A/N: All right, time for the AU chapter. This is a look into a possible future, if the bomb goes off – that is, if Mario and Marth fail to stop it. It's really sweet and awesome and is my favorite episode and…yeah, I'll stop hyperventilating. Enjoy! Oh, and P.S., I do recommend going through it twice because…there are some surprises. Once you know what happens, some of the earlier stuff is even more chilling. P.P.S. With the newest character list on the SSB:B website, I added…
Hero – Name here (Nintendo character)
Andy – Lucas (same, from Mother)
Disclaimer: I do not own Heroes, NBC, Super Smash Brothers, Nintendo, Sega, or anything contained herein.
(Open in Douglas's studio, with the caption "Five Years in the Future." On a chalkboard on the wall is a list of dates that are crossed out: 3/3/07, 6/2/07, 3/5/08, 4/7/08. We pan over the center of the room, where the string web is. Pan over to the doorway. It opens and Past Marth and Past Roy come through the door.)
Past Marth: Mistah Douglas? Hello?
(They walk towards the string web.)
Roy (translated): What is this?
Past Marth (translated): I think…it's a timeline.
(There's the sound of a sword being unsheathed.)
Past Marth: Mistah Douglas?
(He removes his own sword and moves out from the web. Roy holds up his gun too. Coming through the doorway is…Future Marth. He doesn't wear glasses and has his hair pulled back in a ponytail. He also just has a more serious air about him.)
Future Marth: You.
Past Marth: (shocked) Me?
Future Marth: You shouldn't be here. None of this is supposed to be here.
Roy: Please, Future Marth. What happened to the city?
(Future Marth opens a window. Overlaid on the desolate city is the title card: "Chapter Twenty: Five Years Gone.")
Future Marth: The bomb. It still went off. It was all supposed to change. (He turns to them) Five years ago, a character named Mewtwo exploded a bomb in the heart of the city, changing the world forever. I thought I had it all figured out, had it all beat… (he walks off to stand by himself, thinking)
Past Marth (translated): (whispering) I look upset.
Roy (translated): Go talk to yourself.
Part Marth (translated): No way! I scare me! You go talk to him.
(Roy nods and walks over Future Marth, who stands contemplating the string web.)
Roy: What is all this for?
Future Marth: It's a map of the events leading up to the bomb.
Past Marth: Why did you make it?
Future Marth: So I could figure out the exact moment to go back and change the future. I finally found it – here. (He touches a knot of two strings interceding.) October 4, 2006. I met Mario Petrelli on the subway that day and gave him a message. Save the princess –
Past Marth: – save the world!
Future Marth: (smiling) Exactly. Did he do it? Did Mario save her?
Past Marth: Yes, he did.
Future Marth: Good. So that means Mewtwo never killed her and took her power. Which means...you were able to kill him, right?
Past Marth: (confused) Huh? No, I didn't kill Mewtwo.
Future Marth: You didn't? Then you have to go back. On the day the bomb explodes, you need to kill Mewtwo.
Roy: (incredulous) You kill someone?
(Past Marth shakes his head "No" quickly. Future Marth grabs a red string from the web.)
Future Marth: The red one is you. (He follows along it) It intersects Mewtwo, the black string (he stops at a knot) here. The day the bomb explodes. This is the day you have to kill Mewtwo. Originally, I stabbed him, but he regenerated.
Past Marth: Because he had the princess's power.
Future Marth: Exactly. That's why I went back and told Mario to save her.
Past Marth: But…I don't think I can go back. I can't control my powers.
Future Marth: I'll –
(The door bursts open and a bunch of cops run in.)
Cops: Freeze! Put your hands on your head!
Future Marth: Run!
(He and Roy take off. Past Marth tries to follow, but he gets grabbed – by Bowser. He's dressed in a dark suit, but he still doesn't speak and looks just as sinister. Future Marth and Roy escape out a side door. Coming down the steps is D.K. Parkman, also in a suit. He's older and some of the hair on his head has turned gray. His general attitude is one of contempt. He stops next to Bowser, holding the struggling Marth.)
D.K.: Well, well, well. Marth Nakamura. (To the cops) Go after his friends. I want to take him in personally.
(Cut to outside in an alleyway. Future Marth and Roy run out and stop, gasping for breath.)
Future Marth: Get that uniform off, you stick out like a sore thumb.
Roy: (taking off the uniform top) Who was that?
Future Marth: Homeland Security. They'll be taking him to a special holding facility uptown.
Roy: How do you know?
Future Marth: It's where they take all the terrorists.
Roy: Terrorists? But why would anyone think Marth – (he realizes) You? A terrorist?
Future Marth: After Mewtwo exploded, the world became a very dark place. And that is why we need to change it. Get him back so we can kill Mewtwo!
Roy: (nodding) Then let's go get Marth. You can stop time, teleport us right in.
Future Marth: It's not that simple. The dragon has a way of blocking my powers. We're gonna need some help. There's only one character who's powerful enough to get us through. (He smiles) Mario Petrelli. We're going to Hyrule.
(He puts an arm out on Roy's shoulder and closes his eyes. Roy looks wary, but closes his eyes too. They disappear.
