watched the racers head to their karts. “Alright everybody! How’s everyone doing today?!” Toad announced, hearing the crowd's cheer roared with excitement.

“Here today, we're having a race event with people from here and the people that were saved by Sleepy!” the stadium tv showed you three inside the commentator's room, waving at the camera. “And today's contestants are Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Horror Peach, M and L, and MX!”

Your eyes widened at the contestants that were racing, seeing that some of them were missing. Looking through the stands, you see Beta, GB, Akuma, X, and Cloud, exchanging waves to the ones that didn’t participate.

‘I’m surprised that MX wanted to join in…’ the thought caused your face to lightly brighten with a pink tint. Looking at the racers, you gave them a shy wave, earning smiles from the racers. “So which stage do you wanna start with, Sleepy?” asked Toadette.

Your mind began to search through the various stages through all the games, wanting to pick your favorites and picking the challenging ones, but you three would save those for the last race. “Let’s start off with a classic. We’re starting off with Mario Circuit!”

The crowd roared with excitement once more at your answer, cheering for the racers as well. Toad pressed the button, watching it change into the classic racetrack with the color walls with the black road.

The contesters hopped onto their karts; the colors of the vehicles matched with their color scheme. “Alright everyone! Start your engines!” the sounds of the engines rumbled loudly in the air, causing everyone to beam with excitement.

Peach and her horror counterpart playfully chuckled with one another, but they could see a serious glint in their eyes. The Mario brothers exchanged smirks with each other while L, M, and MX glared at one another.

Lakitu floated his way on his cloud to the front of the race. Holding up three fingers, the racers started to rev their engines. Counting down to one, the racers were off. A wave of nostalgia washed over you as you heard the song that represents the racetrack, being the first to build up the franchise.

Mario and M were neck and neck, while the others were close behind. They collected the first wave of items, watching some of them get green shells and bananas. A large grin stretched on MX’s face as he fired a green shell at Peach, stopping her kart.

Passing her by, he had to deal with L and Luigi. The two had shells behind their karts protecting themselves from getting hit. Luigi was the first to let use the shell that protected him, knowing that this was a risk, and aimed it at his brother.

Mario was hit by the shell as the racers passed him by, a frustrated expression plastered his face as he kept going. All the racers entered the second lap, feeling the tense atmosphere in the air.

Collecting the items, Horror Peach was able to get a three pack of mushrooms, speeding her way to third place, she was being M and MX. Closing in on the second half of lap two, L equipped a red shell to take out Luigi, earning him a place at fourth.

“They’re all at each other's throats! Remember, all you have to do is be in the top three!” alerted Toad, watching them enter the last lap of the first race. You watched the race with a smile, chuckling at the expression the racers gave each other. The tense feeling building up in your chest.

The song that represented the race was sped up, alerting the racers that it was the final lap. They all grabbed their final items, hoping to get the ones they needed. Peach tried to use her mushrooms to speed up but was hit with a random green shell that came out of nowhere.

L was coming close to M, challenging each for second place. Luigi tried to aim a red shell at MX, who was in third, but it was blocked by a banana peel MX threw out. Mario tried to aim multiple green shells at the people in front, but it was too late.

Crossing the finish line, L came in first with M coming in second and MX in third. Horror Peach came in fourth with Luigi in fifth while Mario came in sixth. Unfortunately, Peach came in last place.

“That was a great start to the race! We’ll be going to the second race in a moment!” Toad announced while the tv stadium went to commercial. Toad and Toadette turned to you with smiles on their lips.

“I told you that this was a great plan, I can see that glint in your eyes!” teased the pink toad, earning a playful eye roll from you. “Yeah… Maybe it was a good idea.” you replied, a pink tint dusting on your cheeks. Your two siblings teased you as you waited for the next race.

Chapter Text

The crowd roared with excitement as they watched the contestants head over to their vehicles. The racers waved to everyone in the crowd with proud smiles. Mario walked over to his vehicle; his expression filled with slight frustration.

He had come in sixth place in the first race, he couldn't believe it. Staring at his opponents, L and M wore confident smirks on their lips while MX just had his usual wide smile. 'Out of all places, I had to come in second last...'

Luigi noticed the frustrated expression on his face, lightly chuckling with amusement. "It's-a going to be fine, brother. You still got three races to go." the taller brother tried to cheer him up, earning a hum from the shorter brother.

"I know, it's just we gotta keep a look out for the ones in the top three. I know that mario kart can be ruthless, but they're making it very difficult for us." he replied as he turned behind him to see Peach, who was pouting a bit.

Peach's horror counterpart went over to her with a reassured expression. "Hey Peach, sorry that all that stuff happened to you." she spoke, earning a smile from the princess. "It's fine, but I know I can do it. It's been a while since we raced anyway." she replied.

Horror Peach patted her back. "As long as we won't be at each other's throats after this, we're all good." she added with a toothy grin, showing her sharp teeth. The princess chuckled at her words before waving to her horror counterpart.

From up front, L and M stared down at each other, L's dull green eyes staring at M's black and red ones. "You really think you're gonna be in the top three after these races?" questioned M, breaking the tense silence.

L leaned against his vehicle with his arms crossed. "I don't know. This is our first time actually racing from what we've told each other..." he replied with a low, quiet tone. The horror counterpart of Mario hummed at his answer, not expecting him to speak.

