A/N: Hey hey! More new characters for Volume 3 in last night's episode. Awesome. And those Heroes fans (and Legend of Zelda experts) amongst you might expect to see Tetra in this chapter. But suffice it to say she'll have a large part in Volume 3. Cool? Then let's go!
Disclaimer: I do not own Heroes, NBC, Super Smash Brothers, Nintendo, Sega, Konami, or anything contained herein.
(Open on the empty Cerulean Cave.)
It is man's ability to remember that sets us apart.
(Mario suddenly teleports in. He looks around with wide eyes.)
We are the only species concerned with the past.
Mario: Jigglypuff! No!!
Our memories give us voice, and bear witness to history…
(Mario paces, then stops. He closes his eyes, trying to teleport. But nothing happens. He goes back to mirror by the doorway, ripping the note down.)
…so that others might learn, so they might celebrate our triumphs, and be warned of our failures.
Mario: David. David. I don't know any David.
(There's a loud noise from inside the cave. Mario spins and shoots a bolt of electricity out at it. A hand appears from behind one of the piles of stuff. The bolt hits it, burning it severely. But then the hand heals up.
The person steps out from behind the pile. It's Takezo Anri, looking exactly the same as he did in Japan. He's dressed in regular clothing now.)
Anri: Mario, what the hell was that?
Mario: (baffled) Do you know me?
Anri: (walking toward him) Of course I know you. It's me. David. Don't you remember? (He stops, smirking) You and I are going to change history.
(Mario looks at him in confusion.)
David: Don't you remember anything?
Mario: No…not really.
David: Hmm. I guess the dragon's taken some liberties with your mind. Luckily I know how to fix it.
Mario: You do?
David: You can heal your mind. Just like I do. You need to think about what matters to you most.
(Mario nods, trying to think. He takes out the photograph from his back pocket: the photo of Luigi and him at Luigi's wedding.)
David: His name is Luigi.
Mario: Luigi…
(He gasps, being hit with many memories of Luigi. When Luigi first flew to catch him, when Luigi got him out of jail, when he came to get Luigi's help before the explosion, and many others.
Then we stop on the title card: "Chapter 8: Four Months Ago...")
Luigi: You saved the princess…
(Cut to four months ago at the Royal Plaza. Mario pulses with radioactive light as Luigi smiles at him.)
Luigi: …so we could save the world.
Mario: (with a loving look) I love you, Luigi.
Luigi: I love you too.
(Luigi glances up at the sky, then back to Mario.)
Luigi: You ready?
(Mario nods. Luigi walks over to him and takes Mario in his arms. He flies up into the sky, a smoke trail behind them.
Cut to further up in the sky. Mario pulses more frequently, Luigi still holding on.)
Mario: Luigi! You've got to let me go!!
Luigi: (shaking his head) You go, I go!
(The radioactivity is starting to burn Luigi. One side of his face is starting to peel away.)
Mario: No! You can fly, you'll be OK!
Luigi: What do you mean??
Mario: It's taking…all my power…not to explode! I'll be fine, let me go!
Luigi: No!!
(Mario pushes away from him. He falls screaming through the sky.)
Luigi: (reaching out to him) Mario!!
(Mario explodes. There's a huge blast and the shockwave rolls out. It slams into Luigi, who's thrown backwards through the sky.
Cut to down in the Royal Plaza. Peach and Peppy look up to see the explosion. They look on in wonder.
Cut back to Luigi. He's unconscious, falling through the sky. He's now badly burned all over, especially on the one side of his face. He falls toward the river below.
Suddenly, flying out of the sky is Mario. He catches Luigi and flies off with him, looking resolute. He heads toward the city.
Cut to a hospital waiting room. Zelda watches the news as Pit sleeps in her arms. A doctor walks in.)
Doctor: Sanders?
Zelda: Here! (She quickly stands and goes to him) Right here. How is he?
Doctor: The bullet didn't hit anything vital. We sewed him up, he should be just fine.
Zelda: (tears coming to her eyes) Oh thank you! Thank you!
(Cut to Segaworld, still four months ago. There's a huge wedding celebration. Amy watches Sonic and a blonde girl in a wedding dress come in to the reception. She's obviously not very fond of the girl.
Some time later. Amy and Sonic share a dance.)
Sonic (translated): Why don't you look happier?
Amy (translated): You barely know Maria. You've only been dating her for four months.
