Just an Average Day

Happy New Year, and welcome to my first story of 2017! I'm going to try and keep the plot focused this time, and fingers crossed that it won't run on for too long like the last one. Please, be advised that this tale will tackle sensitive subject matter, and it will get violent and disturbing at times. And now, without further ado, let's fasten our seatbelts and see how this story goes.


Raindrops are falling on my head
And just like the guy whose feet
Are too big for his bed
Nothing seems to fit
Those raindrops
Are falling on my head
They keep falling.

So, I just did me some
Talking to the sun
And I said I didn't like the way
He got things done
Sleeping on the job
Those raindrops
Are falling on my head
They keep fallin'

But there's one thing I know
The blues they send to meet me
Won't defeat me, it won't be long
Till happiness
Steps up to greet me

Raindrops keep falling on my head
But that doesn't mean my eyes
Will soon be turning red
Crying's not for me 'cause,
I'm never gonna stop the rain
By complaining,
Because I'm free
Nothing's worrying me

It won't be long
Till happiness
Steps up to greet me

Raindrops keep falling on my head
But that doesn't mean my eyes
Will soon be turning red
Crying's not for me cause,
I'm never gonna stop the rain
By complaining,
Because I'm free, 'cause nothing's worrying me

-B.J. Thomas, "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head"

It was a lovely day in the Smash universe. The sun peeped up over a cloudy sky as a rooster greeted it with its call. Morning dew glittered on blades of grass, and the light mist that had settled in the night began to disperse with the sun's rays. A beautiful morning of a beautiful new year.

Inside the Smash Mansion, a team of Miis set about preparing breakfast. Huevos rancheros were on today's menu, with a side of hash browns and an English muffin. Smells of the most important meal of the day drifted from the kitchen and toward the rooms where the Smashers slept.

In one of these rooms, a pair of blue eyes blinked open. An arm reached over to turn off the alarm before it sounded. Fingers combed back brown hair, disordered from sleep. The tall, mustachioed man gave a quiet yawn, stretched the fatigue out of his body and pulled the covers aside. He dragged himself out of the bed and jumped into the shower. The cold water blasted away the remnants of drowsiness and revitalized the pores in his skin. He soaped up his sponge with his favorite body wash and lathered away, once—twice—three times, as if scraping the rust away from a mighty battleship. Deep, pleasured sighs escaped him; the rejuvenating suds were so good to feel. And once he rinsed the body wash off, he braced himself against the wall and stood under the cascading cold water, going through a breathing exercise.

Squeezing a dollop of shampoo into his palm, he set to work on his hair, massaging deeply and getting his scalp squeaky clean, attacking the sneaky cracks and crevices. Then, he pampered the bangs along the back of his neck, getting them nice and sudsy. He was due for a haircut soon. Finally, he tipped back his head and allowed the shower spray to work through his lathered locks. He was cleaner than he'd felt in years.

At last, he was finished. He hopped out of the shower, wrapped a towel around his waist and returned to the bedroom. There, he dried off, pulled on a pair of briefs and went to the closet, where he selected the day's outfit. A white shirt. A pair of dark green overalls. Peppermint-stripe socks. Nicely shined work boots. A Timex sports watch. A pair of white gloves. And a white cap with a green "L" on it.

Luigi Mario smiled affectionately at his reflection. Just a few days into 2017, and he felt great. His mind was on the mend from what so many vicious people had done to him. His faith in the justice system and in the Hand of Creation had started to restore. He'd come into the New Year with nothing but optimism. This was going to be the year when he picked up the pieces and truly started over!

He smiled and headed to the cafeteria to join the other Smashers for breakfast.

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Luigi placed his tray on the table before making himself comfortable, greeting his companions with a beaming smile.

"Morning, Bro," said Mario "Jumpman" Mario. "You look unsinkable today."

"I feel unsinkable," replied Luigi. "It's like nothing can bother me anymore."

