Gamer4 in. There's a particular bit of this chapter liable to take quite a bit to write, so I'm getting started a little earlier than I'd previously intended- here's hoping that amounts to something. Finally giving Treasure of the Rudra another go after rage quitting a few weeks back... got that on one window, Nyarko on the other... I am in the zone. Let's do this!
Disclaimer: And my heart will be where I'll lead this despair, 'til the tears all dry up and finally stop! No goal has been found, but we're not turning around, we're tearing through the wind we knew, running and not slowing down!
Chapter XXX
Manfred von Karma: Ace Attorney
Mario didn't even have time to flinch before the door swung open before him. "Well, well, do not be shy, come on in," Simon grunted.
Mario braced himself, and did so.
It had been two years since Mario had first entered this space, and it had lost none of its splendor in the meantime- a truly beautiful chamber that reflected the soul of its resident- cluttered and insane on the surface, but with a kind, gentle tone beneath it all. Watching over it were living pictures of all the school's previous headmasters and mistresses- currently fast asleep.
In the middle of it all were the people standing in the middle of debate- the Master Hand, floating serenely behind a mahogany desk- Simon, standing with a scowl off to the side- and little Olimar Tate, with his overlarge nose, space helmet, and a few hairs on his head, standing next to the room's final resident- a tall man in an old-fashioned business suit, and filling out the stereotype of a cold businessman in every way possible- neat brown hair, a pencil-thin moustache, and a severe expression to greet anyone who met his cold, blue eyes- he was even carrying a walking stick, for Wave Existence's sake.
Olimar visibly brightened when he noticed Mario entering- "Oh, Mario, my boy! How's it going?"
"Getting a little tired of people calling me 'my boy,'" Mario shrugged honestly.
"As always, that same old straight man charm," Olimar nodded warmly.
"I would not permit him to speak to me that way, if I were you," the man in the suit responded coldly.
Olimar shook his head. "Mr. Ryan, Mario Mario. Mario, this is my successor as president of smashing, Mr. Andrew Ryan."
"Nice to meet you," Mario plastered a smile onto his face as he produced a hand for the newest president to shake. President Ryan, however, turned his back on him, back towards the Master Hand.
"Do not think you will curry favor with me the way you did with Mr. Tate," he scoffed. "I am wise to the ways of the world, and you will receive no special treatment from me for your tragic backstory."
"He's a little rough around the edges," Olimar noted apologetically to Mario. "But he's really a good guy, once you get to know him."
"Wasn't your replacement someone named Harkinian?" Mario asked, recalling earlier on this very story.
"Well, yes..." Olimar nodded uncomfortably. "But the thing is, King Harkinian was killed... not long ago, now... he was taking a routine trip through the Nowhere Islands, went missing, and turned up dead a few weeks later- beaten over the head with a blunt instrument."
"That's terrible!" Mario gasped.
"Indeed," Andrew agreed in that cold voice of his. "However, at least it made way for a stronger leadership in this country- under my reign, the smashers need not idols, gods, or kings- only men. Now, the Master Hand tells me that you are the one who discovered Mr. Von Karma on the premises?"
"Yeah, that was me," Mario nodded. "And incidentally, there were no traces of wolves anywhere near him- just throwing that out there." No point pretending he hadn't heard everything beforehand.
The Master Hand gave a light chuckle, Olimar blinked in surprise, and even the corner of Simon's mouth twitched. As far as President Ryan, however- he showed no signs of shock whatsoever. "In situations like this, it pays for us to consider all possibilities." He shook his head. "At any rate, I believe we've postponed this inspection long enough- if you would be so good, Mr. Hand..."
"I assume you wanted to speak with me, Mario?" the Master Hand guessed as he rose to follow Andrew Ryan out.
"Yeah..."
"Well, this shouldn't take too long- I've got a bowl of skittles over on the table, feel free to have at them."
"Thanks, sir."
As they all filed out, Olimar at the end, Mario turned to him and spoke one last time- "If it's all the same to you, sir, I care what you think."
Olimar gave another slight smile. "Thanks, my boy... thank you very much."
And then Mario was alone. Well, not quite- he couldn't help but smile when a look around the office revealed unto him a brilliant yellow-and-red bird wreathed in flame. "Hey, there, Wright," he smiled. Wright the Ho-oh, the Master Hand's beloved companion who had once rescued him in a time of great need. The great bird seemed to be smiling gently as he gazed down upon his visitor.
Mario had been on the verge of panicking back there in Lucario's classroom, but something about being up here made him feel much safer. The pain in his scar had finally left, he was in what had to be the safest room in the entire country at the moment, and he was about to tell everything to the one smasher he was certain could help. Unable to help himself, he took a seat in the Master Hand's chair, claiming it like a throne. Childish, maybe, but give him a break- it wasn't like he ever got the chance to cut loose at the Smiths'.
Looking around, he saw plenty of reminders of his years at the Smash Bros.- the Sorting FLUDD, resting peacefully on a nearby shelf, waiting to sort the next generation once the time came. The Monado, a brilliant red sword marked by a central piece of glass where were inscribed the words, Hey, everybody, it's Chuggaaconroy!- the sword brought to him in the Dungeon of Secrets and allowing him to kill its monstrous inhabitant. And, an equal shade of red... the book on the desk in front of him.