(They look over to see the girl dancing with a black hedgehog, Shadow. The two are obviously enjoying their time together.)
Amy (translated): And I can't believe you invited him.
Sonic (translated): It's over between them. Don't worry so much.
Amy (translated): I just don't want you to get hurt.
(They both watch as the girl and Shadow walk off the dance floor. Amy also walks off to be by herself in a corner. A tear rolls down her cheek, and it's filled with the blackness. But she wipes it away, not noticing.
She hears a loud noise from the room next to her. She opens the door to see Maria and Shadow making out.)
Amy (translated): You bitch! (She moves toward them) How could you do that to my brother!?
Shadow (translated): Hey! (He grabs Amy and pushes her against a wall) You're not gonna say anything! All right?
Amy (translated): Go to hell! I'd rather she was dead than married to my brother!
Shadow (translated): Shut up!
(He goes to put his hands on her throat. Amy gasps and her eyes fill with the blackness for the first time. Maria's and Shadow's do too. They both drop to the ground.
Amy catches her breath. She looks in a mirror to see the black tears running down her face.)
Amy (translated): Sonic!!
(She runs out to the reception. But everybody is dead. They all have the black tears coming from their eyes. Amy cries some more.
Suddenly, Sonic comes behind her, completely normal.)
Sonic (translated): Amy?
Amy (translated): (seeing him) You're…still alive?
Sonic (translated): Amy…what happened?
Amy (translated): I think…I did. I killed them. All of them.
(She suddenly realizes what she's done. She turns and runs from the reception.)
Sonic (translated): Wait, Amy! Amy!
(Cut to a hospital in the Mushroom Kingdom. Mario runs in carrying Luigi's body.)
Mario: Help! Somebody, help!
(A team of doctors run over. They get Luigi onto a gurney and start taking his vitals.)
Mario: Help him! Do whatever it takes!
(They wheel him off. Mario glances back to see a cop by the door look at him questioningly. Some people pass between them and Mario turns invisible. The cop looks around in confusion.
Cut to a back hallway of the hospital. Mario reappears from invisibility. He keeps walking down the hall.
Suddenly, from a side hallway, Pichu and Ash appear. Pichu raises her hand and shoots Mario with a lightning blast. He falls, unconscious.)
Ash: Did you have to use the full blast?
Pichu: (smirking) He can take it.
(Cut to Ash's office, some time later. Mario is still unconscious on the couch. Pichu sits next to him, playing with his hair. Ash looks on disapprovingly.)
Ash: He's not a toy, Pichu.
Pichu: He could be.
(Mario comes to. He looks at Pichu, confused. She puts a paw to his nose and shoots it with a little spark. He spazzes and scrambles backwards on the couch.)
Mario: Who are you?? Where am I??
Ash: You're OK, Mario. You're somewhere safe.
Mario: And how's Luigi?
Ash: The best doctors in the world are taking care of him. But the situation is dire.
Mario: (as Pichu keeps edging closer) So who are you? What am I doing here?
Ash: I'm an old friend of your parents. And while you're safe here, the same is not true for your brother.
Pichu: (putting a paw on his shoulder) You know. From when you went nuclear?
Mario: You know…who I am. What I can do.
(Pichu starts to subtly stroke his shoulder. Mario absently pushes it away, but Pichu keeps doing it.)
Ash: As long as your abilities control you, and not the other way around, you'll be a danger to everyone.
Mario: Believe me. (He pulls away from Pichu, who looks disappointed.) If I could turn 'em off, I would.
Pichu: (with a smile) Oh, we've done that for you.
(Mario looks at her questioningly. He raises his hand at a glass at the coffee table in front of him. He tries to move it, but nothing happens.)
Mario: How? How'd you do that?
Ash: My friend here.
(He gestures to the doorway. Bowser walks in, looking at Mario.)
Ash: He can suppress the abilities of others.
Mario: And what is this place?
Ash: A research facility. For people like you.
Pichu: We can give you a normal life.
Ash: Thirty years ago, our company shut down work on a vaccine to disable people's abilities. But due to…recent events, we've reinstated that research. We're very close to finding a cure.
Mario: (with hope) Forever?
Ash: You will never have to worry about hurting anyone you love ever again.
(Mario thinks, and comes to a decision.)
Mario: How long until it's ready?
Pichu: Good! (She wraps her arms around his neck) You're making the right choice!