Cut to a strip club. Future Marth walks in, Roy following. Roy looks around, surprised.)
Roy: This is where we're going to find Mario Petrelli?
Future Marth: No. This is where we find his girlfriend.
(They take a seat. Future Marth puts the sword down on the floor next to him. An announcer comes over the PA system.)
Announcer: And now, on the main stage, it's Sheik!
(Coming out on stage is, in fact, Zelda. She's in a dark bobbed wig and scant outfit, and she dances around the pole.)
Roy: (grinning) Maybe the future is not so bad!
(Future Marth ignores him. He just stares at Zelda up on stage. She continues dancing, but seems to notice the stare. She looks over and sees Future Marth. Her smile drops a little.
Short time-cut to later. Zelda now has the wig off and her hair is pulled back in a ponytail. She's also wearing a dark robe as she comes over and sits with the men.)
Zelda: You've got one song, two minutes, and 500 bucks, and then you're out of here.
Roy: (handing her the cash) It's me, Zelda. Roy. Do you remember?
Zelda: (with a look at Future Marth) This is how you're wasting my time?
Future Marth: I need to find Mario.
Zelda: Mario's not interested. The war's over. We lost, remember?
Future Marth: It's about stopping Mewtwo.
(Zelda leaps up at the name and grabs Future Marth by the throat.)
Zelda : You say that name again and I will break your neck.
(Future Marth looks slightly frightened. Zelda lets him go and tries to recompose herself. She walks off as Future Marth calls after her.)
Future Marth: Do you know where Bennet is?
Zelda: (stopping, then turning back) Last I heard, he was still rustling cattle in Corneria.
(She walks off. Roy sadly waves goodbye after her.
Cut to the bar at the club. Zelda walks up and sits down next to an empty stool as the bartender puts out two glasses of scotch. She picks one up and takes a sip, then sighs.
The other glass suddenly slides toward the empty stool. And appearing on the stool is Mario. He's now older and has a long scar running diagonally across his face. His hair is slicked back and he seems less hopeful – more grounded and dark.)
Zelda: You don't have to be here.
Mario: (nodding toward the leaving men) What did he want?
Zelda: He's still trying to stop an exploding man.
Mario: Mewtwo's dead.
Zelda: I sent them off to Bennet, let him deal with them.
(They turn to look at the TV over the bar. It shows footage from the Mushroom Kingdom on the day of the explosion – five years ago that day.)
Mario: Of all days, huh?
Zelda: Today is just another day.
Mario: You lost your son, Zelda –
Zelda: It's called letting go. Maybe you should give it a try. Or would you rather go off with your buddy and fight the pain away?
Mario: (leaning in, looking sincere) I'm not goin' anywhere.
(They kiss. Zelda finally breaks it, then she turns and walks off. Mario takes a sip of his drink as he turns back to the TV. It shows a picture of Mewtwo with more footage from the explosion. Mario slams his drink down and twitches his head to the side. The power plug of the TV gets yanked out of the socket telekinetically.
Cut to a holding room at Homeland Security. Past Marth is seated at an interrogation table with the dragon behind him, watching over him. D.K. comes in with a manila folder.)
Past Marth: You are making big mistake.
D.K.: A mistake, huh? (He looks in the folder) Marth Nakamura. Born to Ike and Mia Nakamura. Teleportation, stopping time. Prison breaks. Attacks against Nintenworld interests. No, I don't think there's any mistake.
Past Marth: (surprised) Prison breaks?
D.K.: Two years ago, you called a lot of good men when you raided the National Science Center in Celadon City.
Past Marth: No. I know myself. I am not a killer.
D.K.: No? (He leans in close, listening in to Marth's mind. After a while, he pulls back, surprised.) How could you not remember that?
Past Marth: Because I do not know what you are talking about.
D.K.: It's characters like you and Mewtwo that have ruined it for the rest of us. Making us live in fear, making us choose sides. Tearing families apart.
Past Marth: (distraught) I would never tear a family apart.
(D.K. grabs him and reads his mind again. He hears one thought.)
Past Marth: I just want to be a hero.
D.K.: (stepping back again) I don't know what kind of game you're playing, but I'm going to find what it is.
(He walks out of the room, taking his cell phone out. He dials a number.)
D.K.: Yeah. Yeah, we got him.
(Cut to the Oval Office. Luigi stands there, on the phone in his presidential suit.)
Luigi: On the eve of anniversary? We've spent all this time trying to catch him and today he slips up?
D.K.: (over the phone) I thought it'd be good news to announce at the press conference tomorrow.
Luigi: (shaking his head) No, they're up to something. I need to know what it is.
D.K.: There may be a problem there. He doesn't seem to remember the last five years.
Luigi: Really? It's not some kind of…trick, or illusion? Anything seems possible these days.
D.K.: There may be something we've overlooked.
Luigi: (hard) You're a mind-reader, Parkman. Rip it out of him. If you can't do it, I'll get someone who can.
D.K.: (sighing) Yes sir, Mr. President.
(He hangs up. Luigi hangs up and goes to his desk, turning on the intercom.)
Luigi: Send in the professor.