Mario blinked- no, he didn't recognize this book, but just looking it over, it didn't seem like a tome the Master Hand would own. The cover was bound by a dark red leather- but where the Monado's red put him in mind of a bright fire, this book's red reminded him more of blood. It was held closed by a buckle- a buckle inscribed with several odd designs, and decorated with what appeared to be skulls. The buckle was actually undone at the moment- it seemed like the Master Hand had closed it quickly when he'd last been reading it. The pages were strange as well- several of them seemed to be made of separate materials, ranging from regular paper to papyrus, to what may have been animal skin- and they varied in size just as much as they did in their components. Really, it seemed less like a book and more like a badly-bound collection of papers- and yet they were all attached to the spine.
Mario glanced up at where the Master Hand had disappeared, helping himself to a few yellow skittles. Surely, he wouldn't object to Mario perusing this interesting book- he would have made a point to tell him otherwise, wouldn't he? Besides, if it looked like the book contained things he shouldn't know about, it would be pretty easy to close it, right?
Or maybe he was just trying to excuse his curiosity, because he really wanted to see what this book contained- his attention had been seized, and he was starting to think he wouldn't rest well until he'd had a look inside.
Neither the cover nor the spine held any sort of title, so Mario opened it up to a random page to see if he could try and figure out just what type of book this was supposed to be. What he found was... not what he'd expected. Rather than any sort of print, it seemed each page of the text was handwritten- in a very familiar font. He'd only gotten a few words into the page he was on before the thought occurred- wait, was this the Master Hand's diary? The way the words were arranged, the handwriting, the selection of language... it all seemed to indicate that. In which case, he really shouldn't be reading this after all...
He was on the point of shutting the book once more, until... a voice started speaking. The Master Hand's voice. Mario looked around in panic for a second, before realizing that this voice was much like Lucario's- it wasn't someone else in the room speaking, it was more like it was speaking directly into his mind. And this is what it said:
I can remember that day all too well. A trial that I would rather have not attended, if I am being honest with myself, but my status, both as a member of the law, and as Simon's comrade, beckoned me forward nonetheless. It was quite an occasion- Manfred von Karma, offering a deal with a criminal? But, as everyone knew, von Karma cared only to imprison as many suspected starmen as he could...
Mario looked around, still looking for the voice, though he knew it was futile. It wasn't until he looked back at the book that his heart jolted- the text was beginning to glow- and it was getting brighter, brighter, brighter, until it had blinded Mario to all else...
XXXX
And the next thing Mario knew, he was waking up. He was sitting in a chair in a large room, made of paneled wood polished almost to a mirror shine. Specifically, he was sitting in the benches on one side of what seemed to be galleries overlooking what looked like- to his limited knowledge- a courtroom, albeit a courtroom of the likes he'd never seen before. The galleries were filled with several men and women gazing down at the courtroom- he'd never seen this many adults in the Smash Mansion, which, in his mind, begged the question where, exactly, he was, in that case. This certainly resembled no room he'd seen in the Smash Mansion before, nor had he ever seen anything like it on the Bomber's Guide. Nobody seemed to be paying him any mind, either- they were all fixated on courtroom area. Looking around in befuddlement, he gave a yelp when he saw that he was sitting right next to a gigantic right hand, freed from arm or body, floating there in a white glove. "Oh, Mr... Master Hand!" he gasped. "Sorry about- didn't mean to- I was just... where are we?"
But the Master Hand gave no sign that he'd heard- his attention, like everyone else's, seemed fixed on the ground beneath them.
For some odd reason, something was tickling at the edges of Mario's memory... it seemed that something like this had happened before... he stretched his mind back as far as it would go, then began giving it more and more slack, going over everything that had happened to him over the past three-almost-four years, trying to recall why a situation this bizarre seemed even remotely familiar.
Then a set of words came to him- Dungeon of Secrets- the Proof in the Planner. That was right... two years ago, he'd been investigating an old school planner on suspicion of it holding the secret to the mystery of that particular year, only to find himself drawn into the memories of said planner's old owner... granted, back when he'd done that, the memories had been a monochrome black and white- it looked like this book had upgraded to color- but unless he was wrong, he was living that same experience over again. Turning to the other side, he jumped as he saw Simon Belmont glowering down at the courtroom as well- and though he had one missing eye, he seemed much less scarred than he had before.
Experimentally, he turned and tried to touch the Master Hand- his hand passed right through. Sure enough, just like on that occasion, he was really like an invisible specter, passing through the years to witness this event- they couldn't see, smell, touch, or hear him. So now the question was... what, exactly, was the event he was witnessing?
Turning back to the ground, he saw two more benches, one beneath each gallery, as well as what appeared to be the witness stand... and the chair for the accused. He could only assume the benches were for the prosecution and defense, and the witness stand seemed pretty standard, but that chair for the accused sent chills down his spine- it seemed normal enough, until one noticed the small chains that snaked around it, leaving no doubt in Mario's mind what they were there for.
For the moment, the only people there were in the gallery, which only changed as a door behind the witness's stand opened, and a large group of people entered- or rather, three people, one of whom was being dragged in by two large floows.