"We're glad you're doing better," chirped Princess Peach, taking a sip of orange juice. "It seems that 2017 is starting off well for all of us."

"You can say that again," said Evan Vidad, Luigi's former roommate. He looked over at his pregnant wife, Mandy, tears misting in his eyes. "When I became a Smasher, I never thought I'd meet 'the One' or start a family."

"How's the baby, by the way?" asked Luigi.

"Heathy and impatient to get out of there," smiled Mandy, rubbing her baby bump.

"Boy or girl?" asked Peach.

"Still too early in the game to tell," sighed Mandy, "but I'm starting to crave peanut butter and potato chips."

"Mandy and I are still baby-proofing our new room," said Evan. "Would you like to drop by and help?"

Luigi nodded. "It would be an honor."

"I was about a month or so along when we found out," Mandy said wistfully. "After we told Master Hand, he went light on my matches till I started to show, and then he placed me on maternity leave."

"And he started giving me half-days so I can take care of her," said Evan. "I might be placed on paternity leave soon. He's so sweet."

"You're right," said Luigi. "He is."

"How are you two, if you don't mind my asking?" queried Mario.

"Better," Luigi told him. "I can finally forgive him for our dust-ups in the past. And he's decided to take a tougher stance on harassment."

"Look how much it took for him to get there, though," murmured Peach.

"I know," said Luigi, "but the good thing is—Master Hand and I finally reached an understanding. I can come to him with my problems again. I can trust him again. It's like—our relationship is starting over from scratch."

He looked over at Peach and Mario. "How about you guys, though?"

"Truth is," began Mario, "we were raw at him for a few weeks. Although he un-suspended us and undid the nerf on Peach, we knew that things would never be the same between us. I knew what Master Hand was doing when he invited me and Peach to take over his duties. And I guess it's working. Now that the three of us are spending more time together, the anger is wearing off."

"It's—therapeutic, if you will," added Peach. "Now, how about we stop talking about it? We closed the book on that nonsense when we closed the book on 2016. I want to focus on what 2017 has in store for us."

"Me, too," said Luigi.

The group finished their breakfast and went to check their schedules for the day.

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Later that morning, the day's first matches had been fought, and Luigi's blood was pumping. His first bout of the day had been a timed free-for-all against Fox McCloud, Captain Falcon and Kirby. The latter two had wound up in a contest to see who could land the most Falcon Punches, while Fox simply peppered his foes with Blaster fire till someone closed in on him, at which point he attacked with fast kicks and tail swipes. Luigi had his usual strategy of using his fireballs to lure an unfortunate opponent into a living nightmare. Fox and Falcon fell victim to this more often, since Kirby could use his additional jumps to escape. In fact, the man in green contributed the most to the high damage points on the mercenary leader and the racer. They knew why—while he'd forgiven them for the cocky way they used to act, he'd never be able to forget what they did.

But I digress.

After time was called and the number of K.O.'s and falls were tallied, Falcon was declared the winner, with Luigi coming in second, Kirby placing third and Fox last. The foursome smiled and shook hands before preparing for their next matches.

Following that pulse-pounding free-for-all was an equally pulse-pounding one-on-one against Cloud Strife. Despite being armed with the Buster Sword, the ex-SOLDIER was unable to charge his Limit Break. Luigi was always there to attack him before he could. Cloud tried to use his neutral B to space him out, only to wind up in a grab before he knew it. Toward the end, however, the ex-SOLDIER was able to rally and even land a Final Smash. Eventually, a Sudden Death left Luigi with the victory.

"Wow," breathed Cloud. "You're amazing."

"Thanks," said Luigi. "How are things with you and Reflet?"

"Never better," replied Cloud, his hand absentmindedly patting a small box-shaped bulge in his pocket. "I can't believe we've been together for a year."

Luigi's keen eyes also spotted the telltale outline of a box in Cloud's pocket. "Good luck," he said softly, patting the blonde on the shoulder.

As Cloud took his leave, Luigi glanced at his watch. It was almost time to see Dr. Mario.