Ash: Good man.
(Cut to Luigi's hospital room. We see, from his perspective, Samus looking down at him worried.)
Samus: Oh, Luigi…
Luigi: Unh…Mario…
Samus: He's disappeared. The Coast Guard is searching for him. The river, the ocean. I'm worried that he's –
(She's cut off as he starts to raise his bed up.)
Samus: Oh no, Luigi. Don't.
(She stands in front of him, blocking his view of the mirror on the opposite wall. But he keeps raising the bed.)
Samus: All right.
(She steps to the side.
Luigi looks at his burned body. Half of his face is severely burned, as well as his iris being yellow. His mouth is twisted in a grimace on that side of his body. He's burned badly everywhere else. He looks at his reflection in horror.
Cut to a different hospital room. Pit and Zelda come in to see Link.)
Pit: Dad!
(He runs and jumps onto his father's bed. Link hugs him.)
Link: It's good to see you, buddy.
Zelda: (going to him) Hey honey.
Link: Hey, babe. (They kiss) They just want to keep me overnight, then we can head home tomorrow.
Doctor: (coming in) Miss Sanders? Can I see you outside?
Zelda: I'll be right back.
(She goes outside. Her and the doctor walk down the hall.)
Zelda: I know we don't have insurance. But I'll find a way to cover the cost of the surgery.
Doctor: Oh, don't worry about that. The bill's been taken care of.
Zelda: What? By whom?
Doctor: Him.
(They stop and he points out the man standing in front of them: Ash.)
Ash: Please, just call me Ash.
(The doctor nods and leaves.)
Ash: Did you happen to see a morning paper, Miss Sanders?
Zelda: Uh, no. Why?
Ash: Not one mention of what happened over in the Royal Plaza. Or the untimely demise of Mr. Ganondorf.
Zelda: (with fear) Who the hell are you?
Ash: I work for a company. Ganondorf made a mess of things, but I'm here to right the ship.
Zelda: It's nice of you to pay our bills. But you don't get something for nothing. What do you want from me?
Ash: I just want to help you with your illness. I know you think that Sheik is gone. But we've discovered that when these abilities manifest, the way the mind deals with the new reality sometimes results in a fracture of sorts. A split personality.
Zelda: (with wide eyes) No. Sheik is gone. Forever.
Ash: How can you be certain another personality won't manifest itself? (He pauses, Zelda obviously considering this) The Company can help you, but…you will need to come stay at our facility. Leave your family behind.
Zelda: I've done everything just to get my family back. You think I want to leave them again?
Ash: Well, we do have medications you can take at home –
Zelda: Fine, I'll take them.
Ash: – but there are side effects.
(Zelda has tears in her eyes. She thinks about what to do.
Cut to a cell at the Company in the Mushroom Kingdom. Mario looks down at a cup filled with several pills. Pichu is using a razor to shave down his hair.)
Mario: So I have to take them every day?
Pichu: It's a little cocktail we whipped up. It dampens your abilities, like the dragon. It's just in pill form.
(She gets him a glass of water. Mario swallows the pills in one gulp and drinks the water. Pichu takes the towel from around his neck and starts to walk away. She runs her hand over the top of his head, jolting some electricity in on the way.)
Mario: Ow! That hurts!
Pichu: You'll get used to it. (She stops in the doorway and turns back) And then you'll start to like it.
(She leaves, closing the door behind her. Mario looks after her warily.)
Voice: Hello?
(Mario turns. The voice came from the other side of the wall.)
Mario: Who said that?
(We pan through the wall to see the next cell over. It contains, in regular clothes, Takezo Anri, a.k.a. David Monroe.)
David: Me.
(Cut to a new title card: "Three Months Ago."
Then cut to the Sanders house in Hyrule. Link brings out a birthday cake with lit candles for Pit. Zelda sits at the table too, distant.)
Link: Happy birthday dear Pi-it, happy birthday to you!
(Pit blows out the candles as Link claps. Pit turns to Zelda, smiling, but she only offers a weak smile in return.)
Pit: Mom, are you OK?
Zelda: Of course. Did you make a wish?
Pit: (grinning broadly) Yup! And I can't tell you what it is or it won't come true.
(Link and Zelda look at each other, thinking the same thing.)
Zelda: Pit, even if you wish it –
Link: – we can't just go around using our powers. OK?