Mario couldn't sense them- they were, after all, just shadows of a past already gone by- but they turned his blood to ice nonetheless. Even reminders of those creatures was more than he'd like, especially since he'd been given that unholy glimpse of their true natures, one year ago...
He was glad when this reverie was broken off by recognition of two of the people being escorted into the courtroom- one was Manfred von Karma, back at the height of his glory, dressed in his austere clothing, his hair kept slicked back, and his cane at his side. That omnipresent glare of his was firmly in place as he took up residence behind one of the benches. The other bench, meanwhile, was taken up by an aging, balding man with thick glasses- he lacked any real presence, leaving Mario free to turn to the accused, currently being chained in the chair by those dark creatures...
Mario's jaw dropped. This man had an entirely different bearing from what Mario recognized- he had not yet become the smug winnicot Mario knew he was destined to- but there was a trace of that air around him nonetheless, detectable even through that helmet- that helmet that was present, even now, at what must be the lowest point of his life...
A bailiff entered the room as the floows left, announcing, "All rise, for the honorable Judge... er... Judge... I forget his name... for the honorable Judge!"
Everyone stood as an old man assumed the final chair in the chamber- raised high above the rest. He was bald, had a truly impressive beard that absorbed even his moustache, all snowy white, and was dressed in classic judge's robes. He sat down, and everyone else followed suit. The Judge donned a pair of spectacles to examine a paper in front of him. "Very well," he spoke in a voice that definitely showed his age, "let us commence the trial of John H. Siebzehn vs. the State. Hmm... I recall a case like this not long ago. Mr. Von Karma?"
Von Karma glowered as he adopted his usual pose of tightly gripping his left shoulder with his right. "You recall correctly, your honor- this man was only convicted a few months ago. However, he has approached the government with a proposal- which I will now allow the defense to explain, if he feels up to the challenge."
"Who, me?" the man behind the defense's desk jumped. Mario cringed- his voice was exceedingly high and shrill. "But... but..."
"Hmm... Mr... Winston Payne, correct?" the Judge asked, turning his attention towards said man.
"Yes, that's me, your honor," Mr. 'Payne' nodded.
"Are you not a prosecutor yourself?"
"Of course, your honor- they call me the rookie killer, actually- but we're so short on defense attorneys in these dark times that Mr. Von Karma sought to assign me to a few defense cases anyways."
"Ah, yes, that makes sense," the Judge nodded serenely, and even though he was from the distant future, with no real stake in what was going on, Mario couldn't help but think, No, no it flipping doesn't!
"At any rate," Payne continued, "my client spent a great deal of time in service to the Great Darkness, this much is true... however! It must also be noted that he has already served a great deal of time in Subspace, enough to drive most others to madness- I believe that it would be no stretch to say he has had time to rethink his life decisions. Considering this in addition to his choice now to aid us in the war effort, I strongly endorse his petition for early release."
"I see," the Judge nodded. "And what are your thoughts, Mr. Von Karma?"
"I believe we should see what he has to say, and make our decision then," von Karma rumbled. "If he produces names of genuine importance, the prosecution may be inclined to take this request into consideration."
Mario jumped as a voice scoffed right next to him. "What a load of smeg." That was Simon. "I'd even believe he'd do it, too, you know? Von Karma doesn't really care about justice, just that perfect trial record of his. If he can add a few more dark smashers to his list, he'll let this one go. Why not hear what he has to say then wing him right back to Subspace, huh? Let the floows take care of him."
The Master Hand gave a grunt that sounded surprisingly disdainful, for something coming from the old hand.
"Oh, I forgot," Simon smirked. "You're not too fond of our newest allies, are you?"
"Calling an alliance with floows a 'double-edged sword' is putting it far too mildly," the Master Hand agreed. "If there is one race in this vast world of ours that I believe deserves no consideration, it is them."
"Desperate times, desperate measures, Matty," Simon shrugged. "I don't care for those demonic sons of b****es any more than you do, but sometimes, needs must."
"'Acceptable risks...' I despise that term," the Master Hand grunted.
There was plenty of chattering going on all over the courtroom at these proceedings, until the Judge banged his gavel a couple of times. "Order! Order in the court! Now, Mr. Payne, what, exactly, is the information your client claims to offer?"
"Names, sir," Winston Payne bowed. "He claims to have the names of several starmen still at large!"
"In which case, I would be delighted to hear them," von Karma growled. "Witness... begin your testimony."
The Master Chief turned to stare at him, then gave a curt nod.
XXXX
WITNESS TESTIMONY
To begin with, I want to say that the starmen are a tight organization, one that I now regret ever entering in the first place.
The Great Darkness, whatever else may be said of him, is both wise and cunning- the only one to know the names of every starman was... the Great Darkness himself. As for the rest of us-
"OBJECTION!" von Karma rumbled. "I did not ask for a preamble, Mr. Siebzehn! I understand that the Great Darkness will have utilized such safety measures- and quite wisely, it seems- however, that is irrelevant to the case at hand! All that matters now, in this moment, are the names you do have- you do have some names, correct?"
"I... I do," the Master Chief stuttered. Mario blinked- wow, even the Master Chief was cowed by this guy. "I offer them now as a sign of the remorse I feel in my heart- the regret I feel when I remember the scared faces-"
"OBJECTION!" von Karma repeated. "Enough sniveling apologies- the names will be enough. Now, let us try this testimony again- from the beginning."