M knew that out of all the Luigi's, L was more silent and introverted than the others. He watched L's eyes wander towards MX, making him turn towards him. They really couldn't see the upper part of his face, only his black mustache and wide, toothy grin.

'Does he really want to be in the top three, or did he enter just to have fun in the competition?' M thought as he went to his vehicle, exchanging waves with L and MX.

From the stands, X, GB, Akuma, and Beta watched closely at the racers. "What do you think they're talking about?" questioned Cloud who sat next to the demonic hedgehog. "Probably trash talking to each other." he guessed with a wide grin.

"So who do you think is gonna make it in the top three? My moneys on MX." he added, getting the other to converse. "I don't know, really. They're all so good, even though it's some of the contesters first time racing." Beta replied.

GB let out a low hum. "My guess is that one of the princesses will make it into the top three," he answered. Akuma tilted his head at the monochromatic Mario. "Why the princesses specifically?" he questioned, his dull red eyes holding a curious glint.

"So you know how the princess loves all their toads very much?" Akuma answered with a nod. "And since Sleepy is the prize for the people in the top three, she's gonna climb her way there to get their affection."

The red eyed Mario hummed at his words, now understanding his answer from before. "So if you entered the race, would you want to be in the top three?" he replied with a question. GB was silent for a moment, contemplating on the question.

A light gray tint dusted on his cheeks, not knowing what he was feeling. "I...I don't know, actually. Maybe?" he replied, a hint of confusion could be heard from his voice. "I'm on the same boat as well." spoke Akuma, a sheepish smile laced his lips.

"It would be fun to enter, I just don't really see myself racing." he added, earning a hum from the monochromatic Mario. As they finished their side of the conversation, everyone looked at the scoreboard that was above them.

L had fifteen points, M had twelve points, MX with ten, Luigi with eight followed by Mario with seven. And with Peach, she had six. There were only three races left, anything could happen. It also depends on what track was going to be next.

Once again, the crowds roared with excitement and thrill as they watched the racers start their engines.

"Let's choose this one." she insisted, pointing to a specific track. You and Toad nodded at her choice as you all turned your mics on. "Hello everyone! Are you guys ready for the second race?!" The crowd cheers from Toads announcement, the stadium echoed in the area.

"For the second race, Sleepy has already chosen the first track, and it Toadettes turn to choose the second track!" The camera turned towards the pink toad; a wide grin stretched on her lips. "For the second race, the contestants will race in Mushroom City!"

All the toads in the stadium cheered from the name, one of the iconic stages that represented the toads or mushrooms. You smiled at the choice, knowing that the stage was from Mario Kart Double Dash, one of the challenging tracks on there as well.

It was also where Toadette first appeared in the Mario franchise.

Pressing the button, everyone watched as Mario Circuit began to change into a large city. Buildings spouted out of the ground, lights from the building illuminated the area. And to make it realistic; a giant hologram hovered over the stadium, making the area look like it was nighttime.

Some of the racers were in awe, not knowing that the kingdom had this type of technology. Luigi was basically beaming in his vehicle, a wave of nostalgia washed over him as he was playing a racetrack that was on his favorite gaming console, GameCube.

You loved the scenery of the track, representing town square during the night as lights from the structures glowed. Lakitu made his way on his cloud as he held up three fingers. Counting down, the racers revved their engines as the race started.

L and M were neck and neck once more, making sure to drift when needed. Getting the first wave of items, they mostly got coins and a banana peel to protect them. "There are multiple roads on this track, everyone! Make sure you take the right one, so you'll stay in your desired place!"

All of the racers except Luigi looked at their map that was installed onto their karts. The racers up front noticed that their placements were changed, wondering who passed them up so quickly. Looking ahead, they see Luigi taking a narrow shortcut, landing himself in first.

His expression held a confident smile, knowing the track like the back of his hand. Nearing the finish line, he crossed first, followed by everyone else. Everyone made sure to dodge all the obstacles that were littered on the roads.

MX crashed onto one of the vehicles, causing him to lose his place, finding himself in seventh place. Getting the items, he sees the two princess holding batches of mushrooms, watching them dash away from him, causing him to grit his teeth in anger as he looks for a shortcut.

Waiting for his item to load in, he was able to get a bullet bill. Activating the item, he was able to knock over Mario and Horror Peach. When he was about to pass Peach, but the bullet bill ran out.

'How is Luigi already about to pass the finish line for the third lap?! I really gotta start playing more video games with him...' Mario thought as everyone passed the finish line, initiating the final lap.

Everyone made sure to find shortcuts in the track, causing everyone's places to scramble. Luigi was still in first, followed by Peach and M. Getting the second to last item, Horror Peached noticed something glowing on her hand.

The item represented a lightning bolt. Activating the item, it caused everyone but her to be struck by lightning, making everyone smaller and slower than her. Passing L, Peach, and M, she landed herself in third.

Everyone then turned back to normal as they collected the last item of the race. Luigi and Peach had multiple green shells surrounding them, seeing that it was going to be challenging to find an opening.

Mario equipped a mushroom as he dashed towards the racers, not wanting to end the race in last place. Once they were on the same lane as each other, it was just a straight dash to the finish line.

Luigi was able to cross the line, waving to everyone with joy. He was followed by both of the princesses, Peach in second place and her horror counterpart in third. MX finished in fourth while L placed in fifth and M was placed in sixth.