Pit: But why not? I could rig the radio to pick up the police scanner! And we could be like the Fantastic Four!...Well, minus one.
Link: It's just asking for trouble. We can be heroes without using our powers. (He smiles) Like me, I finally got a job.
Pit: Really?
Link: Yup. It'll make you proud. (He stands) Now come on, let's get ready to go bowling.
(Pit stands up too, looking at Zelda worriedly.)
Pit: Mom? Are you coming?
Link: Your mom's had a long day. Come on, let's leave her be.
(Pit nods and takes off into the house. Link goes over to Zelda, taking her hand.)
Zelda: I wish he didn't have to see me like this.
Link: It's OK. The medication will take some time to level out. It'll get better.
Zelda: How can you be sure?
Link: (kissing her) I'm sure.
(He leaves. Zelda sits thinking for a second. Then she gets up and goes to the sink in the house. She opens up a bottle and pours all the medication down the drain.
Cut to Mario's cell at the Company. Mario lays in bed when David begins talking to him through the wall.)
David: You know, it's been nearly a month since you showed up over there. And I don't even know your name.
Mario: I just want to be left alone.
David: Oh, that's fine for the short term, of course. But it gets a bit old after thirty years. Let me guess. One day you were just minding your own business, and then you discovered you could do extraordinary things. It was great at first, but then you realized…you could hurt people.
Mario: If they wanna leave me inside here forever, that's fine by me
David: Mmm. You've been through something awful, then. I'm sorry.
(Mario considers for a second.)
Mario: My name is Mario.
David: It's nice to meet you, Mario. I'm David.
(Cut to another title card: "Two Months Ago."
Then cut back to Mario's cell. Pichu comes in, grinning wickedly. She crawls up on Mario's bed next to him.)
Mario: Not today, Pichu. I'm not in the mood.
Pichu: Oh, just a little one? I'll up your dose.
(Mario sighs and nods. He puts his hand out, Pichu putting her paw up to it. She zaps him with more electricity. He gasps and pulls back. Pichu laughs and hugs him.
Mario gets up and takes his pills. He glances back at her.)
Mario: You know, I've been here two months. I still don't know anything about you. I figured there might be more to you than the sadistic lightning thing.
Pichu: (rolling her eyes) I liked you better when you just laid there.
Mario: (after swallowing the water) What's your story? (Pichu just looks away) What are you, afraid? (He realizes) No. You just like to be in control. I get it. I figured as much. (He goes back to the bed) Sorry I asked. It won't happen again.
(He hands her the cups. Pichu sadly takes them, then goes to the door. She stops and turns back.)
Pichu: I accidentally set my grandmother's house on fire when I was six. Caused a blackout in four counties when I was eight. I spent my ninth birthday in a glass room with an IV of lithium in my arm. (She goes over to him) I've lived in this building for sixteen years, ever since the psychiatrists diagnosed me as a sociopath with paranoid delusions. But...they were just out to get me because I threatened to kill 'em. (She smiles) I'm twenty-four years old and I've never been on a date. Never been on a roller coaster. Never been swimming. And now you know everything there is to know about me. (Her smile drops) I don't have the luxury of being any more interesting than that
(She walks back to the door and turns back again, grinning.)
Pichu: Later alligator!
(She leaves and Mario settles into bed again.)
David: You want to be careful with that one. I caved in a desperate moment six years ago and I'm still paying the price.
Mario: All I want from her are the drugs.
David: Oh, I forgot. You still believe that they're telling you the truth.
Mario: What do you mean?
David: They've been days away from perfecting this cure since I got here thirty years ago. Ash isn't trying to fix you, Mario.
Mario: No. They created this facility to help people. People like us.
David: A facility? Mario, this isn't some facility. It's a prison.
Mario: A prison? That's a bit dramatic.
David: All right. Try to leave then. See what happens.
(Mario considers this.
Cut to Luigi's hospital room. Samus enters to see Daisy standing over him, looking worried.)
Samus: Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were here.
(She leaves, but Daisy follows after her into the hallway. She stops Samus there.)
Daisy: Samus? I'm worried about Luigi. He said he was going to tell me the truth about everything.
Samus: Let me guess. That he could fly. That he was part of a plot to blow up the Mushroom Kingdom.
Daisy: (nodding) It must be the drugs. (looking at her, hard) It is the drugs, right?