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"How are you feeling today, Luigi?" asked Dr. Mario.

"New," smiled Luigi. "I mean, ever since I started talking to you, I've slept better, breathed easier—functioned better."

"And what about the psychiatrist I referred you to, Dr. Park? Is she helping?"

"Greatly," replied Luigi. "I'm glad you referred me to her. She's not like those other shrinks. She actually tries to see my situation through my perspective. Dr. Park—is the best of the best of the best."

"You're right," murmured Dr. Mario. "She is."

"When Master Hand announced the stricter anti-harassment measures, I nearly hugged him," Luigi went on. "I also noticed that he's a bigger administrative presence on Miiverse. And the 'see something, say something' policy from last year is a wonderful deterrent."

"But do you still lie in bed at night and—think about things?"

Luigi sighed. "Sometimes. I still can't believe the harassment was so high up, so close. I mean, the assistant master of ceremonies? The chief financier? All along, they were both out to get me? I still feel angry and betrayed. That's why I joined a support group, started doing more arts and crafts, and took up piano lessons. I also dance."

"Dancing is powerful release," said Dr. Mario. "More powerful than art."

"I've always loved to dance. It—helps me say things that I can't verbalize."

"I commend you for channeling your leftover feelings through creative means, rather than destructive ones," nodded Dr. Mario.

"I still pound Sandbags," confessed Luigi, "but not at night when people are trying to sleep. I dim the lights, brew myself some tea and do some art. I usually drowse off after a few hours."

"I have a thought-provoking question," said Dr. Mario.

"Shoot away."

"Why is vengeance so attractive to you?"

Luigi clucked his tongue. "For a long time, I felt so helpless. I couldn't tell on them, or they'd come after everyone I ever loved. And I knew that Master Hand was aware of what was happening—I'd catch him after stumbling away from a beatdown—and he just—gave them all the benefit of the doubt. After putting up with it for so long, the end of my year was the last straw. I wanted them all to feel my pain. So, I made them feel my pain. And I'm still not sorry."

"You forgave Fox and Falcon, though."

"They were genuinely sorry. The rest were sorry they got caught."

"I see," said Dr. Mario, just as a tiny alarm went off.

Luigi rose to leave. "Same time tomorrow?" he asked.

"I'll be here," nodded Dr. Mario.

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Early in the afternoon, Luigi sat in the cafeteria, eating a Calzone. He'd just come from a decisive clash with Pikachu. Halfway through, the electric mouse had summoned an Assist Trophy—and it just had to be Waluigi! The purple-clothed man was apoplectic over his rumored romantic rival trouncing him in a tennis match at the tail end of 2016 and was more than happy to do his thing with the tennis racket and the stomping. But it was afterward when things got crazy. Waluigi tossed in a few kicks and snide remarks, and then lurked at the stage for the remainder of the match, spitting reproaches at Luigi. The man in green ignored him as best as he could, but Pikachu could tell by his foe's facial expression and increasing aggression that Waluigi was starting to get to him. Ultimately, security ushered Waluigi out, and Luigi won over the electric mouse.

As Luigi took another bite out of his Calzone, Pikachu scampered up to him, closely followed by Kirby.

"Pika," said Pikachu.

"Hi, Pikachu," said Luigi.

Pikachu looked down. "Pika, pika, pika, pi, pika," he said.

"It wasn't your fault," Luigi assured him. "Besides, I'm used to his antics."

Pikachu seemed relieved. "Pika, pi, pi, pika, pi."

"You gave Waluigi a piece of your mind? Thanks, Pikachu," gushed Luigi. "But really, it was nothing."

"Poyo," Kirby growled angrily.

Luigi shook his head. "He's not worth it," he said. "Like I said, I can handle him."

Kirby smiled. "Poy," he said quietly before he and Pikachu went over to their own table.

Luigi finished the last of his Calzone and went to take on the rest of the day.