(He walks to the side of his desk and stands waiting. He crosses his arms and looks resolute – just like in Douglas's and Mewtwo's old paintings. Diddy comes in, now sporting a pair of glasses with his shirt and tie.)
Luigi: Sorry to keep you waiting.
Diddy: (shaking his hand) Oh, it's no problem.
Luigi: We've captured Marth Nakamura in the Mushroom Kingdom.
Diddy: That's good news.
Luigi: I want you up there right away.
Diddy: I'll be on the first flight.
Luigi: Thank you. But that's not why I asked you here. Please, sit down.
(They go and sit in two chairs facing each other.)
Luigi: Five years ago, you and I allowed a character named Mewtwo to blow up in the Mushroom Kingdom. Soon after, we sat down in my office – do you remember?
Diddy: Of course. We made a pact to eliminate such danger at any cost.
Luigi: And five years later, after billions of dollars in research…how much closer are we to a cure?
Diddy: (admitting) Not very.
Luigi: We're not?
Diddy: The mutation is hard-coded into their DNA. It's like they're a separate species. We cannot change who they are, Mr. President.
Luigi: We've outlawed their breeding. We've confined their movements. We police them. We track them. Their attacks continue. Their population is increasing exponentially.
(He goes to his desk and picks up a folder.)
Luigi: In your original assessment, you posited a potential solution. Extinction.
Diddy: Yes, but I wasn't expecting –
Luigi: (reading) "They wouldn't be the first species to be made extinct for the preservation of another." Your words.
Diddy: (growing more agitated) I was talking about the natural order of things. What you're talking about is genocide.
Luigi: (slamming down the folder) It's self-defense. We need to put an end to this.
Diddy: You're one of them, Luigi. Am I supposed to march you off to the gas chambers as well?
Luigi: (turning to look out the window) I'm thankful for the secrets you've kept. But let's be honest. (He chuckles) I can fly. I'm hardly dangerous. (He turns back and goes to Diddy) Be honest with me, Diddy. If I gave you five, ten, twenty more years… (he puts a hand on Diddy's shoulder) Could you reverse it?
Diddy: (after a pause, with a sigh) Probably not.
Luigi: Then we need to start thinking about Plan B.
(Cut back to the holding room. D.K. swings and punches Past Marth once, then once again the other way. He shakes his hand and takes a break.)
Past Marth: You are special…like me. Why do you want to hurt other special people?
(D.K. opens his mouth to answer, but his phone rings. He picks up.)
D.K.: Yeah, this is Parkman. (pause) Kong? What's he doing there? (pause) All right.
(He hangs up and goes to walk out. He nods at the dragon on the way.)
D.K.: Watch him.
(The dragon, holding Marth's sword, nods and steps toward Past Marth.
Cut to Douglas's studio. Diddy stands in shock, looking at the string web. He steps forward for a better look at one clipping: from Compositech Paper. Diddy touches it in wonder.
Cut to Compositech Paper in Corneria. The place looks deserted – except for recent activity going on there. Bennet sits facing two parents and their son. He still has the same calmness and feeling of control, but is now wearing regular glasses instead of the horn-rimmed ones. Miles "Tails" Gitelman is standing behind him, watching.)
Bennet: (to the boy) Now, just push your finger to this pad here. If it turns red, you're one of them, and you'll be arrested. If it turns blue, then you're free to go.
(The boy nods. He presses his finger to the white pad in front of him. A splotch appears and turns a vibrant red. Miles steps forward.)
Miles: You're now the Shore family from Katina. We've included money, identities, references.
Father: (standing) Thank you. Thank you so much.
Mother: How do we know when we're safe?
Bennet: You don't. Not ever.
(He reaches behind himself and grabs a vial out of a box.)
Bennet: You'll need to keep a sample of this on yourself at all times. Get a thermos.
(He drops some liquid from the vial onto another pad. This one splotches and then turns blue.)
Bennet: (handing it to him) You need to be vigilant, always on the lookout. Can you do that, son? (The boy nods) Good man.
Miles: We need to go.
(The boy and his mother stand up. They all move to walk out. Bennet grabs the father's arm.)
Bennet: Do whatever it takes to protect him.
(The father nods solemnly. He walks after his family. Bennet follows him out with his eyes – and sees Future Marth and Roy waiting outside.
Short time-cut to later. Bennet's holding a sheet of paper with names on it and is arguing with Future Marth.)
Bennet: No, it's out the question. These characters trust me to keep them hidden! You're asking me to do the exact opposite!
Future Marth: I'm only asking you for the ones I brought to you! Link, Gaimen, Mew Walker. And they'll all be safe when we succeed!
Bennet: I'm sorry. I can't help you. (He goes to walk out)
Roy: (stopping him) But…he saved your daughter's life!
Bennet: (pausing) What is he talking about?
Future Marth: I told Mario Petrelli to save Peach. From Mewtwo, at homecoming. My friend tells me he did it. Peach is alive. Isn't she?
Bennet: (after a pause) Hold tight. I'll see what I can do.
(Cut back to Douglas's studio. Diddy explains the string web to D.K., who's not really listening.)
Diddy: I think…each string represents a person. How they met, how they interacted. How they changed history. (He goes and touches a string) It's a map of the past.