And Nario landed himself in last place, gritting his teeth with frustration. But he had to calm down, waiting for the points to round up to see where that places him. As the racers parked their vehicles to the side of the tracks, they watched the points add up to determine their place.

So far in first place, L and Luigi tied for twenty-three points, causing them to smile at the score. In second was Peach with twenty-one points as M was placed in third with twenty points. MX and Horror Peach were tied for fourth place with nineteen points, and Mario was in fifth with thirteen points.

"Alright everyone, that concludes the second race. We'll be back after a short break." you announced as you and your siblings muted your mics and took off your headphones. "That was a close race. I didn't know Luigi knew all those shortcuts. It took me a while to find those."

"That's because all of Luigi's favorite games are on the GameCube, and supposedly, you picked his favorite stage." you replied with a knowing smile. Hopping off the wheeled chair, you steeped your way towards the fridge that was behind you.

Grabbing some cans of soda and snacks, you made your way back to the table, giving your siblings their favorite snack and drinks. Sitting back down, you opened a small bag of your favorite candy.

Popping one in your mouth, a delighted hum escaped your lips, you haven't tasted the sweet treats in so long. As you three enjoyed the comfortable silence, you felt Toadette tapping on your shoulder, turning to see a teasing smile on her lips.

"So, who do you think is gonna be in the top three? Is there someone you want to win specifically?" Toadette lightly bombarded you with questions, watching a pink tint dusted on your face.

You sat there in silence for a bit, a light hum escaping your lips. "I..." you started, contemplating on the words you tried to come up with. Toad and Toadette listened carefully, slowly leaning towards you, but not to close.

"I guess I really don't care, I think?" you finally answered, watching your siblings' eyes widened. "Wait, you like all of them?!" beamed Toad, watching you faceplant against the table. "Some of them." you quickly stated, feeling your cheeks warm up.

The two began to bombard you with more questions, causing an embarrassed whine to escape your lips. "But still, who was the one you liked first, Sleepy?" Toadette inquired. A sigh escaped your lips as you fully sat up against your chair.

"I guess it started with one of the mario brothers, and then it went to M... And then L... And maybe one of the princesses?" you replied with an unsure tone. "What about the others? Like the ones that aren't racing."

"I see Beta as a little brother, I really don't see X with anyone. I don't know about GB, and I really haven't spent time with Akuma. He's been through quite a bit." you explained, earning nods from the two. "But what about MX?"

"I think he likes me because I can be on par with his strength." you replied as you popped another candy in your mouth. "Maybe before you go back into other dimensions, you could spend some time with them."

You hummed at Toad's words, trying to see if it was a good idea. But at the same time, you didn't want to go and make the first move, both of them knew that you were very introverted. "Maybe we'll talk about it later. And on the bright side, you'll be the first ever toad to date someone,"

"Or multiple."

An exaggerated sigh escaped your lips as you hid your face in your hands. "I hate both of you." you whined with a toothy grin, feeling yourself being pulled into a group hug by your siblings. "We love you, too." they responded in sync with teasing smiles.

"How about we try..." he started as he finally found the specific racetrack he wanted. He then turned the tablet to show the one he picked, chuckling at you and Toadette's wide-eyed expression.

"Neo Bowser City?!" you both exclaimed in sync, earning a wide grin from Toad. "Oh relax, it's going to be fine." he reassured before placing the tablet down. The track he chose was one of the hardest tracks in the entire history of Mario Kart.

You remembered yourself nearly raging from all the small turns in the track, drifting on that track was risky to do when some of the areas didn't have walls to keep them from flying off the track. "But when it's time for the last race, I think all of us know which one we're picking together."

His siblings stared at him with puzzled expressions as realization started to hit them. You and Toadette gave him sly smirks. "I think we're thinking of that track, right?" he inquired, earning a nod from you.

"But we have to wait until the final race. Let's go ahead and start the third race." you reasoned as you unmute your mics. As the camera panned back to you three, the crowd went wild. "And we're back, everyone! It's going to be my turn to pick what track they're going to be racing on."

The crowd watched with anticipation as a playful smile landed on his lips. "For the third race, I have chosen Neo Bowser City!" You and Toadette chuckled at the wide-eyed expressions from the crowd.

"Isn't that dangerous?!"

"Won't they fall off?!"

"I'm so glad that I'm not in this race."

The crowd watched as the racers started to make their way towards their vehicles. "Hey, Luigi. What's so bad about this track again?" he questioned, watching his brother turn towards him with a frightened expression.

"Um, I really don't know how to explain it. But I know that it's going to be tricky because when it comes to rain, it'll be very challenging when you start drifting. Especially in tight corners." he explained the best he could before going to his position.

With Horror Peach and MX, they were having a little conversation. "So how do you like racing so far?" the red-eyed Peach questioned, earning a light shrug from the grinning Mario. "I kind of like it so far. I've never really done racing before." he replied.

"Do you like it better than fighting?" she questioned once more, earning a heartful laugh from MX. "It's close, but not too close. I really just joined in because I wanted to try something new." His answered Peach's horror counterpart to hum as a sly glint could be seen in her eyes.

'So if he's not worried about the prize, that leaves me a chance in the top three...' she thought as they exchanged waves before going to their vehicle. They watch Toad press the button to change the racetrack.

The buildings started to combine with each other to make bigger and taller buildings. Neon lights shone in the night as holographic raindrops started to pour down in the area, matching the aesthetic. They were racing on rooftops of multiple buildings.