XXXX
WITNESS TESTIMONY
Very well. To begin with, the first starman I know of off the top of my head is Ares Kreeg- a part ancient staunch defender of the Great Darkness, he joined him purely to be directed towards more blood to spill.
In addition, I would point my finger towards Oersted J. Dio, a once noble man who fell to darkness after years of torment by the Great Darkness- I pity him, yes, but I know for a fact he wore the Mark of the Emissary proudly upon his arm.
I have several more, but I am running short on time- Cackletta Beanbean, responsible for the deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Edgeworth- Straybow Lucretia, master of mind control who turned Oersted against the light in the first place- Zant Labrynna, a spy set by the Great Darkness in the government itself!
Of course, I would be remiss if I forgot to mention Wolf O'Donnell, master of the Evils and one of the starmen's most powerful practitioners thereof.
XXXX
"That is... quite a list," the Judge nodded, going over them in his head. "Bailiff, did you get all those?"
"Don't bother too quickly," von Karma smirked and wagged his finger in an 'uh-uh' sort of way. "If I may, your honor..."
XXXX
REBUTTAL
Very well. To begin with, the first starman I know of off the top of my head is Ares Kreeg- a part-ancient staunch defender of the Great Darkness, he joined him purely to be directed towards more blood to spill.
"OBJECTION!" von Karma bellowed. "Ares Kreeg has already been apprehended. I do not doubt you weren't aware of this- he was placed in a much higher security wing of Subspace than your petty acts could afford."
"You don't say?" the Master Chief responded, and Mario thought he could sense the sweat starting to form beneath that helmet of his. "Well, glad... glad to hear it..."
"But that was just one name of many!" Mr. Payne pointed out. "Please, your honor, allow him to continue..."
In addition, I would point my finger towards Oersted J. Dio, a once noble man who fell to darkness after years of torment by the Great Darkness- I pity him, yes, but I know for a fact he wore the Mark of the Emissary proudly upon his arm.
"OBJECTION!" von Karma bellowed once more, another nasty smirk crossing his face. "If you truly pity him, rest assured you need do so no longer- Oersted was killed in action not too long ago."
"And he didn't go quietly, either, I'll tell you that," Simon muttered, fingering the patch where he would eventually get a large, yellow, replacement eye.
"Per... perhaps that was... the best fate for him..." the Master Chief stuttered. "At any rate... I do... I do have more names..."
I have several more, but I am running short on time- Cackletta Beanbean, responsible for the deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Edgeworth- Straybow Lucretia, master of mind control who turned Oersted against the light in the first place- Zant Labrynna, a spy set by the Great Darkness in the government itself!
"HOLD IT!" von Karma bellowed, and this time, Mario could tell that he'd taken the Chief's words to heart- the look on his face would indicate he'd just been shot. "Z...Zant... Labrynna? The Zant Labrynna who works in the SCP Foundation?"
"The very same!" the Master Chief nodded eagerly. "We were always wondering when he'd be found out, if only just by his eyes- we thought everyone could see it, that lust for power burning in his pupils-"
"Which is all well and good," von Karma interrupted, "but we've already got Cackletta and Straybow. Be comforted in the fact that you've given us one genuinely helpful name. Very well, let's wrap this trial up-"
"HOLD IT!" came the unpleasant, screechy voice of Winston Payne. "He has one more name- or did you forget?"
Von Karma sighed. "Very well. Proceed."
Of course, I would be remiss if I forgot to mention Wolf O'Donnell, master of the-
"OBJECTION!" von Karma didn't even wait for him to finish his statement this time around. "Wolf O'Donnell has already gone to trial, and has already been cleared of all charges!"
"No, that can't be true!" the Master Chief objected. "Wolf O'Donnell is a starman, one of the most vile, vicious-"
The Master Hand stood, shaking himself as a normal person would shake their head. "I am sorry, Mr. Siebzehn, but it is true. I have already testified to this matter- Wolf O'Donnell was a starman, this much is true. However, unlike some, it did not take the fall of the Great Darkness for him to see the error of his ways- he changed sides several months beforehand, and the information he gave us saved many lives. At this juncture, he is no more a starman than von Karma here."
"And there you have it," von Karma smiled nastily. "I move for an end to this trial... now."
As he spoke, he snapped his fingers, creating a noise that reverberated throughout the courtroom. The Judge sighed. "I call for a thirty-minute recess, during which time the court will look over the information it has received. We will reconvene afterwards to decide Mr. Siebzehn's fate..."
And suddenly, everything began to fade back into monochrome. Where things had once seemed perfectly realistic, as though he were actually there, it all began to seem more like Mario had become the resident of a crude drawing- and even that began to fade into darkness.
In the darkness, the Master Hand's voice spoke, once more sounding off within Mario's own head-
While several trials of that age became witch hunts, the defendants declared guilty before any testimony was given, it is to my great joy that not all followed this pattern- take the trial of one Martin Ballyhoo, a Smash-Up player turned convict after finding himself on the wrong side of a particularly harsh accusation...