D.K.: Why would a terrorist be so interested in the past?
Diddy: Maybe he thought he could change it. (He suddenly gets an idea) Think about it. Marth Nakamura can stop time, teleport by folding space. Theoretically, he could fold time as well.
(He suddenly spots a booklet of pages on a table. He goes and looks at it – it's the last issue of F-Zero Wonders.)
D.K.: I dunno, that sounds pretty crazy.
Diddy: (picking up the comic) Any crazier than being able to read someone's mind?
D.K.: (hard) Actually, it's a lot crazier.
Diddy: Haven't you ever wished you could go back? Change the past, put your life on a different path?
D.K.: (shaking his head) I used to be that guy. But wanting it and doing it are two different things.
Diddy: (coming back to the web) Look here. These two spots seem to be the focal points. One is the bomb. The other –
(He stops as he looks at the picture clipped there. It's a picture of a painting of Future Marth talking to Mario on the subway. It reads "Oct. 4 – Subway.")
D.K.: What? What is it?
Diddy: The other is the day I received my father's ashes. I was with Mario Petrelli that day, on the subway. He said he saw a man who could freeze time.
D.K.: Nakamura?
Diddy: I don't know. He said he had a message for Mario.
D.K.: Really? What was the message? (Diddy just looks around at the web) Professor? What message? (Diddy appears to get an idea and starts to run out) Hey! What was the message?
Diddy: (pausing and turning back) Save the princess, save the world.
(He runs out. D.K. turns and looks at the floor below him. It's the painting of the bomb going off.
Cut to the diner in Katina. Peach – now sporting jet-black hair over her waitress uniform – picks up some plates and takes them to her table. She smiles and returns to the edge of the counter. She watches a TV program showing footage of Luigi leaving the White House. A short guy with a round head and blond hair comes up to her. This is Lucas, a busboy.)
Lucas: Boy, Vivian, for someone who hates the President so much, you sure do perk up every time he's on TV.
Peach: (laughing) Please. He's old enough to be my father.
Lucas: Still. A guy could get jealous.
Peach: You've got nothing to worry about.
Lucas: Good. Cause I'm kind of in love with you.
(They lean in, grinning, and share a kiss. They break it, still smiling.)
Lucas: Did you check out The Gardens? (She gives him a blank look) You know, for the reception? You said you would.
Peach: (nervously chuckling) I'm sorry, I forgot.
Lucas: Not getting cold feet, I hope?
Peach: Nope. My feet are just fine.
(They lean in and kiss again, but he looks wary as he breaks it.)
Lucas: The creepy guy with glasses is back. Sitting in your section.
(Peach looks over to see Bennet sitting there. She kind of steels herself and goes over.)
Peach: Can I get you anything else, sir?
Bennet: Uh, no. But my table is a bit sticky.
(She kind of huffs and gets out a towel. She leans down to clean the table.)
Bennet: (whispering) Someone knows about you, Peach. You have to leave. Now. There's a bag to my right. Take it.
Peach: (whispering) What am I supposed to tell Lucas?
Bennet: Tell him nothing. Just go.
Peach: I can't do that to him. We're getting married.
(Bennet looks up in shock. He keeps whispering, strained.)
Bennet: Have you told him?
Peach: No. All I want is a normal life, Dad.
Bennet: And that's what I've tried to give you. But it's not safe here any more.
Peach: Please Dad. I've been hiding all over this country for five years.
Bennet: And I brought you back home.
Peach: (angrily) Only after Mom left.
Bennet: I've only wanted to keep you safe.
(Some people murmur at the TV program, showing police officers arresting characters.)
Announcer: And in other news today, officials announced the arrest of over two hundred undocumented specials living in Nintenworld. It's been called the most successful operation since the passing of the Ganondorf Act four years ago.
(Peach looks back at her father. He looks back pointedly.)
Peach: (with disgust) Enjoy your pie.
(She goes to walk away, but hesitates. She grabs the paper bag in passing and walks into the back.
Cut to Compositech Paper. Future Marth and Roy watch the same program in a waiting room.)
Future Marth: (to himself) Link can phase us into the building. Gaimen can create illusions to distract the guards.
Roy: (turning suddenly) And what about me?
Future Marth: (smirking) You'll help too.
Roy: No, I mean, where am I? Am I rich? No…married!
Future Marth: I can't tell you that.
Roy: Why not?
Future Marth: Because… (he smirks as he switches back to Japanese) The space/time continuum might implode because you were impatient!
Roy: (laughing a little) So...my friend is still in there?
(Future Marth nods. Then he stands.)
Future Marth: There's something I need to tell you.
(Suddenly, there's a shot and Future Marth screams. A taser dart is in his chest. He convulses and drops onto the couch behind him, his sword clattering to the floor. D.K. Parkman drops the other end of the taser and comes into the room. Other cops start running in, and one grabs Roy. D.K. goes to Future Marth, removing the taser and examining him.)
D.K.: (confused) We already caught you. (He realizes) Son of a bitch, there are two Marths!