The racers were carried to the rooftops by small clouds, knowing that they wouldn't want to walk up multiple flights of stairs to get there. The racers revved their engines as Lakitu hovered in front of the finish line.

Counting down from three, their grip on the handles tightened as the third race officially started. Off the bat, they had to drift a small turn into a tunnel, making sure they didn't over drift as well. Getting the first set of items, some of them hoped they didn't get any mushrooms.

MX was able to equip a red shell, instantly using it to hit Peach, landing himself in third. M had a mushroom in hand, but he had to use it at the right time, making sure not to drive off the building. Once the track was in a straight line, he used it immediately to place fourth.

'Alright, this is the part where I have to drift carefully' Thought Luigi, making sure to drift at a certain angle, but he was hit by a random green shell, causing half of the racers to pass by him, finding himself in sixth.

The racers came across a huge turn, having enough room to drift on the wide road as they crossed the finish line to enter the second lap. Collecting some of the coins that littered the track, they began to slowly pass each other.

Some of them didn't want to risk driving off the building, but at the same time, they didn't want to lose their position. Getting the first wave of items, a blue shell landed on Mario's hand. "I'm sorry to which princess gets hit by this..."

Throwing the shell in front of him, a piercing sound was present in the air, dashing all the way to the front of the race. The spiky shell found the person who was in first place, causing Peach to look up in horror. 'Oh no...'

As the blue crashed into her, almost everyone passed her, finding herself in second to last. Going to the area with the small, narrow turns, L was able to equip three red shells that surrounded him.

He was in fifth place, so he would have to use it precisely. Once they were in a straight line, he aimed one of them at M, landing himself in fourth. Aiming one at MX, he was able to barely pass him up, now having to be neck in neck for third with the grinning Mario.

Getting the second set of items, Mario equipped a glowing star, a toothy grin stretched on his lips. Making sure to use it at the right time, his body was surrounded by multiple colors. The racers heard a light tune in the air as Mario dashed his way up third, knocking L and MX out the way.

Taking the final drift, they entered the final lap of the third race. Everyone was fighting for a place, neary bumping into each other on the slippery road. In first place was Horror Peach, followed by Mario and L.

Watching their items load in, MX was able to get three green shells, but he had to aim correctly, knowing that these shells would wander all over the place. And since they're about to enter a tight space, there was a chance that he would hit himself in the process.

Going through the tunnel, he was thinking of using one until something had destroyed one of his shells. There was a wide opening between him, hoping that the person behind him didn't throw another projectile.

Getting the second wave of items, the racers up front used their banana peels or shells as protection, wanting to secure their place in the final lap. Since Peach was in last place, she equipped a bullet bill.

Using it instantly, she knocked over M, MX, and Luigi in the process, landing herself in fourth. Taking the final turn, they all crossed the finish line, hearing the crowd cheer in the background.

Horror Peach finished in first, followed by L placing in second and Mario in third. Peach landed in fourth as Luigi placed in fifth and M in sixth. In last place was MX, but he didn't look upset. He still had the wide, toothy grin on his lips.

The racers watched their points change from the third race.

In first, L has a total of thirty-five points, followed by Horror Peach who is in second with thirty-four points. Luigi was in third with thirty-one points with Peach was in fourth with a total of thirty points. In fifth was M with twenty-seven points, MX in sixth with twenty-five points, and Mario in last with twenty-three points in total.

"Racers! Before we go on break, we'll be telling you what racetrack you'll compete in the final race!" The racers' eyes widened at the announcement, not knowing that you guys had already picked. "What do you think they're gonna pick?" questioned M, earning a shrug from L as they faced the large screen.

The camera panned to you, Toad, and Toadette. You all had a toothy grin on your lips and held a playful glint in their eyes. "What are they planning?" questioned Horror Peach, feeling a smile stretch on her lips.

"Maybe they decided to give us an easy track? Like they did in the first race." Luigi replied. "There's no way they would do that; it's the final race. They have something up their sleeves." his shorter brother replied as he watched the three toad siblings chuckle at their conversation.

"For the final race, all three of us are going to be choosing the final track!" you announced, watching everyone stare at the screen with anticipation. "And for the final race, we've chosen..." you paused as you three announced it in sync.

"Rainbow Road!"

Chapter Text

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

Everyone in the stadium roared with excitement and anticipation. Some of them stared wide-eyed at the racers, watching some of the contestants that wore a devastated expression, especially Luigi. 'Oh no... No, no, no'

Luigi couldn't help but stare in disbelief, pointing his gaze towards the commentators, they stared back with playful, sly smiles. He couldn't help but slightly chuckle at the choice, seeing that they had to work for the top three.

Mario turned his gaze towards his brother, seeing that he was slightly shaking. "You alright, Luigi? Is this a hard track?" he questioned with a worried tone. Luigi cleared his throat while turning towards his brother.

"Yes. Rainbow Road is known for being the hardest track in all of Mario Kart," he explained.

His shorter brother hummed at the explanation as Luigi continued to speak. "But the thing is, there's four different tracks. And the fact that we're racing at 150cc, it's going to be very difficult." he continued to explain every detail that was on each stage.

For the first explanation, there were no barriers, meaning there's a chance where you could drive off the track. There were short and sharp drift turns, knowing that you had to drift at the right time. When it's time to use your breaks, it will be a risk.