And Mario looked around to find himself back in the courtroom- this time overlooking the defense's desk. Looking around, he saw different people, including Simon Belmont with both eyes intact, and understood- he'd fallen through time once more. This was a trial that took place prior to the one he'd just witnessed, and, judging from the jovial air around him, a much less serious one. He felt a stirring of anger when he spied a robot at one end of the galleries- a robot dangling upside-down from a ring around some helicopter-style rotors. It seemed Glados had reported on this trial for the Tribune...
The door opened, and three individuals walked in- Manfred von Karma, Winston Payne, and... M. C. Ballyhoo.
Even as a prisoner, down to the stereotypical black-and-white striped suit, Ballyhoo still wore his overlarge, purple top hat. He looked nervous, but even so, he still wore a large grin on his face- just a more nervous grin than Mario was accustomed to. Beforehand, Mario couldn't really envision Ballyhoo, of all people, as a brawler on a Smash-Up team, but seeing him as he was several years prior... now he could see it. He had more muscles than he did in Mario's own time, and was bouncing around with even more energy than he'd demonstrated then. Mario couldn't help but notice the lack of floows, and the fact that, unlike the Master Chief, Ballyhoo wasn't chained to the chair as he took his seat in it. He seemed happier when he noticed this, and looked up into the crowd, smiling and waving around a bit. Von Karma seemed even more furious at this, but the general reaction from the audience was a positive one, with smiles, and cheers, and even a few waves back.
The bailiff spoke up. "All rise for the honorable judge... er... I've really got to learn his name sometime... the honorable judge!"
And the Judge was back, taking his usual place at the top of the chamber. "We are here to witness the case of Martin C. Ballyhoo vs. the state," he spoke. "Could you give us an overview of the case, please, Mr. Von Karma?"
Von Karma slammed on the desk in front of him. "The defendant has been brought into this court on charges of starman activity- you have been witnessed passing sensitive information to those known now to be among the Great Darkness's ranks! What do you have to say for yourself?"
Mario was on the verge of face-faulting. He would readily admit that he wasn't the best judge of character, but of all the vibes he'd gotten from M. C. Ballyhoo, not one of them had been starman vibes. And yes, he knew he sounded like a hippy, so what, big whoop, wanna fight about it?
Ballyhoo looked at the ground sheepishly. "Is this... is this where I do my testimony?"
"Yes it is, defendant, yes it is," Mr. Payne shrilled.
"Okay, here we go!" Ballyhoo smiled and began to speak.
XXXX
WITNESS TESTIMONY
Well, I know I've been a bit of an idiot here, but...
But you have to believe me! I didn't think for a second that old Magalor was a starman- he was a family friend! All that time, sitting around and chatting about what the good guys were doing... I thought we were talking about things we both knew already!
Honestly, I've been planning to get into the government when I retire from Smash-Up- hey, not like this is a job that'll keep forever, you know?- And I thought, if I built connections with Magalor now, he might help me get a foot in the door!
XXXX
"Hmm... a very reasonable way of thinking," the Judge mused, to general nods of agreement from the audience. "Anything to add, Mr. von Karma?"
Von Karmaglowered. "Let's just get to the rebuttal.
XXXX
REBUTTAL
Well, I know I've been a bit of an idiot here, but...
"HOLD IT!" von Karma interrupted. "You were caught red-handed in the Colony 6 Grill and Bar, passing information to a known advocate of the Great Darkness! This goes deeper than any idiocy!"
"Which sums up Ballyhoo in a nutshell," Simon muttered from where he was placing his face behind his hand. "I wouldn't put it past him to miss out on Magalor waving around a big old banner with Tabuu's name all over it- probably would think it was just the sign of his favorite Smash-Up team. If Ballyhoo's guilty of anything, it's sheer stupidity, not being a starman."
Von Karma, evidently, thought differently. "You have committed great transgressions here, Martin, and as such, the prosecution will settle for a term of imprisonment no less than-"
He didn't even get through this sentence before the gallery opened up, rage and hatred almost as seething as the average Youtube comments section pouring in upon him. The nicer people were threatening a boycott of anything von Karma if he followed through on this act, while the nastier ones were shouting the very unkind things they'd like to do to von Karma, his mother, and his pet goat Odie.
Von Karma narrowed his eyes at Mr. Payne, who raised his arms in an 'I'm-just-as-confused-as-you-are' kind of way. Ballyhoo, however, donned a look of hope- perhaps he wasn't about to be imprisoned for life after all!
The Judge looked utterly bewildered. "Hmm, it would seem that, under the circumstances, I have no choice in the matter! I declare the defendant, Martin C. Ballyhoo... Not Guilty!"
The words appeared in gigantic text above, and confetti began falling from seemingly nowhere, as Ballyhoo almost collapsed in relief. Mario stared as von Karma, a look of pure fury on his face, crossed to Glados and the bailiff, who were standing right next to one another. "Not a word of this in the papers, or on the court record," he spoke threateningly to them both. "As far as anyone knows, my trial record is still perfect."
"Rather deceptive for a man of your stature, is this not?" Glados asked, her optical lens zooming in on him.
"This does not count," von Karma growled. "This courtroom is a disgrace, being turned by a simple matter of popularity..."
