"So you two have been together how long?" Daisy asked of Rosalina, who was standing behind Mario in the recliner. Heaven was on the end of the couch to their right, sitting beside Waluigi and Daisy. Near them were the remaining friends, all surprised to hear of the couple's engagement. Mario really had just proposed-waiting for Rosalina's birthday to do so, so the friends were just now getting the announcement.
"About four years," Heaven replied with a widening grin, "It's about time, too. They've known each other forever." They never liked to talk about their relationship, it was more a desire to just keep their own doings with one another-keeping their relationship from outside involvement.
Mario felt Rosalina's arms creep around his neck. He looked up to her soft brown eyes and drew a smile as he exhaled slowly. The friends gazed at them for a minute before anyone spoke up. "I'm happy for you guys," Iggy declared, earning a nod from the others.
Relationships among the friends had really improved over time. Sure, the friends hadn't always been the best of friends to Sapphire's sister, but they've slacked. Mario hadn't thought much of them, but not due to any of that, but rather for their own vanity during Sunset High. Slowly, he was growing more approving of them.
"You never showed any affection around us," Waluigi raised up an eyebrow and tilted his head to the right, "How come? You never told us you two were dating."
Rosalina turned her eyes to him and lifted her shoulders up, "Well we weren't sure how you guys would react. I mean 'Rosalina and Mario are dating' seems like something you guys would have turned into a joke." Waluigi curled the right corner of his lip backwards and sighed.
"But that was before." Rosalina gave him an approving smile and nodded in reply.
"I know. The major thing is, though, is that we wanted to keep our relationship to ourselves. It was no one else's business what happens in our relationship. People like to involve themselves in a couple's life, trying to interject during arguments or hooking people up-over and over-I think you guys can agree to that." She smirked as Daisy and Waluigi looked to Heaven, whose face reddened.
"Yes we do know about people meddling in someone else's relationship."
"You can't say it's a bad thing," Heaven laughed. Daisy looked over to Waluigi, who hung his arm protectively around her shoulders.
"True."
The unfortunate thing was Rosalina's parents weren't even here. Heaven planned a big party, Mario was finally proposing, and neither parent was around. Luigi had himself holed up in his office while Peach was-god only knows where-Mario assumed she was off shopping or flirting about somewhere.
They didn't seem coldhearted, sure they ignored their daughter on occasion, but Mario saw them at times where they loved both their daughters more than anything else in the world-and Luigi of all people truly was the last person to miss something that either of them did. So his being absent for Rosalina's birthday just seemed too uncharacteristic for him.
Rosalina, nor Heaven, complained any about their parents' absence, so Mario didn't say anything of it. As his eyes drifted to Mr. Star's office door, which was conveniently cracked open to reveal the man sitting at his desk, he couldn't help but to think maybe Luigi really wasn't as absent as he seemed.
Thinking of dragging the guy out, Mario stood up-to Rosalina's dismay. "Where you going, Mario?"
"Just checking on your dad." The sisters looked over to the office door with a shrug while the friends exchanged concerned expressions. Deciding not to stick around for their questions regarding Luigi's avoidance of the celebration and announcements, Mario moved hastily to Luigi's door. He knocked twice on the door and looked through the crack. "Mr. Star? You okay in there?"
"I'm fine…do you need something?"
"I thought it might be best for you to come out and spend some time with your daughter. It is her birthday-I hope I'm not crossing a line with the suggestion." He heard the man take a deep breath, then hesitate for several curious moments.
"That's fine, I'd rather stay in here. She knows I love her, I don't need to be out there."
"Well why not? Can I ask?" He was growing frustrated with the man's disinterest. Behind him, he heard Rosalina calling him over, but he was insistent on Luigi coming out.
"It isn't something I can get into." Mario slowly pushed the door open to see Luigi further. He hesitated upon seeing the man. Luigi was leaning back in his chair, his glossy eyes were glued to the clock on his wall. In his right hand he clutched a small wooden cross, his thumb was running over the fine wood frantically while the tip was gripped tightly between his forefinger and middle finger. The man's usual calm and pleasant demeanor was heavy and his expression was stony. Luigi looked over to him, looking as though he'd just aged decades in seconds. "I can't go out there right now. You wouldn't understand."
"With all respect-she needs her dad. Besides, Peach's god knows where."
"Peach's at church."
"Church?" He raised an eyebrow as Luigi closed his eyes and began to mutter. It didn't make sense that Peach would be at church, but Luigi wouldn't lie about that. "Why's she at church? Are you guys going to do this when Rosalina turns 21?"