Drifting and breaking will be the hardest part of the race. It can cause you to lose your place, you could crash, there's a chance where you could lose your items. At this point, Luigi didn't care if anyone listened, feeling the eyes of the racers around him.

MX directed his gaze towards Mario and Luigi. The red plumper held a concerned expression while staring at his younger brother. "What's wrong with them?" MX turned his gaze to see that it was M who asked the question with L who stood silently beside him.

"I don't know, when they announced that it was going to be a certain stage, the green one froze." he explained, his tone filled with amusement. He was slightly concerned about what stage it was, but he couldn't help but feel thrilled about the final race.

His usual wide, toothy grin stretched wider, seeing that the final race was going to be difficult and challenging. He couldn't wait much longer, causing M and L to chuckle at his excitement. The two princesses met up with each other.

"How are you feelin'? This is the last race for the top three." hummed Horror Peach, getting a slight chuckle from her regular counterpart. The two turned their gaze towards the scoreboard, seeing that the both of them were in the top three so far.

Princess Peach in fourth place while Horror Peach was in second place. They just had to make to a decent spot, and they'll get into the top three. The two turned to face each other, smiles stretched on their lips.

"May the best princess win?" hummed Peach, holding her hand out. Her horror counterpart's smile widened, slightly showing her sharp teeth. She pushed her hand out to shake Peach's. "Maybe the best princess wins."

After they've shaken hands, they took their place with their vehicles. As the rest of them got into their positions, seeing that their break was about to be finished. They all stared at the commentators from above them, especially you. This was the last race, and they were going to make it count.

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

Back with you, Toad, and Toadette, you all sat there in your seats with excitement. You all stared at the button with anticipation. "You know, I just realized something." Toadette hummed, watching you and Toad turn their gazes towards her.

"Theres multiple tracks that are named Rainbow Road, but they don't know which one it is. Is there a specific one that you guys want to do?" she questioned, earning a hum from you. From each game, Rainbow Road was always the hardest track in each game.

"I think we should go random for this one," you shrugged with a small grin. "Since they don't know which one, we'll just pick a random one out of the four." Toad nodded at your words, seeing that this was the final race, they'll do a random one.

Turning back to the button, your smiles widen. "You guys ready?" you spoke, earning excited nods from your siblings. Together, you three pressed the buttons, a loud, blaring ring echoed in the stadium. The audience turned their gaze towards the tracks.

Quickly putting on your headphones, you started to speak to everyone. "Hello, everyone! Are you ready for the final race?!" The crowd roared, watching them jump with joy as they watched the track change into a larger structure.

"For this track, we know that there's multiple tracks that are named Rainbow Road, but for the final race we decided to do a random one!" Toad informed as the scenery started to change. The tracks started to build up in the air, the holographic sky turned into a starry night.

The roads started to glow a rainbow hue as the tracks started to split into multiple areas, twisting and turning in the air. You pointed your gaze towards the racers, chuckling at the shocked expression on their faces.

L and M stood there with their arms crossed, watching the beautiful colors form onto the tracks. MX and Horror Peach held a surprised expression with a wide grin, liking the challenging track. Mario turned towards his brother to see a frightened glint in his eyes.

"Luigi... Which one is this?" he was hesitant with the question as the green plumber turned towards him with a shaky appearance. "I-It's the hardest Rainbow Road rack in the franchise... This is the one from Mario Kart 8." he explained with a slight whisper.

Mario hummed at the information as watched the track finish building itself. As they hopped onto their vehicles, they started to float their way towards the tracks, feeling the cool atmosphere in the area. It looked like they were in space.

All the racers looked at each other, giving each other playful smirks as they waited for Lakitu to come to the front. They all turned their gaze towards the scoreboard, letting them know what they're winning for.

Lakitu made its way towards the front on his cloud, watching the racers grip their steering wheels firmly. As he rose up three fingers, the contestants revved their engines, adding noise in the quiet atmosphere.

It was like they were by themselves in space, they couldn't hear the crowd's cheers from the stadium below them. Lakitu then counted his finger down to one as the final race began.

The racers boosted passed Lakitu, getting an early set of items. Horror Peach was able to get a good set of items, three green shells surrounded her as she stayed in first place. L and Mario were trailing right behind her, she had to come up with something.

Throwing one of the shells back, she was able to distract them for a bit as they made the first drift turn. Throwing another one, she was able to hit Mario, stunning him as he was now third from last place.

Peach was able to get a mushroom, but she had to wait as they passed by the second drift turn. Once the time was right, she boosted her way up to third. L was holding onto a red shell, saving it for the right moment as he threw it to Peach, snatching third place from her.

Getting the second wave of items, MX was able to equip a bullet bill. Using the item, the bullet made sharp turns on the tracks, bumping the contests away from him as the item disappeared. He gritted his teeth as he slammed onto the brakes, nearly flying off the track.

Reversing his vehicle, he watched as the first four racers passed him, putting him in fifth. As everyone made it near the end of the track, the roads were split into two ways. The racers started to split up, watching some of them go up while the others went down.

Luigi was able to score a red shell, putting it behind him for protection. Taking the final drift turn, each of the places started to change. Horror Peach surveyed the area, seeing that M had taken first place. Going up a ramp, they all started to glide in the air, feeling the cold breeze flow against them.