And it happened again- the world around Mario faded into a monochrome sketch, before fading into darkness altogether. And, like before, Mario heard the Master Hand's voice:
However, not all were as fortunate as Ballyhoo. Innocent or guilty, I know not, but one of the greatest trials that comes to mind when I remember the years after Tabuu's fall is... that day...
And it came back- but things were much more somber this time around. Everyone in the courtroom had looks of fury, sorrow, or savage delight on their faces. For the first time, Mario spied a pair of witnesses- a short yet severe looking woman of advanced age, accompanying a young man of only four or five years old, dressed in blue overalls over green clothing, including a hat...
The Judge was already in place, as were von Karma and Winston Payne. Von Karma and the Judge looked incredibly severe in their own rights, while Winston Payne was sweating up a storm.
A bailiff came in, looking nervously around before finally saying, "They're here."
He spoke quietly, but his voice echoed through the dead silence of the chamber. The Judge nodded. "Bring them in."
The doors opened wide, and in came no less than four individuals, chained together by the ankles- a tall man with blue skin and an almost fish-like face, with bright yellow eyes alongside a much shorter individual resembling a brown lump with hands dressed in white gloves, though with no arms connecting them to his body or legs of any kind, dressed in a light blue. Beside them were two women- one much taller, with a purple dress and general clothing that made her resemble a bat, aside from the hat she wore on her head, covering her blood-red hair, which made her head look like a scythe. She wore a very arrogant look as she was led into the chamber and into one of the four chairs set out for them- where the two men sat in them like they were any other chairs, this woman sat in hers like a throne, and as for the other woman... well.
She was much shorter- only about as tall as Mario himself was- with icy blue hair cut pretty short in and of itself. Her clothing was something like a more feminine version of what von Karma was wearing, which, taken together with the rest of her bearing, began to stir a rather dark suspicion within the pyromancer...
Suspicions that were confirmed when the Judge spoke. "Let us commence the trial of Zant Labrynna, Magalor Krone, Veran Labrynna, and Franziska... von... Karma... vs. the State. Will you begin, Manfred?"
Von Karma was really gripping his left shoulder as he began- his knuckle was turning white. "These... these vile creatures... have been brought here on charges of the highest degree- even mind control and murder pale in comparison to what these wretches have done..."
"Papa..." Franziska spoke, tears welling up in her eyes as her father spoke. "Papa, please, you must know I did not-"
"Over the past three days, we have heard more than enough evidence against you to imprison you for life!" von Karma interrupted, fury building up in his face. "You creatures captured two of the most respected hunters in the business- Kahn and Karen Luigi! You interrogated them, intent on your beliefs that they did, indeed, have information that would lead to the resurrection of your wretched master, and to top it all off, made their innocent son, Luigi Luigi, watch it all!"
"Papa, I did not!" Franziska cried out. "I have no relation to the Great Darkness, I have never-"
"And once you began torturing them," von Karma roared, "you did not cease until they had both fallen into irreparable insanity! We have seen plenty of evidence already, but just to make things crystal clear, I call my final witness in these proceedings- take the stand, Luigi Luigi!"
Mario winced as he watched the past version of his friend be lead up to the witness stand by what Mario presumed was his grandmother. Von Karma stood before him, glowering down at him severely. "You are Luigi Luigi, the child of Kahn and Karen Luigi, are you not?"
Luigi looked down at the ground, scraping it with his ankle. "Y... yes... that's me..."
"You are aware of the crimes committed against your parents, are you not?"
"I... yeah, I am..."
"Can you identify the perpetrators of this crime?"
Luigi cringed as he looked up at the starmen in the chairs across from him. "Yes... they're right there... right in front of me..."
"NOOOOO!" Franziska cried. She leapt up from her chair, and, oblivious to the gasps of everyone in the courtroom, leapt at Luigi, clinging to his overalls as she cowered in front of him. "But I was not there, was I? I was not one of the people who tortured them, was I?!"
Luigi blinked, looking incredibly nervous. "I... I don't know... you... you might have..."
"SILENCE!" von Karma bellowed.
"But father, he does not know! I was not there!" Franziska cried. "Tell them, Luigi, tell them I was not-"
And there, before the horrified eyes of everyone in the room, and none more horrified than Luigi, the elder Karma wrenched the younger off of the boy in green and forcibly tossed her back into her chair, where the chains came to life and bound her tightly. Luigi's grandmother put her arm around her grandson and pulled him rapidly away.
The Judge shook his head. "In light of this overwhelming evidence, there is little choice in the matter- I declare the four defendants, Zant and Veran Labrynna, Magalor Krone, and Franziska von Karma... Guilty."
Franziska was still sobbing as the floows grabbed them and took them away, but Veran still hadn't had the last word- as she rose, she called out, "Delay it all you want, heathens, in the end, a delay is all it is! The Great Darkness will be back soon enough, and when that day comes, we are the ones he will reward above all! Throw us into Subspace? Pah- just a brief respite from this outside world of wollywogs, muggles, and blood traitors- we'll be back soon enough!"
"Papa!" Franziska sobbed. "Papa- I have never even met the Great Darkness! Please, all I wanted was to please you- as your daughter! I am your daughter!"