(Suddenly, at the doorway, Mario materializes from invisibility. He's dressed in a dark trenchcoat and looks angry. He shoves a guard over a table telekinetically. The cops, including D.K., hear and start to draw their weapons. Mario steps forward and closes his eyes in concentration. There's a whoosh –
– and when he opens his eyes, time is stopped. He picks up Marth's sword from the floor and puts it over his shoulder. Walking past D.K., he gives him a look of pure hatred. He puts a hand on Future Marth's leg and on Roy's side and concentrates again.
Time resumes for everyone but those three men, who are gone. The cops draw their weapons, but no one's there. The guard that was holding Roy is confused. D.K. looks around angrily. He catches the guard's eye.)
D.K.: What?
(Short time-cut to later. Bennet returns to Compositech to find it looted. Cops walk through, carrying stuff. He walks up to D.K., who is rightly pissed.)
D.K.: Your friends got away.
Bennet: If they were my friends, I wouldn't have called you, D.K. That's our deal, right? I turn you onto the dangerous fugitives and you let me hide the harmless ones.
D.K.: Well it doesn't hurt that we're both harboring children of interest. Except mine isn't the President's daughter.
Bennet: (to himself) She's getting married.
D.K.: Well, mazel tov. I guess. (his voice dropping) Have you…uh, heard anything from Candy?
(Bennet turns and finds a manila envelope. He hands it to D.K. wordlessly. D.K. opens it to find a stick figure drawing of two gorillas, reading "Mommy and Me." It's signed to a "D.K., Jr.")
D.K.: (looking at it) Have you ever wished you could change your life, take a different path?
Bennet: Every day. But you did right by her, D.K. – by both of them. You didn't have a choice.
D.K.: I appreciate all you've done for them.
(Bennet nods and goes to keep walking into the building. But he sees something behind a desk. He looks closer, to see that it's the body of Tails Gitelman – with a bullet in his forehead.
Bennet gasps. And D.K. comes up behind him, grabbing him and throwing him onto the desk. A few other cops come up and hold him down.)
Bennet: (struggling) What're you doing?
D.K.: I'm ending our arrangement. (He cocks his gun) Unfortunately, I have to explain to the President that there are now two Marths, then I have to tell him how I let him get away. So I can't go back empty-handed. (He leans down close to Bennet's head) Now tell me where she is. (After a few seconds, he grins)
Bennet: No…
(D.K. holds the gun to his head. He fires.
Cut to Peach in the diner, looking at the bag on the counter. She appears to get an idea, and runs up to Lucas.)
Peach: Let's elope.
Lucas: What?
Peach: Let's elope. Right now. We'll pack our bags, drive up to Hyrule, be married by sundown. What do you think?
Lucas: (laughing) I think you're crazy.
Peach: You're right. But I have my reasons. I'll tell you everything when we're on the road.
Lucas: (considering) Mmm…
Peach: Please? Do this for me?
Lucas: (leaning in) I'd do anything for you. (They kiss) I'll get my things.
(Peach breaks out into a huge grin. She grabs a coffee pot and walks down the counter, offering to refill everyone's. She stops at the last customer, who has his menu over his face and his cup upside-down on his saucer.)
Peach: Can I get you anything, sir?
(The man lowers his menu. It's D.K., with a smirk on his face.)
D.K.: I don't know, Peach, what's good?
(She looks at him in fear. Cut to Marth's holding cell. Diddy comes in to question him. The dragon watches over them.)
Diddy: Save the princess, save the world.
Past Marth: (looking up) How do you know that?
Diddy: I was with Mario Petrelli one day on the subway, and he got that message from you. We were on our way to see Douglas Mendez, an artist who can paint the future. Much of his work is remarkably accurate. Like this. (He holds out the comic)
Past Marth: Is that a new F-Zero Wonders?
Diddy: But history didn't happen like this.
(He shows Marth a page of the comic: Marth stabbing Mewtwo with the sword)
Diddy: You didn't kill Mewtwo. You're trying to change the past. Trying to stop Mewtwo, is that it?
Past Marth: (somber) If you could save millions of lives, wouldn't you?
(Diddy stares at him in wonder, obviously considering his own situation.
Cut to a back room in the strip club. Mario, now without the trenchcoat and in a white tank top, brings Roy a blanket. Roy gives him a slight bow and goes to put the blanket on Future Marth, who is passed out on a couch.)
Mario: Is that really you, Roy?
Roy: (chuckling) Why are you so surprised to see me?
Mario: (nodding at Future Marth) He didn't tell you?
Roy: No, what?
Mario: You're…dead.
Roy: (with wide eyes) How?
Mario: The bomb. In the Mushroom Kingdom. (He sits in a seat) You know how he used to be, so full of hope and optimism?
Roy: Of course. That is the Marth I know.
Mario: It went away the day you died. If you ask me, that's why he became so obsessed with changing it all back. He wants to save you.
Zelda's voice: Hey, baby, you in there?
(She comes in to see the men. She stops and turns right around and walks out. Mario sighs, then gets up and follows her.
Cut to Douglas's studio. Diddy stands, explaining the string web to Luigi.)
Diddy: He's trying to change the past. Kill Mewtwo before the explosion.
Luigi: You actually think he can make that happen?