Mario was able to get three red shells, quickly aiming them at the people in front. He aimed it at L, taking fourth place. He was about to throw another shell, but he was hIt with a green shell by MX, making him resume back to the race in last place.

The racers then entered the second lap, their bodies tense at the music that played in the background. Getting the first wave of items, Luigi was able to get the golden mushroom, causing his breath to hitch.

'I can't go too fast on this track! If I use this mushroom, I'm gonna be sent-a flying off this track!' he thought, wanting to get this mushroom out of his hand. When they made the first drift turn, he used it immediately.

He was able to pass Mario, L, MX, and Peach, finding himself in second place. Mario carefully drifted on the tracks, making sure he didn't bump into anyone so he wouldn't drive off the track. Going up a ramp, they boosted their way towards the upper area of the track, getting another wave of items.

L looked at his hand as a blue, spikey shell appeared, causing a sly smile to stretch on his lips. He was in fourth place, watching M and Luigi fight for first place, getting a sinister idea. Throwing the shell, the two racers' front eyes widen as they see a blue shell appear above them.

But M was smarter.

He slammed the breaks so Luigi could take the hit, watching the blue blast surround the green plumber. Peach was able to get a lightning rod, using so everyone could turn small.

She passed by MX and Mario, landing in third. Taking up another ramp to glide through the track, MX aimed a red shell at her, causing her to fall off the track. The crowd gasped with fear as they watched her fall, but they sighed with relief when Lakitu caught her in time.

Putting her back in the race, she was in dead last, an angered huff escaped her lips as tried to quickly catch up with everyone. Taking the final drift, they entered the last lap, hearing the background music speed up.

M was still in first, having a banana behind his vehicle. MX and Horror Peach were battling for second as Luigi was in third, followed by Mario in fourth. Getting the earthly set of items, everyone received the same item, the star.

A chuckle escaped from your lips, painting the mic on your headphones towards you. "For the final lap of this race, you will only receive stars throughout the entire race!" you announced, causing everyone to focus.

The toad commentators watched the chaos, the racers crashed into each other, driving recklessly yet focused. The star also added more speed, feeling the cold, tense breeze against them.

The jingle sound of the star echoed throughout the entire course. L was able to catch up with M, battling for first place, but Peach was able to rise out of last place by trailing behind the two. Mario and Luigi watched the chaos that was formed in the entire group, getting another star item in the process.

Gliding through the air to drive up the upper track, it started to split into two. The racers fought for a certain place, knocking each other away in the process. Some of them were pushed off the tracks, but they were able to get back into the race.

You watched in silence as they were at the final stretch, a feeling of wanting to cover your eyes but you just continued to watch with anticipation. Everything was almost like a blur as bright, rainbowed colored racers crossed the finish line.

Quickly directing your eyes towards the board, your eyes widened at the places. The sound of your siblings and the stadium cheered like never before.

Peach finished in first, MX landed in second as M found himself in third. L was in fourth, followed by Horror Peach in fifth, and Luigi was in sixth, with his brother, Mario, in last place. But it wasn't over yet, they still had to round up the points.

Everyone watched in silence as the scoreboard started to change. "For first place, with a total of forty-five points, goes to..." Your words trailed off as they watched the racers icon pulled up.

"Princess Peach!"

The princess jumped with excitement and thrill, confetti exploded all over the stadium, hearing the crowd cheer as well. She ran towards her horror counterpart, nearly tackling her into a hug. They bounced in place, earning chuckles from the racers.

Breaking the hug, she went to the first-place podium that was in a golden color, standing there with a bright smile, wiping the tears of joy off her cheeks. Everyone became quiet as Toadette announced the second winner.

"For second place, with forty-four points, goes to..." Toad announced as they revealed the second-place icon.

"L!"

The silent Luigi's eyes slightly widened at the place; a faint smile appeared on his lips. He felt someone patting his back, seeing that it was M. "You did a great job." He spoke with a small grin; he noticed that he wasn't mad or upset.

"Thanks. You did great as well. I bet next time, you'll be in the top three." he replied, his tone filled with encouragement. As the two exchanged fists bumps, L stepped his way towards the podium, stepping onto the silver colored one.

He exchanged smiles with the princess as they waited for the third winner to be announced. "And for third place, with forty-two points, goes to..." Toadette's announcement caused everyone to tense up, the points were so close together, it could be anyone.

"Horror Peach!"

Peach's horror counterpart eyes widened in shock, earning her a chuckle from MX. "That was some fine racing there, HP. Congrats." Horror Peach chuckled at the nickname MX gave her, giving him a high-five as well.

She couldn't hold her excitement as she ran to the bronze podium. L chuckled at the two princesses, knowing that the two tried their hardest in the four races. The Mario brothers smiled at the scoreboard, seeing that they did decently well on the race.

"Did ya have fun, bro?" asked Luigi, earning a smile from the red plumber. "Yeah, I haven't had that much fun in a while. I'm glad that Toadette came up with the idea." he replied, his tone was relaxed.

They watched as you, Toad, and Toadette walked down the stadium to go over to the podium. You waved at the crowd with a small grin, feeling your face slightly warm up. Looking at the podium, you see the top three winners waiting for you.

"You feelin nervous, Sleepy?" teased Toadette, watching your cheeks brighten with a red tint. You gave her an annoyed expression, but it was washed over by a gentle smile. "Yeah, but I do feel bad for the others." you replied.