"YOU ARE NO DAUGHTER OF MINE!" Manfred burst out, rage in every line of his very lined face. "MY DAUGHTER DIED A MONTH AGO!"
Franziska reeled back as though she'd been punched in the stomach, and fell in, almost lifeless, with the other members heading out the doors to an ultimate fate on Prison Island.
"And with that, Mario, I think it's time to go," spoke a gentle voice at Mario's side- not in his head, this time. He turned and his stomach turned upside down when he saw the real Master Hand floating there. He reached out and touched a finger to Mario's forehead- a flash of bright light, and they were back in the Hand's office- present day.
"Curiosity isn't a sin, Mario," the Master Hand continued to speak gently, turning to the red book, closing it, buckling it, and placing it in a high shelf, "but we should still attempt to exercise control over it."
"I... I'm sorry, sir," Mario stuttered, still shaken by what he'd witnessed. He took a seat on the other side of the Hand's desk, not certain his legs would support him at this particular moment. "It's just, I was helping myself to some skittles, when I saw that book... I wanted to see more about it, but then..."
"But then," the Hand nodded. "Well, allow me to quell your curiosity- this is a most unique tome, purchased at the Happy Mask shop. It was originally developed for dark intentions, but I saw within it a brighter opportunity. It is one of a very rare collection of books capable of doing what you've witnessed. One must simply pour all their thoughts and feelings into an entry upon a piece of paper, attach that paper to the insides of the book, and voila- reading the text allows them to return to those moments in their memories, or to witness their thoughts first hand, as though they are actually happening. Observe..."
The Hand then produced a sheet of paper and a pen, and speed-sketched a woman with long hair tied in a ponytail. He attached the paper to the book, and the image began to move, developing color- the woman's hair turned blond, and her clothing turned into a black dress. "Look at these scratches in my arm," she spoke, eyes looking at the ceiling past them rather than directly at them. "He was so angry, but all I did was tease him about his relationship with Violetta Cadaverini."
"Oh, Adrian," the Master Hand shook himself. "Why, why did you need to know what he was doing?"
"When you say Adrian," Mario was struggling to put the pieces of the puzzle together, "you mean..."
"Adrian Andrews, yes," the Master Hand agreed. "That is what she was like when I was her teacher, several years ago. I've been finding myself using this tome quite often lately, trying desperately to work out a pattern, trying to find out why these things have been happening... but even now, no answer is forthcoming. It's maddening... at any rate, you had something you wanted to say?"
Mario started- oh, right, there was a reason he was up here to begin with. "Well, Mr. Hand... I was in Psychic Powers class, one thing led to another, and... I fell asleep."
That was the hardest part to say- he could just feel the scolding coming... except it never did. "Fair enough," the Master Hand shrugged. "But you wouldn't have come all the way up here just for that."
"No, I wouldn't," Mario shook his head. "I had this dream... it started off normally, I was flying over Lovecraft country... but then, it turned into a dream about Tabuu- he was torturing Mumkhar. You remember Mumkhar, right?"
"This is a story about Mumkhar," the Master Hand nodded.
"Tabuu had just gotten some information- something about Mumkhar messing up, but it was all fixed. He'd been planning on feeding Mumkhar to this... this big, skeleton koopa... but when he got that news, he said he'd feed me to it, instead. Then he brought out this big old whip and started using dark aperture on him, which hurt my scar so bad, I woke up."
The Master Hand was still hesitating, leading Mario to prompt him with, "And... and that's what happened."
"I see," the Master Hand nodded. "Indeed, I see, I see, Sam-I-Am..."
"Huh?"
Ignoring that, the Master Hand continued. "So, aside from this incident, and the one over the summer, have there been any others?"
"How did you know about the summer?"
"You didn't think Roy had only one contact assisting him in his current condition, did you?" the Master Hand spoke with a smile in his voice. "So, have there been any other incidents?"
"Are we talking in the movie, or in the book?"
"Book."
"Then no- no other instances."
"I see..."
And the Master Hand began to pace- which, in his case, amounted to floating repeatedly around the room. Finally, Mario cleared his throat. "Oh, sorry," the old hand shook his not-head, coming to rest in his chair. "I'm getting old, I tend to forget myself at times."
"Fair enough," Mario shook his own head. "But... do you know why it's happening? Why my scar's acting like this?"
"I have theories," the Master Hand answered. "I wish I could answer more, but for now, that's all I can offer."
"I'd trust your theories more than I'd trust most other people's facts," Mario smiled. "Whatcha got?"
"Well, in that case," the Master Hand spoke wonderingly, "if my theory is correct, your scar is both a harbinger of Tabuu's presence... and of his anger."
"His... anger?"
The Master Hand sighed. "You two are connected in a way that I do not believe has ever happened in smasher history before- and likely will not again. I believe that when he feels angry, that anger spills over, in part, into you."
"Then... you think my dream... it was real?"
"If reading the Heroes of Olympus series has taught me anything, it is that any dream has the potential to become reality," the Master Hand nodded. "Did you happen to see Tabuu himself?"
"No, his chair was turned away from me... but wait, that makes no sense- I thought he wasn't supposed to have a body! He was supposed to be completely ruined... but that can't be, either- I mean, how could he use his powers at all if he didn't have a body?"
"That, Mario, is the right question," the Master Hand nodded.