Diddy: I do. I mean, think about it. Without Mewtwo, the world would never have considered these characters to be dangerous. None of this would've ever happened. Imagine the possibilities. (He takes out a pair of scissors) If he kills Mewtwo, (he cuts the black string, and the whole web crashes to the floor) he can change the past.
Luigi: I don't have that luxury. I have to find answers in the here and now.
Diddy: (with anger) Genocide is not an answer.
Luigi: Are you still upset about that? You're feeling bad because you came up short?
Diddy: It's wrong.
Luigi: I was elected to make hard decisions. I understand how things work.
Diddy: (snidely) And how is this going to "work"?
Luigi: Tomorrow I'm going to announce that you've developed a treatment.
Diddy: You're going to lie.
Luigi: Yes. The world will cheer.
Diddy: And what happens when people start dying?
Luigi: I'll say you made a mistake. A fatal error. At first, the world will mourn. They'll be united in grief. And then they'll just be united.
(Diddy just gives him a look like he thinks he's crazy. Luigi moves forward and takes his shoulder again.)
Luigi: I need to know that you're with me on this. Diddy. Are you with me?
Diddy: (after a while) Of course.
(The door bangs open and D.K. comes in.)
D.K.: Mr. President. There are two of them, sir. Two…Marths. I want to put down the younger one, just to be safe.
Luigi: No. (He slowly turns to Diddy) I want the professor to do it.
(Diddy looks horrified. Luigi cocks his head at him, like "Aren't you with me?")
Diddy: (after swallowing hard) I'll do it.
D.K.: Mr. President. (Luigi turns to him) That wasn't the only thing I found down there.
(Cut to the Petrelli mansion. Peach stands in the living room, looking at a picture of Mario and Luigi. Luigi comes in the door behind her.)
Luigi: I thought you were dead. You have no idea how important you are to me, Peach.
Peach: I'm just a waitress.
Luigi: (going to her) We both know that's not true.
(He tries to take her into a hug, but she pushes him away.)
Peach: (angry) You made everyone afraid of us!
Luigi: No. I made everyone aware of us. Fear is just the natural response. We're special.
Peach: Who are you to decide who's special and who's not?
(She starts to walk past him, but he grabs her arm.)
Luigi: I'm the leader of the free world. For all I know, I'm the most special person there is. Lord knows I found enough power. Met a lot of special people. Like this guy named Gaimen who allowed me to become President. But I'm done.
(Peach, eyes wide with fear, starts to back away from him.)
Luigi: I just want to eliminate the competition. I don't need any more power. Especially not after you.
(Peach turns to go. But Luigi waves his hand up and she stops, held by some force. Luigi raises his hand and points at her head, moving his hand to the side. The sound of ticking clocks is heard as Peach starts to bleed from her forehead.)
Peach: (whispering) Mewtwo…
(The air around Luigi warps, and he morphs back into his true form: Mewtwo. He looks a bit older but still just as evil.)
Mewtwo: (with a grin) I've waited a long time for this.
(Cut back to the strip club. Future Marth groans and wakes up. He looks over to see Roy examining his sword.)
Roy: You always wanted to be a Kendo master.
Future Marth: I studied in Tohoku, so technically, I'm a Battojutsu master.
Roy: (re-sheathing the sword) Why do you always have to correct me?
Future Marth: (rubbing his head) Because there's a difference.
Roy: Who cares! You got to be everything that you ever wanted and I became…dead.
Future Marth: Mario told you?
Roy: (nods) Looks like you fought a lot of battles.
Future Marth: (nodding) More than I'd care to remember.
Roy: How were they?
Future Marth: (smiling) Not nearly as fun without you.
(Roy smiles too. Cut to Zelda's dressing room. She's sitting in her chair and arguing with Mario.)
Zelda: You remember what we promised each other.
Mario: Of course.
Zelda: Then why can't you just let it go?
Mario: Hey, I'm not the one who can't let go! You're gonna call yourself "Sheik" onstage night after night and act like nothing gets to you? We both know that's not true. That is not who you are.
Zelda: (turning to her mirror) It is now.
Mario: (going to her) You're gonna look in that mirror, but nobody is looking back but YOU. She is gone, Zelda. Link is gone. Pit is gone. You have to accept your loss.
Zelda: Sheik was right. Look out for yourself, don't get attached.
Mario: I don't buy it.
Zelda: (turning to him) Then why are you so anxious to leave me?
Mario: I have my reasons. And I'm not leaving, I'll be back.
Zelda: (standing) What reasons? What makes you think you are so important? That you have to fix everything?
Mario: Because I do.
Zelda: (She shoves him) Why? Why does it fall on your shoulders to save (she shoves him again) everyone!
Mario: (yelling) Because it was ME! The bomb? It was ME! I killed all those people. I killed Pit.
Zelda: That's not true. It was Mewtwo.
Mario: No –
Zelda: Everyone! Knows! (She turns away in anger)
Mario: No! Luigi lied to protect me. Look, (he takes a deep breath) if there's a chance that Marth can undo this, then I have to help him. (He turns to go)
Zelda: (a tear going down her cheek) You walk out that door, you don't come back.
(Mario looks back over his shoulder…then walks out. He grabs his trenchcoat off a hook and moves into the back room. Future Marth and Roy stand up. Mario moves his hand to the side and shoves an ottoman out of his way telekinetically.)