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A long, hard tussle with a heavyweight like DK was just what Luigi needed to get his mind off Waluigi's little stunt. It also helped him organize his thoughts before his meeting with Dr. Park. He was scheduled to meet with her immediately after his bout with the King of the Jungle, though he made a pit stop to freshen up.

Dr. Kristy Park's office was located in a snug alcove of the Smash Mansion. The walls were painted a calming lavender color and were adorned with paintings of various landscapes. Two comfortable sofas sat across from each other, separated by a coffee table. There were many amenities available to the doctor and her patients, including assorted snack foods and a Keurig coffee maker accompanied by a selection of coffees, teas and hot chocolate. As with any office, there was also a desk with several drawers, where the good doctor kept her files and notes, and a sleek desktop computer.

The Smashers had an excellent psychiatrist in Dr. Kristy Park. She was a lovely, strong-willed woman in her early forties with reddish-brown hair and cinnamon brown eyes. There were close to twenty years of experience under her belt, including a two-year residency in which she received high accolades for her sensitivity and winning attitude. Dr. Park hailed from Phoenix, Arizona and decided to enter the medical field in her teens when she watched a video lecture presented by Dr. Mario. She met him in person during her years in junior college, and impressed by her knowledge and commitment, he agreed to mentor her through undergrad school, medical school and beyond. Once she completed her residency, Dr. Mario invited her to practice in the Mushroom Kingdom, but she politely declined, choosing instead to practice in troubled and impoverished communities across the continental United States. Initially a youth counselor, Dr. Park began to provide therapy for couples, families and eventually the general public, eventually settling down in Washington, D.C. Last year, a phone call from her old mentor, Dr. Mario, brought her from her Washington, D.C. clinic to the Smash World, where she took on Luigi as a patient. In terms of her personal life, she was twice-divorced and had no children.

Presently, Dr. Park escorted Luigi into her office. He sat on one of the sofas while she fixed them both a mug of tea.

"It's good to see you, Luigi," said Dr. Park as she sat on her own sofa, placing the mugs on the coffee table between them.

"Likewise, Dr. Park," Luigi said warmly.

"So," Dr. Park said, getting down to business, "since this is our first meeting of the New Year, let's talk about starting fresh. What are you doing to accomplish that?"

"Well," began Luigi, "I'm trying not to be bothered so much by what others say or do to me. And when people talk about me behind my back, I try not to let it get to me."

"Is it working?"

"Yes."

"Are you once again trying not to hold grudges?"

"I am. I mean, I still feel this rage and betrayal, and it wells up sometimes. But I'm handling it and using it to create, rather than to destroy. I talk about it with my support group. I express it via art and dance. I'm learning the piano. I brew myself some tea before going to bed at night."

"You mentioned at our first session that you do breathing exercises during a match. Have you tried them outside of a match?"

"Yes, I have. Sometimes, it works, and sometimes, it doesn't."

"When didn't it work? When you found out about the Ballot and your nerf?"

"Exactly. I was so furious…"

"Have you considered anger management?"

Luigi shook his head. "It has nothing to do with an anger problem. I mean, I don't suffer from any outbursts. It's just—I'm fixated on revenge, I guess."

"Why vengeance?" asked Dr. Park. "Why not forgiveness?"

"I try to forgive, with mixed results. A few of them understand what my forgiveness meant, and work to change their ways and re-establish their friendship with me. But most—think that my forgiveness is a ticket home free. They abuse my forgiveness until there's none left for me to grant. And—it was ignored for most of my life. That was why I took matters into my own hands."

"I hear that Master Hand is toughening his stance," said Dr. Park. "Will that make you less likely to resort to such drastic measures?"

"Absolutely," affirmed Luigi. "I have faith in Master Hand and in his new policies. And I think I'm gonna try to forgive again."

"I'm sure others in your support group feel the same way," offered Dr. Park.

"Are you talking about the anger and helplessness? All of them do."

"What about the desire for vengeance?"

Luigi shrugged. "A few."

"Have they acted on it?"