Toad and Toadette smiled at your words. Taking the final step off of the stadium, you made your way towards the people that didn't place in the top three. "I didn't want you guys to feel left out," you informed as you spread your arms a bit, seeing if they wanted a hug.

Mario and Luigi smiled brightly, forming a group hug with you, feeling them lightly squeeze around your body. You enjoyed the warmth of the hug, feeling it loosen as they broke the embrace.

Your siblings silently chuckled at the slight jealous glint they held, at least they got a hug from you instead of nothing. Stepping towards M, you smiled as you were already picked up from the ground.

M's hugs were one of your favorites, feeling his arms wrap around you firmly. "You did great out there. How'd you like racing?" you asked as he placed on the ground. "It's not that bad. I'm surprised that I did well for the first race." he slightly shrugged.

"Well, I'm glad that you enjoyed the fun activity." you hummed with a small grin as you gave him a small wave. Turning your gaze slightly upwards, you chuckled at MX's permanent grin. He gently picked you up with one hand, feeling your arms wrap around his neck.

You mostly felt cold from the touch. Was he always cold like this? Breaking the hug, he placed you down on the ground. "So, does this beat sparring?" you questioned with a teasing tone, earning a low chuckle from him.

"I'm not gonna lie, I did find this fun. It actually gives me an idea on what I could do besides sparring." he replied with a sheepish grin. You both chuckled as he placed his hands on his side. "Hey, if you have time, do you want to spar with me and MX?"

Your smile slightly widens from the question. "Sure, I really don't have much to do around here but sleeping." you replied, earning a laugh from him. Giving him a wave, you made your way towards the three winners, a pink tint of a blush dusted on your cheeks.

Making your way towards Horror Peach, you chuckled at the wide, toothy grin she wore on her face. "Congrats on getting third. Did you ever think you would get here?" you questioned with a shy smile.

An embarrassed laugh escaped her lips as she crouched down to her height. "Not really. I've never been good at many things. But after those races, I think I find myself doing more things that will help cheer myself up."

After she was done, a sly smile stretched on her lips as she pointed to her cheek, knowing what she wanted. The action caused you to chuckle as you pressed a kiss on her cheek, feeling her smile widen even more.

Walking over to the silver podium, you couldn't get a word out as you were already picked off the ground. "Hey, L..." you greeted with a gentle tone, seeing that he pulled you into a hug. The silent Luigi replied with a content hum, seeing that he was done speaking for today.

"Congrats on second place," you whispered, pressing a kiss on his cheek, hearing him emit a hum from the affection. Placing you down, you gave him a wave before stepping towards the first place winner; Princess Peach herself.

You tried to keep your laughter in, seeing the princess nearly jumping with joy on the golden colored podium. She wore a toothy grin, her gloved hands firmly gripped her outfit as her blue eyes shimmered.

You opened your arms out, knowing that she was going to pick you up. Her gloved hands gently grabbed your sides as she lightly threw you in the air, surprising you a bit. Your siblings watched the both of you, surprised at how the princess was acting.

"Has Peach always been this way or is it towards Sleepy?" inquired Toadette with a whisper, never seeing her like this.

"I don't know, guess she likes Sleepy more than the others," he whispered back. They watched her throw you in the air as she pressed a firm yet gentle kiss on your lips, causing your eyes to widen. The crowd roared at the moment, causing Toad to turn towards his sister.

"You're definitely going to tease them after this, huh?" he spoke, watching a teasing grin laced the pink toads' lips.

"Yup." she replied without missing a beat. 

The two watched a slight daze expression plastered your face as you hid your face in her neck, feeling shy at the sudden action. Peach smiled brightly as she waved to everyone in the crowd, hearing her name being chanted in the air.

Chapter Text

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

The sound of the crowds in the stadium roared from the scene, watching a red-faced Sleepy hide themselves behind Princess Peach, feeling embarrassed and shy from the unexpected kiss.

Peach chuckled at you, patting your head as she waved to the people in the stadium. The other contestants couldn’t help but chuckle at the moment, even though some of them were a tad bit upset, it was quickly washed over with a smile.

The princess turned her gaze towards the other opponents, some of them were expecting a taunting smile of some sort, but it wasn’t. It was a small grin, a genuine one. “Is everyone hungry for lunch?” she questioned.

The Mario brothers were surprised by her words, they thought they were going to taunt and tease them for the rest of the day. M and L lifted their gaze towards the sky, seeing that it was a bit past the afternoon.

“Sure, I could eat.” M replied, L nodded with agreement as well, placing his hands in his pocket. Eventually, everyone had agreed that they should head inside for lunch. Peach directed her gaze towards you, her smile brightened.

“How about you, Sleepy?” she inquired, wanting to see if you were hungry. You had finally calmed yourself down, but there was a pink tint that dusted on your cheeks.

“Maybe a little bit, I just had some snacks while I was commentating.” you uttered out. The sound of teasing chuckles were emitted, glancing over to see your siblings snickering at what happened.

Your cheeks lightly puffed with slight annoyance as you made your way towards them, your hands stuffed into the pockets of your hoodie. “When you said that the prize for the top three was a kiss, I didn’t think that the literal princess of the kingdom would kiss me on the lips!”

Toad and Toadette barked with laughter as they pulled you into a hug. “We didn’t know either!” the pink toad replied, trying to hide her toothy grin with her hand.