Future Marth: Is everything all right?
Mario: No! (He moves past them) Let's go fix it. (They move to follow)
(Cut to ground zero from the explosion – now a memorial site. "Luigi" gives a speech (A/N: which will be in bold as a voiceover) in front of some still-destroyed buildings.)
Luigi: My fellow Nintenworlders, fellow Mushroom Kingdomites. Please let us take a moment to remember the men, women, and children who were taken from us five years ago. Five bells for the five years of sorrow.
(The bell rings once…twice. Cut to Marth's holding cell. He looks up, hearing the tones. The bell rings again as D.K. watches Marth with the dragon nearby. It rings again as Diddy takes out a syringe.
Cut to Hyrule. Zelda watches the speech on TV. Luigi comes up on screen as the last bell rings out. Zelda gets a look of fury across her face. She throws her glass at the screen and the screen shatters.
Cut back to the memorial. "Luigi" resumes his speech.)
Luigi: Sacrifice...is something that we're all too familiar with. We've all lost. We've all mourned.
(Cut to the lobby of Homeland Security. The guards turn from the TV to see Future Marth, Mario, and Roy standing there.)
And we've all had to become soldiers...heroes.
(The guards slowly back up and hit the alarm. They all draw weapons.)
Protecting one another from the gravest of dangers.
(Cut to upstairs. Diddy hears the alarm and turns, curious. D.K. rises to his feet.
This is a battle that none of us wanted. One that we entered with a heavy heart.
(Past Marth looks up in hope. Cut back downstairs. More guards run in as Future Marth and Mario smile.)
Future Marth: Should we stop time?
Mario: Nah, I haven't had a good fight in years.
Knowing that the enemy was ourselves.
(Future Marth slowly reaches back, then quickly draws his sword. He moves to his right as Mario moves to his left, both obviously experienced at this. Roy looks back and forth, not knowing what to do.
We've won battles the world over.
(Short time-cut to later. Future Marth stands amongst several bodies. He turns and slices another rushing guard, then spins and stabs one more through.)
Not only against those that would do us harm…
(Future Marth walks through the lobby. He sees a guard fly through the air and crash to the floor. Mario comes out of a room, lowering his raised hand.)
…but against poverty, reclaiming the environment.
Future Marth: Upstairs, our powers will be blocked by the dragon.
Mario: We need to take him out so the other Marth can teleport out of here.
Roy: But won't there be guards waiting for us up there? With guns?
But we do not forget the price that we've had to pay. The laws that we've had to pass to keep our citizens safe.
(Cut to upstairs. SWAT members form two lines of defense in front of the elevator. D.K. walks up behind them, cocking his gun.)
D.K.: Put 'em all down, no warning.
To preserve our way of life.
(Cut over to the other room. The dragon walks up, staring hard at Past Marth.)
Our hope has always been that a great peace is on the horizon, that one day wounds would be healed and salvation could be found.
(Past Marth turns. He sees Diddy filling a syringe.
Cut to the memorial site. "Luigi" continues with his speech.)
Luigi: I'm here to tell you that that day is today. I'm proud to announce that we have developed a treatment, a method to reverse the genetic code.
(The crowd applauds.)
Luigi: The first clinics will open next month across the world. And soon, we can begin lifting restrictions.
(Cut to the lobby of Homeland Security. Mario, Roy, and Future Marth stand in front of the open elevator.)
Cities and families can be reunited.
(Future Math steps into the elevator. He turns and presses a button with the handle of his sword. Mario slightly nods, as Roy watches in amazement.)
And we can finally live without fear.
(He holds his sword pointing downward as the doors shut.)
We've been vigilant. We have been uncompromising.
(Cut to the elevator upstairs. D.K. stands ready with his SWAT team, waiting.)
And our efforts have paid off.
(Cut to Past Marth's holding cell. The dragon walks with Diddy up to Past Marth. He looks terrified.)
The nightmare is over. The world is saved.
(Past Marth gulps in fear.
Cut back to the elevator. A SWAT guy talks to D.K.)
SWAT Guy: Why are we waiting, sir? Why don't we just go down and take the fight to them?
D.K.: Because we'd lose. The dragon's up here, so up here they're powerless.
(The elevator dings.)
D.K.: Weapons free, shoot on sight.
(The doors open. But there's no one inside. D.K. is stunned. He walks over and looks around inside, then slaps the doorframe in frustration.
Cut to Past Marth's cell. He quivers as Diddy and the dragon come up to him.)
Past Marth: I must go back and stop explosion! You know I'm telling truth!
Diddy: (to the dragon) Hold him down.
Past Marth: (as the dragon pushes down on him) Please don't do this! (He closes his eyes)
Diddy: I'm sorry.
(He hesitates a second, then jabs the needle into the dragon's neck. The dragon looks up, stunned. He tries to pull it out, but then he slumps over the table, dead. Diddy starts to undo Marth's restraints until finally, he opens his eyes again.)
Diddy: Come on! Hurry!
Past Marth: You're letting me go! Why?
Diddy: I think I'm supposed to.
