PHASE 51

The United Cities

(After a few hours of walking, and then paying a ferryman to take them across the peaceful river,{which eventually combines with the Riverbloat Rapids} Celis, Jonas, and Vapear arrive at the southeastern city in the United Cities-Foras. They had arrived at the right time-the holiday had ended two hours ago. Outside contact was now allowed again…)

Jonas: This is Foras, one of the nine cities in the United Cities. They are all connected by railways. In the center of the cities is, erm, the capital of Sub-con…Harsofol. We have to get there…

Celis: Railways? Is it going to cost anything…?

Vapear: Well, see ya!

Celis: What…?

Vapear: I gotta go get something to eat! And then…my quest continues!

Celis: Your…what?

Vapear: I didn't tell you, did I? Sorry. I was so hungry, I forgot!

Jonas: Is that supposed to be funny or something?

Vapear: No. It's true! Anyway, I gotta thank you for helping me. Here you go!

(Vapear pulls out a bag of coins from seemingly nowhere. Celis looks inside…and almost drops the bag.)

Celis: This…has got to be at least 500 Plat Coins…

Jonas: "Plat Coins"? I am not, erm, familiar with the currency of the United Cities…

Celis: This is used pretty much everywhere, the Mushroom Kingdom, Koopa Kingdom…

Jonas: Well…we don't use those in lower Sub-con.

Celis: Oh? Well, 100 Gold Coins equal 1 Plat Coin. Also, 100 Bron Coins equal 1 Gold Coin. The only thing higher are Diam Coins…which only the really rich use, like Lu-er, like some people.

Jonas: No silver…? (Or Silv?)

Celis: There's Silv, but that's rarely used. But Vapear, are you serious?

(But Vapear has already dissapered. Jonas and Celis turn, and hurry towards the train station.)

Jonas: Erm…I guess he wasn't worthless after all…

Celis: I can't believe he had all that money…I was wondering why he insisted we stopped at the bank…where would he get all that money, anyway?

Jonas: I would have bet he'd stolen it, but the banks here are, erm, perfect. No one can break in.

Celis: I wonder if we'll ever see him again…

(They reach the train station. Celis quickly buys two train tickets for Harsofol. The Shy Guys running the place don't seem to even notice she's royalty-which is just fine for Celis. Nobody in the entire city seemed to notice at all…and now that she thinks about it, neither did Vapear.)

(As they board the train…)

Celis: Jonas…how are we going to get into the castle, anyway?

Jonas: There is a secret word for entering the castle, as an important guest. My father was the representative of Blue River a few years ago, and he told me the word, if I ever needed to get in…he was killed days later, by some wandering bandit…

Celis: I'm sorry…

Jonas: It doesn't matter, anyway-

(The train starts. Jonas jumps. He seems a bit nervous…)

Jonas: So…erm…I wonder if Wes is okay…I mean, The Pipes…

Celis: My father survived the place, I'm sure Wes could too.

Jonas: Comparing Wes to your father…?

Celis: In a way…they are the same.

Jonas: ?

Celis: Once this is over…I'm going to bring you to a friend of mine…he's named Penter…he can tell if…you have certain abilities.

Jonas: Okay…?

Celis: I'm sorry for making you curious…I can't really say anything…yet.

Jonas: …

Celis: How long do you think it'll take for this train to arrive?

Jonas: …Erm, probably two hours. The train will continue, to the northwest city, Hakahsh. We'll need to get off when it first, erm, stops.

Celis: Jonas? Can I…ask you something?

Jonas: Erm…yes?

Celis: Your…(Why did his accent change from "Ert" to "Erm"…Maybe that's too much of a personal question…)…sorry. Never mind.

Jonas: ?

Celis: I'm…a little tired. I'm going to take a nap.

Jonas: Well…okay.

(Celis tries to fall asleep. Eventually she does. Jonas immediately notices, the cloud pouring out of her head is a huge tip-off. This time, it is a soft pink color. Jonas takes a deep breath…and then looks straight at it. Once again, he finds himself in a strange world, watching Celis. He is floating high above a calm ocean. Celis sits in a boat, looking out over the water, humming quietly. She is seven years old.

Celis: Hmm hmm hmm hm hmm hm hmmm…

(Mario walks across the water towards Celis. Celis notices just as he stops in front of her. Celis immediately stops humming.)

Mario: Hi.

Celis: Oh. