The following fiction is based on the Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle cross-over videogame work made by Nintendo and Ubisoft which occurs after the events of a specific battle which will involve spoilers of the very same and is merely a experimentative what-if plot involving the same characters, none of it canon. If the subject and/or the characters are not of interest to the reader, the reader is free to go back. Likewise, certain questionable/suggestive themes may emerge as it goes and the reader is free to turn back as well. Despite this, the fiction will be free of foul language and gore/blood.
Having said that, to those who happen to find this story, I hope the reader(s) enjoy their time reading it and hopefully, for them to provide any valid criticism or improvement they might have towards it, in case they have any!
The battle was long and hard, but they had finally persevered. Mario, Luigi, Peach and his Rabbid friends; Rabbid Peach, Rabbid Luigi and Rabbid Mario finally struck the final blow on yet another obstacle towards finding Spawny and fixing the trouble the SupaMerge headset had caused;
The Phantom, previously called Mr. Tom Phan by Bowser Jr, who created him thanks to Spawny's headset triggering once more upon three subjects; a harmless Rabbid and two self-proclaimed "Relics of Goodness", a gramophone and a Boo balloon. His appearance was that of a heavyweight opera singing Rabbid, sporting a mustache and a Enlightenment style attire, although his underbelly resembled that of a Boo. It wasn't enough that the Mario crew had to deal with the maze-like structure of Spooky Trails, they also had to deal with the Phantom's egotistical demeanor throughout their battle against him after the same sung harshly about Mario and spouting referential lines. Luckily, Beep-O alerted the gang of his weak spot pretty easily, shedding light about the spotlights, his immunity towards all attacks and how breaking them would reveal his vulnerability. Of course, this only infuriated Mr. Tom Phan or rather, Phantom into singing his second part, claiming to start his reign soon.
"Imbecile!", he'd scream, amongst various other demeaning lines towards all of them as he kept singing his sonata. "I'm a national treasure!" All Mario and his friends could do was struggle as they kept fighting until the very end. Is the Phantom even aware of his own creation? For someone who was made on the spot, he sure seemed to know a awful lot about Mario. Maybe one of the relics had something to do with it, maybe not.
After receiving the final blow, Phantom spun towards his own fate as he starts to sob uncontrollably, perhaps even a little too much. Looking like a theatrical scene, it was almost as if he was performing for his fans. Dragging himself through the ground, knocking and pounding on the floor in mere defeat, rolling around in sobbing tears, hiding his face in pure shame, he finally reaches his hand towards the night sky (or perhaps just the limelight) and croaks his final breath as he finally passes away. The crowd laughs and the final curtains are pulled as the scene fades away.
"What are you doing?" Said Beep-O, looking upon a still unfused Phantom laying upon the theaters' floor.
"... Wait, you mean to tell me I'm still alive?!" The Phantom gasps in awe, looking at his mitten shaped hands as even Mario and his friends try to grasp the situation.
"Well, I guess you can't defuse what's already dead. Although the same can't be said about those Peek-a-Boos." Said Beep-O in a non-chalant voice to Mario.
"... What do you mean, dead?! I'm very much alive! Music will never die!" Screamed the Phantom, insulted by Beep-O's remark.
"... Huh, you mean to tell me you're alive? How are you alive if you're a ghost?" Beep-O pondered.
"I am! I have a beating heart!" Phantom boldly claimed. Mario and friends soon saw and realized he literally breathes and lives music, as they witness the gramophone inside him beating in the rhythm of a heart, even though not quite a literal heart. "What do you know? You barely know me!" He muttered.
"Pretty sure we've witnessed the moment of your creation!" Beep-O continued to remark. "I'm not sure what we're gonna do with you now, we were pretty sure you'd be defused by now."
"Hmf!" Phantom merely crossed his arms disgruntled while turning away. Princess Peach soon approached the Phantom even though that got a dubious eye look from Mario himself. Luigi was not near enough as he was keeping distance from the Phantom himself, having had enough with ghosts as it is.
"Mr. Tom?" Peach called his name, one of his ears perking up, causing him to turn towards her. "I thought your melody, despite its, well, questionable lyrics, was quite pretty." Mario felt unreasonably perturbed by this since most of the song was about demeaning him and even questioned what she sees in him. "Also, I really like your voice! I just wish it were used for more... proper songs!"
"... O-oh. Well, I'm glad someone appreciated it, unlike some people!" He bluntly stated, while staring down Mario and the rest. Mario merely frowned while the Rabbids made none of it. Rabbid Peach was looking through her collection of selfies with some of the Peek-a-Boos. Rabbid Mario simply nodded in disagreement while Rabbid Luigi was daydreaming.
"I did! And at the same time, I'm sort of glad you weren't defused, there was one point I didn't really want you to go!" Peach hummed, as Mario gets appropriately shocked by her words.
"W-well, I'm humbled! But are you trying to get somewhere with this?" Phantom wanted to cut to the chase, he merely thought she had more in her mind than what it seems.
"Well, this might be sudden, but I'd be more than obliged to cordially invite you some day to, perhaps sing on a upcoming formal party on the royal court?" She suggested, while Mario was almost close to snapping. Even the Rabbids were surprised.
"Hmm, seems interesting, but for the moment, I think I'll have to decline." He muttered, thinking about it.
"Why? We could bring you all the services you could wish for!" She insisted while hoping for his acceptance.
"I'm a shy bird, at the same time, I'd feel pretty worn out singing emotionless songs for a bunch of fancies! What's a song without any emotion put into it? Besides, I'd really prefer to just have one person hearing me, even if for the rest of my life." The Phantom gloats.
"Well, I don't think you'll die any time soon either!" Beep-O mocks.
"You shut your mouth!" He tries to keep Beep-O down. "And besides, with all of this chit-chat, it made me question even my own existence! So I'd rather spend some time with myself trying to figure out who I am!" He ponders in doubt.
"I don't know, you seem like you already have some type of standard for yourself!" Beep-O continued to tease.
"And I very much doubt you had any type of standard to begin with!" Beep-O merely tried to calm himself down as to not keep this fight going. "So I insist, I will have to decline your offer, even if for a indefinite amount of time. I'm still considering whether to accept it or not." He tries to convince Princess Peach.
"... I understand." Princess Peach merely nodded, albeit with sad eyes. "You still have a lot to figure out about yourself, don't you?" She asked.
"... I'm just not sure who I am. I may have been someone in a previous life, but as of now, I'm still trying to get to know what I am at this moment. I know things even I'm unsure about." He humbly states.
"Pretty sure you're just a Rabbid fused with a gramophone and a Boo balloon! Who knew such a combination would make for such a case of self-existential crisis!" Beep-O joked.
"I've had just about enough with you!" He bounces Beep-O off with his large body. "Oof!" Beep-O blurted as he bounced off. "And don't even compare me with these simpletons!" He grimaced while the Rabbids rolled their eyes. "It's about time I take my leave!" He muttered to himself.
"Good-bye!" He proudly huffs and puffs as he levitates away from Mario and friends. Before completely leaving though, he takes a quick turn of his head as he looks back on Princess Peach before continuing further.
"Good riddance!" Beep-O beeped in frustration. "Man, he's really preconceived!" He blurted out.
"I don't know, he seemed very nice even if a bit stubborn." Princess Peach hummed. Mario and friends merely stared at her in shock.
I realize this chapter may be rather short, but it is merely build up for what is to come. If you have any thoughts or criticisms, feel free to share!