(He shows Past Marth more of the comic. It shows Diddy preparing the needle, the dragon holding down Marth, and then Diddy stabbing the dragon with the needle.)
Diddy: (grabbing Marth's sword off a table) Come on. I'll take you to where it's safe.
(He opens a back door to find a guard there. But the guard slumps down, dead – sliced by Future Marth's sword. He then runs in and pushes Diddy against a wall. Diddy drops the sword to the floor and gasps in surprise.)
Past Marth: No, Future Me! He is good guy!
(Mario comes up the hallway. A guard leaps out at him, but he spins and throws the guard telekinetically into a wall. The guard stays down. Mario comes into the room and nods at Diddy.)
Mario: Diddy.
Diddy: (amazed) Mario?
(Mario and Future Marth glance into the room to see the dragon slumped over the desk.)
Roy: (running in) Marth?
Past Marth: Roy!
(Roy runs up and the two hug. Past Marth smiles widely.)
Future Marth: You need to go.
Past Marth: But, how do I return to the right moment? I don't know how to do that.
Future Marth: I'll take you.
(He reaches out, but suddenly, two gunshots explode into his back. He pauses, then falls forward. Mario looks up to see D.K. in the doorway, preparing to shoot again. He waves his hand and the door slams shut.
Cut to the memorial site. "Luigi" lights the flame at the site and stands somberly.
Cut back to the Homeland Security hallway. Two SWAT guys run up with a battering ram to the door. D.K. yells at them as he dials his phone.)
D.K.: Come on, move it! (The call goes through)
(Cut back to the memorial site. Luigi's phone rings. An aide brings it to him and he answers.)
Luigi: Yes?
D.K.: (through the phone) The dragon is down! The dragon! Is down!
Luigi: What about Nakamura?
(Cut back to the hallway. D.K. grits his teeth.)
D.K.: We can't get to him, sir. (He rolls his eyes in disbelief) Your brother is holding us off. If I don't get reinforcements soon, Nakamura will escape.
(Cut back to the memorial. Luigi hangs up the phone, considering. Then…he just leaps straight up into the air, flying. The crowd gasps. He takes off in flight as the crowd murmurs in amazement.
Cut to inside the room. Roy pulls the F-Zero Wonders comic from Future Marth's coat pocket. He kind of nods, then slumps down, dead. Roy looks at the page, which shows Future Marth dead on the floor.)
Past Marth: I'm dead.
(Roy suddenly looks up.)
Roy: We have to leave!
Past Marth: (simply) I'm dead.
Roy: Marth!
(Suddenly, an arm phases through the door. It grabs Mario's arm and he's yanked through the doorway.
Cut to outside in the hallway. The arm flings Mario, who skids along the hallway before stopping. We pan around to see the arm belonged to "Luigi." He turns to D.K., angry.)
Luigi: Get in there, D.K. End this.
D.K.: (stunned) Yes sir.
(D.K. turns to the door as Luigi turns to Mario, who is rising to his feet.)
Luigi: (walking toward him) Brother versus brother. It's almost biblical.
Mario: My brother can't walk through walls, who are you?
(The air around Luigi warps and he returns to his true form. Mewtwo smirks at Mario.)
Mewtwo: An old friend. The guy they blamed for blowing up the Mushroom Kingdom, but you and I know the real story, don't we, Mar?
(Mario looks stunned. Cut to inside the room. Diddy picks up the dropped sword and hands it to Past Marth, who is still standing frozen.)
Diddy: You must leave. Now.
(Cu to back out in the hallway. Mario threatens Mewtwo.)
Mario: You're gonna pay for what you did to Luigi. What you did in his name.
Mewtwo: What I did? (He thrusts his hands to his side, and they're coated with ice) When I killed Luigi, he'd already turned against his own kind.
Mario: (raising his hands, which are ignited with flames) Liar!
(The two move toward each other to fight.
Cut back to inside the room. Roy tries to get Past Marth to move.)
Roy: Marth! We have to go!
(There's banging on the door. Diddy runs over and throws his body against it.)
Past Marth: I can't do it.
(There's blue and red light pulsing from around the door – obviously from Mewtwo and Mario's battle. Diddy strains to keep the door closed.)
Roy: Marth! (Past Marth turns to look at him) I believe in you. I've seen the man that you become. You can do this!
(The door is nearly coming off its hinges. Diddy tries with everything in him to keep it closed. Past Marth finally takes a firm grasp on the sword. He grabs Roy's shoulder with the other hand. The door starts to blow in as Past Marth closes his eyes. Diddy screams. There's a flash of white light…
…and then Marth and Roy open their eyes. They're on the roof of the Deveaux building. And none of the buildings are destroyed, so they're back in the present. The two break out into grins. Marth takes the comic from Roy and looks at the last panel: showing him stabbing Mewtwo through.)
Marth: And now the hard part…
(Slam to black.)
A/N: Whoo! That chapter took me way too long to write, but…I did enjoy it so. Now we're back in the regular timeline with 3 chapters left. The next one is the aptly named "The Hard Part." It may take me a while, since I kind of have to rewrite Sylar/Mewtwo's story a bit. I should be able to finish the whole storyline by the end of the semester. R/R, please, and I'll see you again sometime soon!