Luigi slowly stood, nearly stumbling over as he did so. Mario felt an urge to race over and help the man up, but remained standing in place as Luigi turned his eyes to him. "What you must understand, and I know that you know, is that I love my daughter. Above all else, I love my family.
"Then what is the problem?" He glanced over his shoulder to see Heaven making her way across the room now.
"Guilt. Something I can't stop from happening, a case I've been working on for the last twenty years-trying to find a way around."
Mario was taken aback, and Heaven stared at her father amid the confusion. He tried to solve Luigi's riddle, but could think of nothing. "Dad quit being vague," Heaven put her hands to her hips and furrowed her brow. "He and mom have been like this for weeks now, Mario. I can't explain it and they won't talk about it. It's all right though, missing out on one birthday doesn't kill them-I guess…"
"I'm sorry," whispered the man, "I'm truly sorry." He slowly guided the two out and slunk back into his office. "If you two knew, if she knew, you'd never…" Mario gazed on in bewilderment, huffing over the man's inability to at least come out. He met Rosalina's eyes and relaxed when she turned up a smile at him.
"Come on guys leave dad alone," Rosalina waved them over and closed her eyes, "He's not doing anything wrong. At least he's home."
"Rosalina was telling us why you two don't show affection in person," Mona chimed, "I think you should!" Mario chuckled and curled his mouth into a subtle smirk.
"We show affection all the time." They were more private in their relationship than, say, Waluigi and Daisy were. All that mattered to them was the love the other had for them. The world could know they were together, but they weren't going to make a show of their relationship.
"Yeah we just don't show off, but since you asked…" Rosalina stood up and moved over to Mario. He met her halfway in the room and looked into her eyes as she hugged his neck. "Just this once." He hugged her back and gave her a gentle peck on the lips. "I love you, Mario."
"Love you." The friends smiled at them and Daisy head moved to Waluigi's shoulder.
The clock on the fireplace stuck twelve for noon and began to chime out the hours. Heaven walked over, grinning wide, applauding them. Suddenly, a great silence took the room, and all eyes unconsciously fell onto the clock as everyone listened to the singular gongs.
He felt Rosalina's body tense and looked over to see a look of distress on her face. "Rosalina, what's wrong?"
"'I'm not sure," Rosalina muttered, "I feel sick all of a sudden." She put her hand over her left temple, moaning lightly. Heaven looked over with great concern, asking if she needed to grab Rosalina a cold rag. "No, I'm fine. Just…"
A thunderous roar rang out through the sky outside the house, causing all the friends to jump up and look out the window. It was a perfectly clear day, no rain or clouds were seen, so where was the thunder coming from?
Rosalina stumbled backwards, gripping her head with both hands, her groaning increased and Heaven ran over to throw her arms around Rosalina and help her towards the couch. "I'm going to find some Ibuprofen or something. Dad! Dad!"
The older man remained still in his office, emitting only a sound of quiet sobs. Mario felt a rush of terror and looked over to Rosalina protectively. There was a strong sense of danger in the air, and everyone could feel it. Typically Rosalina would be the first to be ready to fight whatever threat was coming near her family, but she was too out of it now.
As he started to make his way towards her and Heaven, a tremendous force blew him off his feet. Mona let out a started scream and he looked up to see billows of smoke and fire spreading out from the ground. "What in the hell?" Mario scratched his head and slowly picked himself up off the ground.
Heaven stared at the fire with wide eyes and clutched her sister harder. "I got you Rosalina." Heaven looked over to Mario, questioning him. "What's going on!"
"I don't know!"
From the circle of fire and smoke rose a sinister figure in a black hood and cloak. He had a young looking face with dark black eyes. His nose was long and straight, his cheeks were flat and his face shaped in an acute angle from the chin. His yellow hair flowed out over his shoulders in waves. "What in hell, indeed," the man belted out a deep laugh and narrowed his eyes.
Rosalina's head flew up and her eyes met his, she growled and rose to her feet. "Who are you?" She challenged. Heaven called for her to get back, possibly feeling the same sense of danger as Mario did. He tried to work his way over to Rosalina, but the man turned a dangerous glare onto him and stretched out his hand.
A sudden clenching sensation gripped his throat and lifted him off the ground. He gasped out, kicking his feet through the air, trying to breathe. "Mario!" Rosalina screamed. "You let go of him!" She ran forward, but froze the second the man cocked a smirk at her. She struggled in place, looking down at her feet as she jerked her body in attempt to move forward.
"Is that any way to greet your guest of honor?" Mario was suddenly flung across the room. His back struck the couch and his hand rubbed at his throat. He bent upwards, breathing heavily as he glared at this strange man.
What was going on? Who was this, and why was this happening? Was he some sort of demon?