Samus: (putting a hand on her shoulder) It's time you knew the truth. There's a dark secret in the Petrelli family. It starts with delusions of grandeur. Moves into paranoia and other mental illness. It's what killed my husband. What happened to Mario. And now…I'm afraid…it's happened to Luigi. You need to take the kids, get away from him. He's dangerous. (She looks into Daisy's eyes) Can you keep this secret?
(Daisy slowly nods.
Cut to the Sanders house in Hyrule. Zelda stands in front of a mirror in a fancy coat, practicing.)
Zelda: How can I get you into a brand new car?
(Link comes in, smiling at her. He hugs her from behind.)
Link: Nervous for your first day?
Zelda: I am! My butterflies have butterflies.
Link: I'm happy that the medication worked itself out. I'm gonna take Pit to school. Have a great first day!
(He leaves, Zelda watching after him.)
Voice: He's gonna know you're not taking the stupid pills
Zelda: (not turning around) Go away, Sheik. I don't need you anymore.
Voice: What makes you think this is Sheik?
(Zelda turns around to see a younger, more dolled-up version of herself in the mirror.)
Voice: Remember me? That summer you ran away to Viridian City and told everyone to call you Malon?
Zelda: No. You're not real.
Malon: Oh, I am. And I'm definitely not going to go sell cars. I want to go back to Viridian City to play.
Zelda: No! I'm in control. If I can handle Sheik, I can handle you.
Malon: (with a smile) Then why aren't you taking your meds?
(Zelda's eyes widen. And suddenly, she's standing inside the mirror and Malon is on the outside.)
Zelda: No! (She hits the glass, trying to get out) No!!
(Malon saunters away. She takes off the jacket and walks out of the house.
Cut to Mario's cell at the Company. Mario talks to Ash, who is standing in the doorway.)
Mario: Please, I just want to visit my brother. See how he's doing.
Ash: That would be possible. Just not right now.
Mario: Please. You can send someone with me. I'll go there and right back.
Ash: It's not about that. We just can't have you leave the facility. I'm sorry.
(He walks out the door. Mario watches him walk past the observation window.)
Mario: (calling out) I'm never getting out of here, am I?
David: Suddenly the room starts to feel like a cage
Mario: I don't understand. If they're not gonna help us, then why are we here?
David: To keep us from being out there.
Mario: Why, because we're dangerous?
David: No, Mario. Because we can save the world.
Mario: (interested) Save the world?
David: Years ago, I tried to take my abilities public. I thought that if everyone knew that my blood had curing powers, I could help. How naive I was.
Mario: That's why they put you in here.
David: Well, if it were possible to kill me, they would have, I assure you. Instead, I am locked up in here when I could be curing your brother.
Mario: (looking very interested) How could you do that?
David: Just a small amount of my blood could make Luigi regenerate. He could heal all his wounds.
(Mario thinks for a while. Then he stands up.)
Mario: So how do we get out?
(Cut to a burning house. Link and several other people are firefighters, battling it. A woman runs up to them crying.)
Woman: Please! My daughter's still inside! You have to help her!
(Link looks around. Then he takes off running toward the house.)
Firefighter: Hawkins! Get back here!
(Link runs into the house. The fire flares up, blowing out a few windows. Everyone looks on worriedly.
But Link comes phasing out through a wall carrying a girl. He runs back to the crowd. Everyone cheers and celebrates.
Some time later. Pit watches the people cheering on the news. Link comes in the door carrying a large medal and a bouquet of flowers.)
Pit: Dad! (He runs up and hugs him) You're a real hero!
Link: (laughing) I am. They gave me the Medal of Valor. See?
Pit: Wow! That's great!
Link: Yeah. Where's your mom?
Pit: I don't think she's home from work yet.
(Link looks concerned. He walks into the bedroom. Written on the mirror in lipstick is "Gone to Viridian. C ya!")
Link: (darkly) Sheik.
(Cut to another title card: "One Month Ago."
Then cut to Mario's cell at the Company. Pichu comes in, puts the pills on the table, and turns to leave.)
Mario: Wait. You're not going to give me a jolt?
(Pichu smirks, then goes over to him. He grabs her and pulls her onto the bed next to him.)
Mario: You were right. I have started to like it. Almost as much as I like you.
(Pichu smiles and puts her paw up. Mario shakes his head a little and moves in close. He kisses her.