A very long, very awkward silence followed- Mario was feeling increasingly uncomfortable. Finally, he asked, "Master... do you think... do you think Tabuu really is getting stronger?"
"Well, once again, all I have to offer are theories..."
"And once again, I'd go to the end of the earth based on your theories," Mario affirmed.
"Well, in that case... this year has... felt like it did when Tabuu was first rising. Things are happening now that happened then, as well. All these disappearances, one after the other... Adrian Andrews, disappearing in the Black Forest, right where Tabuu supposedly was last... Manfred von Karma, vanishing within the boundaries of this very school... and a third mysterious death, which, I am afraid to say, our new president places very little importance upon, for it was a muggle. I speak of one Mark Fishbach, who you may know as-"
"Markiplier!" Mario gasped. "But... but wasn't he hit by a car?"
"Maybe... but then again, maybe not. President Ryan did not examine the case as deeply as he perhaps should have- as I said, he considers it to be of little importance. However, there are several things about his death that I consider a little too strange for it to be a simple hit-and-run- I spoke to the coroners who examined him, and it seems the injuries indicative a car accident were inflicted after death- though they were unable to determine what, in that event, truly did take his life. The car accident story was what was publicized in absence of any better theories. In addition, his death occurred in the town of Threed- a town very much linked to Tabuu's past- it is where his father was born and raised."
Another silence as the Master Hand got himself a glass of water from a nearby faucet. After offering some to Mario (who politely declined), he continued. "Of course, all these things may just be a coincidence- but it has been years since I truly believed in coincidences. And if they are linked together... I shudder at what it might mean..."
Mario shifted his feet guiltily- not due to anything they'd talked about so far, but due to the question he was about to ask. "Er... Master?"
"Oh, please, Mr. Hand."
"Right- Mr. Hand," Mario nodded. "Umm... in that trial... the last one, that is... Luigi... Luigi's parents..."
The Master Hand didn't need him to finish. "I presume that Luigi has never told you the exact circumstances under which he fell into his grandmother's custody?"
"No, he... he never really mentioned it," Mario shook his head. Now that he thought about it, how had he never thought to ask Luigi about that? A pessimistic answer would be that he'd simply grown accustomed to the idea of those with superpowers not having parents, but still, come on!
"Indeed, the victims in that trial were Kahn and Karen Luigi- the parents of the Luigi Luigi you know and love. They were both hunters, but were overwhelmed and taken in by starmen for questioning as to how one might go about reviving their master. I'm sure you heard all that already..."
"And they killed them?"
"No," the Master Hand spoke heavily. "It pains me to say it, but it would almost be better if they had. No, they used excessive amounts of dark aperture on them- until they lost, not their lives, but their minds. They have both been taken to the Umbrella Hospital. Unless I am incorrect, Luigi visits them with his grandmother once a month- however, they are incapable of recognizing anyone... even their own son."
Mario felt his insides disappear. Luigi was among his closest friends, and yet, even after all this time of knowing him, he'd never bothered to find out...
"The Luigis were heroes to the smasher world," the Master Hand continued. "Even in the darkest of times, they were some of the brightest beacons of hope- their attack, three years after Tabuu's downfall, was a great shock to a world that had come to consider itself safe once more. To say that what ensued was a witch hunt is making it sound too just- there were far too many people crucified and lynched in the street on suspicion of affiliation with the group who'd done this terrible, terrible thing..."
"So... was Franziska innocent?" Mario couldn't help but ask.
"Mario, I wish I could tell you," the Master Hand shook his head hopelessly.
After that bright little conversation, Mario was nervous to ask anything more, but he knew he wouldn't rest until he knew- "Er... Mr. Hand?"
"Yes?"
"About... about Ballyhoo..."
"Cleared unequivocally of all charges, and not brought to trial again since," the Master Hand answered quickly.
"Glad to hear it," Mario nodded. "And... about..."
"The same goes for Wolf," the Master Hand answered before he could even ask, once more displaying that uncanny ability to see through Mario like he was made of glass.
That said, that wasn't quite the question Mario wanted to ask. What he really wanted to know... "What makes you so sure he turned his back on Tabuu?"
The Master Hand turned to look at him for a moment- Mario wondered what he was thinking, but by the end of it, all he said was, "That... is between Wolf and me."
The Master Hand didn't sound angry- not even remotely- but there was a finality in his voice that said this conversation had reached its conclusion. Mario nodded, and was on the verge of leaving when the Master Hand spoke up. "Mario... I have no right to tell you that you can't gossip, but nonetheless, I ask that you keep what you have learned about Luigi's past to yourself. I am sure he will tell others when he wants them to know- and I ask you to give him that freedom."
"Of course," Mario nodded- he'd already been planning on taking that one to the grave, if need be.
"And one last thing-" the Hand added, just as Mario's hand was on the knob- "I wish you luck in the final trial."
XXXX
Yeah, there's still a contest going on, after all. Wow, that chapter was pretty dark, for what I usually write. Hope that didn't put anyone off. Next time, it's finally time to move on to that final trial- where, as anyone who knows the story can tell you... everything's going to change. Hope to see you all there, and in the meantime, please R&R, constructive criticism embraced, flames, not so much, Gamer4 out.