The man put his hands to his chest and closed his eyes, "I fear I've insulted. It was not my intent. For you see, I'm merely here to make good on a twenty year debt." The second his fiery eyes fell onto Rosalina, Mario forced himself to his feet and started moving towards this person. "I wouldn't." A scythe appeared in the man's right hand, his eyes narrowed and his mouth fell into a frown. "I can kill you with the flick of my wrist." He stepped over the pillar of fire, still locking eyes with Rosalina. "I am here to make good on my part of the deal."
"What deal?" Rosalina hissed.
"A deal that saved your life." The man stretched out his hand, chuckling evilly as he caressed Rosalina's right cheek. "What desperation will drive a person to do, it is amazing." Rosalina pulled her head back and Heaven scowled, swatting at the man's arm.
"Don't you dare touch my sister. I know what you are! You're a demon."
The man's eyebrows shot up and his lips turned into a sly smirk. "Ding-ding, give yourself a point."
Mario heard Daisy whisper a suggestion, "Satan?" The friends were all terrified, each frozen with uncertainty. "You can't be the devil…"
"Ah no, I am not Lucifer." The man lifted a finger and shook his head. "You are close, however. I am Lucifer's right hand, his greatest warrior in hell. My name is Samil, and I am the Fallen. I am the Angel of Death, and I have come to claim my bride."
"What?!" Heaven shrieked and held onto Rosalina with more force. "You will not do anything to my sister! She's not going with you."
Sinjin stepped beside the two, sneering at the man with a rush of hatred, "I'm not letting that happen. No way."
"You think you have a choice?" As the man laughed, the friends made their way over, each ready to help the sisters out if needed. "Well, as much as I love a good challenge…Rosalina will be mine."
"I am no one's," Rosalina growled, "I'm staying here with my fiancé. You can't make me go with you! I'll fight you if I have to."
"Honestly? Mortals against the Angel of Death? It's 'cute'." He looked into her eyes and lifted his hand, flicking his wrist upwards. Mario and Heaven fell back and Rosalina stiffened. Her eyes began to fade and her body relaxed.
"Rosalina!" the two cried out. They watched in horror as a black mark appeared on Rosalina's forehead. "No! You won't!" Mario pushed himself up as Rosalina began a slow walk towards the fiery hole.
Samil flicked his eyes over, stunning both Heaven and Mario into a forced hesitation. "With my bride, I will finally unseat Lucifer as the King of Hell. I am not afraid of mere mortals."
"Y-You should be," Heaven strained, "Let my sister go!"
Mario called out to Rosalina as she reached the rim of the burning pit. Sweat formed on his forehead, his heart began pounding as he attempted to run for her. She couldn't hear him. What kind of mind control did he have her under? "Rosie please!"
"She's mine," Laughed the dark angel. Samil walked to the rim of the pit and placed his hand on Rosalina's arm. This only increased Mario's rage, but Heaven was the one now fervently cursing the demon.
As the two began to sink into the burning pit, Mario felt his hold break. Empowered and determined to get Rosalina back, he and Heaven ran for the blaze. "Guys!" Daisy screamed, "What are you doing!"
"Saving my sister!" Heaven screamed. "I'm not letting him have her! I don't care if he is a demon!"
"You can't fight him off alone!" With that, Daisy followed in after the two of them. Waluigi and Mona screamed out for Daisy, rushing in after her. Iggy, of course, panicked over Mona's plunging in after Daisy, and dove in. Rango, feeling left out, and feeling like he wanted to help out somehow, ran in after them.
Just as Rango flung himself in, the flames and smoke began to dissipate, leaving only the scorched ground. The front door opened and Peach stepped into the house, her face wet with tears and her chest heaving.
"T-They're gone," Luigi wept from the office. Peach's eyes widened at his words and she immediately looked to the blackened carpet. "They went in after-oh god, Rosalina…Heaven…" She dropped to her knees and began pawing at the scorched ground, screaming for her children. "It's no use."
Her body grew heavy and her hands moved over her eyes as her tears fell from her. Screams and cries echoed from her lips, filling the house. "My babies…why…"
"Heaven and Mario went to get her back from him. From Samil. Rosalina'a friends followed them. I…don't know what to do…" Peach lifted her head and looked to the office where Luigi was standing in the doorway. His shoulders were slumped, his face sunken, and his eyes were staring towards the ground.
She pushed herself up, looking for someone to blame, and lunged at him while screaming at the top of her lungs. "This is all your fault, Luigi!" He grabbed her wrists as she tried to punch his chest multiple times, still screaming. "Your fault!"
Once out of energy, Peach fell onto his chest, drenching him with her tears. Luigi turned his sorrowful eyes towards the ground and closed his eyes.
"I know…"