After a second, she pulls back. A small lightning bolt jumps between their mouths. Mario gasps and smiles. Pichu smiles back as Mario stands up, going over to his pills. He swallows them. Pichu comes up behind him, grabbing his shoulders.)
Pichu: Had enough for one day?
(Mario just smiles. He drinks the water and hands her the two cups. Pichu takes them and leaves.
Mario watches her go, then walks over to the toilet in the corner. He spits the pills out into it and flushes.)
Mario: It's the fifth day without the meds.
David: All right. It's time to try.
(Mario walks to the wall between their cells. He puts his hand on it and pushes. Nothing happens. He pushes again, concentrating.
Suddenly, his arms phase through the wall and he stumbles forward. Mario gasps in surprise, standing with his arms in the wall. Then keeps walking forward, arms out. He eventually comes through the wall into David's room. David is waiting for him there.)
Mario: It's nice to finally meet you. (He looks David over) You know, for 400 years old, you've held up pretty well.
David: Come on. (He smiles) Let's go heal your brother.
(They both walk to the opposite wall. Mario pauses, David putting his hand on his shoulder. Mario pushes and walks through the wall again, David following.
Cut to Segaworld. Amy is praying in a church, dressed in a habit. Sonic comes in and sees her. He quickly walks up to her.)
Sonic (translated): Amy.
Amy (translated): You found me.
Sonic (translated): Amy, please come home.
Amy (translated): I can't. You know why I can't.
Sonic (translated): But how? How did you poison all those people?
Amy (translated): (rounding on him) I didn't poison them! I'm…evil inside.
Sonic (translated): You said that you killed them.
Amy (translated): I did. All of them. But why didn't you die?
Sonic (translated): I don't know. We can figure it out back home.
(He looks toward the back. A few cops come in, obviously brought with Sonic.)
Amy (translated): What? No, Sonic! I didn't mean to!
Sonic (translated): It's OK –
Amy (translated): It was an accident! Don't lock me up! Please!
(She gasps as the black tears fill her eyes again. The cops' eyes fill as well. They drop to the ground. Sonic sees them fall, then he turns back to his sister.)
Sonic (translated): Amy, stop!
(He reaches out and takes her hand. Suddenly, he gasps as the black tears transfer from Amy to him. After a while, he concentrates, and the black slowly dissipates.)
Amy (translated): (realizing) You can…you can stop it.
Sonic (translated): …Yes. We need to get out of here.
(They take off running as the cops slowly come to on the floor.
Cut to a nightclub in Viridian City. Malon takes some drugs with a guy. They go out onto the dance floor as Link walks in. He goes to the bouncer.)
Link: Have you seen this woman?
(He holds out a picture of their family, pointing to Zelda. The bouncer turns and points to the dance floor. Link walks over to them.)
Link: Sheik!
Malon: (with a smile) Guess again.
Dealer: Hey, back off, dude.
Link: (shoving him) She's my wife. (Turning to Malon) This is our family.
(He hands the picture to Malon. She studies it as the guy gets in Link's face.)
Dealer: Well she wants to have a good time with me.
(He rears back and punches at Link. The fist just phases through Link's head. The guy is amazed and confused. Link just punches him in the stomach.
Malon keeps looking at the picture. She takes a sharp intake of air, and she's Zelda again.)
Zelda: (scared) What happened? Where am I?
Link: (giving her his coat) It's OK. We'll get you back home.
(They start to leave. The guy gets up from the floor, looking after them evilly.
Cut over by the entrance. Link and Zelda walk next to each other.)
Zelda: I'm sorry about all this.
Link: It's OK, babe. I love you.
Zelda: I love you too.
(As they reach the door, the dealer jumps in front of them. He pulls a gun and shoots Link in the stomach at point-blank range. There's a bang and a scream. Zelda watches in horror as Link falls to the ground.
Cut to another title card: "Three Weeks Ago."
Then cut to the house in Dreamland. It's Link's wake, and many people are in the house. Pit and Waddle Doo, in suits, sit next to each other on the couch, Pit looking at his father's medal.)
Waddle Doo: Can I play with it?
(Pit looks at him angrily. Waddle Doo looks ashamed. Kirby comes in, also suited, and hits Waddle Doo on the arm.)
Kirby: Waddle Doo? Why would you ask him that?? C'mon, leave Pit alone.
(He grabs Waddle Doo and drags him away. Dedede and Zelda walk by, talking.)
Dedede: Are you gonna be all right, Zelda?