“It was unexpected! I was surprised that the princess would even do that. We thought that she wasn’t looking for that kind of thing.” Toad chimed in with a small grin. A light chuckle flowed through your lips, loving the moment you spent with your siblings.

“Hey, do you guys wanna come with us for lunch? I wanted to spend some more time with you guys before you go do your jobs.” you hummed with a sheepish smile. The two smiled at your words, pulling you into a group hug.

“I like the idea. We haven't seen each other in so long, so I think that’s a great idea.” Toad uttered.

“Also, you might see us in the castle as well. We still live there.” Toadette reminded, earning a chuckle from you. Breaking the group hug, you all followed behind Peach, seeing that she was ready to eat as well.

Behind the three of you, the rest of the contestants followed shortly behind, hearing their conversations on how they enjoyed the race. A light, proud smile stretched on your face, seeing that it helped them get used to the peacefulness in the kingdom.

You then remembered something; the other people that didn’t attend the race. Directing your eyes throughout the stadium, you were able to find the hedgehog within the crowd, next to him were the others.

Waving your hand towards them, they waved back, smiling when they saw you. “I’m gonna go tell the others that we’re going inside to have lunch.” you spoke, earning a nod from the princess as she watched you jog your way through the stands.

The toads in the crowd can be seen chatting with others or making their way towards the castle. Once you were able to stride your way towards the others, you see Beta practically beaming where he sat.

“That race was amazing! I didn’t know you guys were able to race on the racetracks from the games.” you chuckled at his words, saying that they haven’t used the machine’s that made the tracks for a while, knowing that it was always in the construction process.

“Did you guys enjoy it? The components were having fun in the race.” you hummed, earning multiple nods from them. You directed your gaze towards GB and Akuma, they were sitting next to each other with small smiles.

“How are you guys feeling?” you inquired, seeing that Akuma was starting to feel a bit better on getting out more. It seems that he likes to spend time hanging out with GB. The red eyed Mario gave you a short nod, his smile slightly brightened.

“I’m doing okay, I’m starting to like going outdoors…” he informed, playing with his fingered gloves. GB said that he was doing okay as well, he felt relaxed when watching the others race. Taking in the information, you then asked them if they wanted to have lunch in the castle.

“Sure, I’m feeling a bit hungry,” X chimed in before a wide grin stretched on his face. “So how did you like giving the prize to the top three?” You answered with a nervous chuckle, feeling your cheeks heat up from the teasing question.

“Look, I wasn’t expecting that to happen,” you huffed out with a small grin. “But It’s fine, it just caught me off guard.” they chuckled at your words, sitting up from their seats before making their way towards the castle.

While walking there was a quiet presence from you, GB, and Akuma. Around the three were other people busy chatting with others as they made their way towards the castle. Opening the large doors, the toads inside cheered for the people who participated.

You silently waved at your kin with a faint smile, feeling your stomach slightly grumble. Toad and Toadette had caught up with you, discussing their plans on what to do for the events that will happen later on within the year.

The toad chefs opened the doors so everyone could be seated, the group each had tables to themselves. You were seated with your siblings, MX with X, Luigi with his other alternates, and Mario with his.

GB and Akuma sat together by themselves, guessing that they’re used to each other's company.

“So what are you gonna order?” questioned Toad, watching some of the toad chefs walk to the kitchen to get started on some of the meals. You let out a hum, thinking of what you were going to eat this time.

“Probably my favorite food or maybe something new,” you replied, playing with the strings of your hoodie. “What about you guys?”

“I’m probably going to have some soup, It’s been awhile since I had some good soup.” the pink toad hummed, deciding on whether to try her favorite of maybe something different. She directed her gaze to her brother, seeing that he was still deciding on what to eat.

“I think I’ll have a sandwich.” Toad shrugged, not wanting to have a big lunch. You and Toadette chuckled at his decision, continuing the delighted chatter with them.

The sound of dishes being placed on the tables in the kitchen was lightly present, muffled by the metal doors that led inside. The smell of different foods being cooked made you hum with delight.

Maybe after eating, you could hang out with your siblings or maybe take a nap later on. The sound of the metal doors caught your eye, seeing that everything was ready as a smile slowly grew on your face.

Small groups of toads stride their way to the different tables, placing the plates down that were filled with food to the respective individual. One of the chefs made their way towards your table, giving you, Toad, and Toadette their meal.

Your mouth practically watered at the smell, ready to dig in. Everyone thanked the chefs as they exchanged waves before walking back to the kitchen to clean up. You watched the steam slowly fume from it, taking your first bite.

The savory tastes made you hum once more, enjoying the flavor. You lightly chuckled at the muffled growl your stomach made, as if it was saying to feed it more. Toad and Toadette were enjoying their lunch, gleeful smiles laced their lips.

With the other tables, they were conversing with the comforting atmosphere. Some of them were probably going to hang out after lunch, maybe even relax outside for a bit before it gets dark.

“Hey,” the sound of Toadette’s voice stopped you from taking another bite of your food, replying with a hum. “Since you’ve been rescuing these people from other dimensions, have you gotten to know them yet?”

“I’ve gotten to know most of them. I haven’t fully gotten to know Akuma though.” you replied, still pondering on the question.

“Maybe after we eat, you can ask Akuma if you guys can hang out. I think GB will come along as well since he’s the only one that’s been hanging out with him.” Toad joined in. As you continued to ponder, a light smile stretched on your face.

“Yeah, I’ll do that.”