"Almost there!" I focused all my attentions on the game Mario Kart that I totally forgot that I was even playing a game. I was in the lead, and I wasn't going to let anyone take that from me. I was Mario, my favorite character. I chose Mushroom Kingdom as the background of my race track since I am a very original person.
Suddenly, there was rumbling noise all around me. I thought it was an earth quake, so I brought the Nintendo Switch outside so I can continue playing while trying to get out of disasters. But little did I know what will I encounter.
As I was running out of the house, because I was playing and not realizing where I was going I unknowingly opened a portal to another world. I ran in the portal, and when I raised my head I realized I was in another world.
Peach's signature pink castle stood before me. The grassy lands were everywhere, toads laughing and running. In a minute I thought I was dreaming. Then I realized that this is Mushroom Kingdom.
"That's weird. I was trying to avoid that earthquake and it somehow took me to the Mushroom Kingdom? What kind of earthquake is it???" I wondered aloud.
Just then, a very familiar voice behind me startled me. It asked: "Are you alright? Miss?"
I turned around, and found a short man with a mustache and a big nose. He was dressed in a red shirt with blue overalls over the shirt. His auburn hair was covered with a hat that had an "M" embalmed on it. His bright, icy blue eyes sparkled under the glaring sun. He smiled at me, and I blurted out.
"You...you're Mario!?"
He looked at me, confused.
"Do you know any other Mario? I didn't know there's other Marios out there. But yes, I am Mario." He then asked me,
"How did you know me?"
I looked at him, amazed. I never thought I would meet my favorite character out of all of the Mario games. It took me a minute for me to speak.
"You see, I was playing your game Mario Kart, and there was an earthquake. To avoid getting hurt, I ran out of the house and found myself ended up here."
He looked at me, deep in thought. His brows scrunched together, as if he was trying to figure out how this was possible. Finally, he smiled again and invited me to his house.
He decided to chat to pass the boring time we had while walking to his home direction.
"What's your name?" Mario asked.
"Leah." I said.
"It's very nice to meet you, Leah." He stuck out his hand, and I shook it. His calloused hand and strength told me all his hard working while rescuing the princess.
"Thanks!" I said. "You're my favorite out of all the Mario characters." I told him.
He smiled, and said
"I guess being the mascot of the game made me popular huh?"
"No!" I objected. "I have always picked you since my first time playing Mario games! I'm your biggest fan!"
He didn't say anything. I thought it was wonderful to be with my favorite character, alone.
Before we reached Mario's house, I saw a man stood in the horizon. That man was in the same attire as Mario except he had a green shirt on and a green cap that had an "L" on it. I immediately recognized Luigi.
"Is that Luigi over there waving at us?" I asked Mario.
"Yep." Said Mario.
As we were drawing closer, I realized how excited I was to meet the famous bros. I couldn't believe my luck. I've always wanted to be in the Mario universe, and now it's a dream come true.
"Hey Mario!" Luigi greeted Mario cheerfully.
"Hey, bro!" Mario did the same.
"And you are..." Luigi turned to me with a friendly and confused look.
"Leah." I said.
"Nice to meet you Leah." Luigi said.
"Nice to meet you too, Luigi." I said.
Luigi was more confused, Mario didn't mention his name at all, and he wondered how in the world I know his name. Mario explained everything to him. Then it became clear to him.
"Well, I bet it's a scary experience for you since you didn't expect yourself to end up here." Luigi said.
"Yea, it is." I said. Then to my disbelieve, my stomach grumbled loudly as if I hadn't eaten in three days. I looked at Luigi sheepishly and asked
"Do you happen to have anything for me to eat?"
He grinned and invited me inside, and he said that he was just happen to be cooking dinner. I smiled, I've heard of how good Luigi's cooking skill can be, but I have to taste it myself to determine.
It turned out that Luigi was an awesome chief. I ate three platefuls of spaghetti while Mario was helping himself to the fifth. Luigi scolded Mario and warned him the harm of eating too much spaghetti. Mario grumbled but eventually gave in to Luigi. I shook my head, it looks like an old argument between those two. An behind-the-scene we don't see as Mario gamers.
After dinner, Mario went to the living room to get the video game set up. He wanted to see how good I am at video game. After five rounds of Mario tennis he gave up trying and admitted defeat. Luigi gloated over Mario's embarrassing admission. Because he was always the one lost to Mario so it was kind of satisfying to see Mario lose. The bros started to fight, and I had to step in between to stop them from throwing fire balls and thunder bolts at each other. Finally, we were all tired. I wanted to know where I'll be sleeping, so I asked Mario
"Hey Mario. Where am I going to sleep tonight?"
"Oh, that's right. I forgot to arrange a sleeping place for you." Mario looked at me sheepishly.
Luigi offered me his room, I kindly rejected the idea and offered the suggestion of sleeping on the couch for the night. Mario didn't feel safe about me, a girl, sleeping downstairs all alone. He agreed to it, but he had to sleep downstairs with me to ensure my safety. I didn't want Mario to leave his comfy bed and sleep on the hard floor, but he insisted. So I hesitantly agreed to his idea.
I also realized that I don't have any pajamas to change into. Kind big brother Mario lended me his pajamas. I put it on, and find it fit just right. There was also some of his smell left on the PJ he lended me. Nothing smells bad, just the smell of clean, fresh grass. It was also soft. It had such an effect on me that the minute I got ready for bed I was ready to dive into the couch and to just go to sleep. I said good night to Mario and went under the cover.
Later that night, I was woken up by a terrible nightmare I couldn't even remember. I woke up crying. I curled up in a ball, rocked back and forth while sobbing. Suddenly, I felt a warm hand went around my shoulder. Before I knew it, I was being pulled into someone's shoulder. I cried more. Somehow the feel of the shoulder made me feel safe. I looked up, and I saw Mario's face right above my head. His brows were scrunched with concern, his icy blue eyes looked as if one of his loved ones had died. I gasped, and I tried to explain. But Mario just put his hand on my lips, silencing me. Then he hugged me. I managed a thank you, and we stayed that way until we both fall asleep.
In the morning, I woke up, finding myself still in Mario's arms. I remembered what happened last night. I felt something in my heart that told me I had a crush on Mario. But this is a bitter sweet experience. Because I know how much Mario and Peach are in love with each other. I will always be the outsider of their relationship.
I don't belong here, I thought to myself. And Mario is in love with Peach so there is no way he is going to fall in love with me. So don't even think about it, Leah. No matter how much you love Mario. You will never be part of his world, or part of his life.
Tears blurred my vision, and I found myself once again crying helplessly in Mario's arms. Mario, startled by my sudden change of emotion, held me once again. I cried harder and harder until I could not breath. Mario was worried at that point, he thought I might pass out if I don't get any air. I felt his arms went loose around me, and I gripped on his shirt, begging.
"Please, Mario. I don't want to go!"
"You're not leaving. No one is making you move unless you want to."
I looked up, and was immediately met by Mario's icy, blue eyes. This pairs of eyes was unexplainably gentle. I felt more tears coming down my face. I was about to wipe it off, but Mario's hand was quicker than mine. He gently brushed away the tears that had already fallen. I stared at him, not knowing what to say.
"Whatever happened last night, I don't understand. But one thing I want you to know is that no one is making you move unless you want to." Mario smiled.
"Th...thank you!" It was all I could manage before I broke into a series of sobs again.
Before long, Luigi came downstairs. He was shocked, seeing Mario and I sitting so intimately. Mario and Luigi shared some sort of silent conversation with their glances, and Luigi left.
I went back to sleep, not knowing that Mario had already developed some kind of feelings for me during this incident.