Zelda: Yeah. I just need to get some help.
Dedede: Whatever you need, we're here for you.
Zelda: Thanks, Dedede.
(They hug. Zelda walks outside to see Ash standing there. He looks sadly at her. Zelda nods towards him.
Cut to Luigi's hospital room. Mario and David come in and go right to Luigi's bedside.)
David: I've taken care of everything. Plane tickets, money. Now to help your brother.
(He grabs a syringe and starts drawing his own blood out. Mario looks at Luigi sadly.)
Mario: I'm sorry I let this happen to you.
(David takes the syringe and sticks into Luigi's IV. The blood flows in, mixing with the other fluids, and travels down the IV.)
Mario: How long until it starts working?
David: We won't be able to find out. The Company must be on our trail. They'll assume you'd come here.
(They start to walk out when Mario glances back.)
Mario: David, look!
(They turn to see Luigi's burns already start to fade away.)
David: Good then. Let's get out of here.
(Mario looks around and sees the picture of him and Luigi on the table. He grabs it and runs out the door.
Cut to outside. Mario removes the picture from the frame, tossing the frame away.)
Mario: That was amazing.
David: He'll be good as new by the time he wakes up. Here. (He hands Mario some papers) Ticket and passport. Let's go over the plan –
(They stop when they see Pichu and Bowser coming towards them.)
Pichu: You disappointed me, Mario!
David: (turning to Mario) Right. There's a cave outside Cerulean City. That's where we'll meet.
(They turn and run in opposite directions. Pichu turns and fires a big blast at David, knocking him into the wall. She turns and fires at Mario. He's also knocked down and his shirt catches on fire. He stands, whipping it off as he turns and runs.)
Pichu: (pointing at Mario) Go after him!
(She turns and makes her way toward David. Bowser runs after Mario.
Cut to a shipping yard. Mario leaps over the fence into the yard. He starts to run between them. He comes around a corner and right into Bowser. Mario thrusts his hand out, but nothing happens. Bowser is looking at him intently.
He shoves Mario back into a shipping container. But Mario punches him in the face. Bowser then shoves him into a wall and holds him there. He grabs a pair of handcuffs out and slaps it onto Mario's wrist, then the wall.)
Mario: You take me back there and I'll just keep escaping.
Bowser: I'm not taking you back. (Mario looks confused) You deserve a better fate. Your mother helped me when I was in need.
Mario: So now you're helping me?
(Bowser takes his necklace of the circular symbol off. He puts it around Mario's neck.)
Bowser: You must start a new life. I fear this is the only solution. Your secret is safe with me. Go with God, my friend.
(He then reaches a claw toward Mario. Mario pulls back in fear. Bowser grabs his head and concentrates as Mario starts to scream in pain.
After a few seconds, Bowser pulls back. He walks over to the doorway as Mario looks after him, confused. Bowser slams the doors shut.)
There are many ways to define our fragile existence.
(Cut to Luigi's hospital room. Samus walks in to see someone standing at the window.)
Many ways to give it meaning.
(The person turns to reveal Luigi. He looks perfectly healthy. Samus does not appear to be very surprised.)
But it is our memories that shape its purpose and give it context.
(Cut to a final title card: "Present Day."
Then cut to the car in Nintenworld. Mewtwo and Amy look at each other affectionately as Amy drives.)
The private assortment of images, fears, loves, regrets.
(Cut to the Company facility in the Mushroom Kingdom. Zelda shakes Ash's hand at the front doorway. She turns and walks out.)
For it is the cruel irony of life that we are destined to hold the dark with the light, the good with the evil, success with disappointment.
(Cut to outside the pub in Eagleland. Luigi stands in the rain, looking inside with hope.)
This is what separates us, what makes us human. And in the end, what we must fight to hold on to.
(Cut to the Cerulean Cave. Mario pulls back from the picture and gasps.)
Mario: I remember! I remember everything!
David: Good then. Shall we save the world?
(Mario just smiles. He nods once.
Slam to black.)
New characters:
Gloria – Maria
Gilberto – Shadow
Heidi – Daisy
A/N: Hooray! It's done! I do like that chapter a lot, if not just for the continuation of the explosion scene. It rocks. Anyway, now we're back in the present. R/R before the next chapter, some "Cautionary Tales" about trying to prevent death (Peppy's and Ike's, to be exact!). See you then!