"Some of them were bullied during their childhood. And when a school bully hit them, they tended to hit back. Harder. Faster. One of them talked about his freshman year in high school, and how some stuck-up senior tried to shove him against a locker." Luigi smiled. "That bully wound up seeing the school nurse. Arm broken in three places, dislocated shoulder, temporary partial blindness in one eye. Of course, the freshman got in trouble, even though he was defending himself. To this day, he believes that getting a two-day suspension from school and losing his Game Boy for a month was unfair. It was the senior who should've been punished."

"Do you agree?" Dr. Park was now jotting down notes.

"Of course, I do," Luigi said without a beat. "You try telling them to stop, and then you try ignoring them, but ooh, these wicked people just persist. Do you remember when I told you about that Mitchell kid, when Mario and I were in fourth grade?"

Dr. Park nodded. "You overheard Mitchell making a racial slur at your brother. You were defending him."

Luigi nodded. "Although I was enduring the worst of it, I'd never let anyone try that on my bro."

"Does anyone in your support group—believe their bullies deserve to die?"

Luigi thought it over. "I don't know if they actually mean it," he said finally. "Some—do. My story wasn't as shocking to them as I thought it would be. There was this one lady who said her tormentors should be killed because they killed her on the inside. A life for a life, if you will. But I can tell you for a fact that a good portion of them exacted poetic justice against their bullies, or were at least tempted to."

"Does talking about it help them?"

"Definitely. Each time I meet with them, I see the light returning to their eyes. A couple either contemplated or attempted suicide before joining the group. I'm so happy to bring new meaning to their lives. I feel—I feel like I rescued them the way Mario and I rescue Peach—like they rescued me."

"But who's doing the rescuing?"

"We all are. We're rescuing each other, and then giving each other little smoochie-smoochies on the nose, saying 'Thank you very much for rescuing me'. And then little hearts come bursting out of us."

"That's an interesting comparison," noted Dr. Park.

"The best part is that new people are constantly joining," said Luigi. "People from all walks of life who need rescuing—people who just need an ear and a shoulder to lean on. In return, they find the strength to provide an ear and a shoulder to lean on for others. It just feels good."

Dr. Park smiled brightly. "I'm amazed at your progress, Luigi," she said. "I'm happy you've actively searched for creative pursuits like art, dance and music. But do you still like to hit Sandbags?"

"I hit Sandbags and spar with friends," replied Luigi. "I just try to avoid doing it at night."

"You know—I think this might be the year when everything falls back into place," said Dr. Park.

"I think so, too. Because when Waluigi gave me some trouble this morning, it barely bothered me at all."

"Way to go, Luigi," said Dr. Park. "I'm happy Dr. Mario sent me your way."

"Ditto."

They spent the rest of the session talking about brand new starts and sipping tea. When it was time to leave, Luigi made his appointment for next week, wished his psychiatrist a belated happy New Year, and departed the office in exceptionally good spirits.

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Luigi felt better than ever after his conversation with Dr. Park. He breezed through his final bouts of the day, winning some and losing some. After the last match, he jumped into a refreshing shower, changed into fresh clothes and took a brief nap before it was time for dinner.

"Going to see Daisy tonight?" asked Falcon.

"Maybe," replied Luigi. "She's doing better, last I checked. I think she's come to terms with the Ballot."

"Have you?" asked Ness.

"A long time ago," Luigi assured him, "but can we get off that subject. I promised my psychiatrist to start fresh, and I intend to keep it."

"We intend to help you," said Ryu.

"I'd like that," Luigi said quietly.

"It's what friends do," Fox said softly.

A Mii helper passed by their table. "Will you be needing anything else?" he asked politely.

"No," answered Luigi with a smile. "I have everything I need at the moment."

And he did. He really did. A table full of friends. A lovely lady waiting for him in Sarasaland. Two people of medicine committed to his well-being. And best of all—peace of mind.

…for now.

Please read and review. Here's to a swell 2017!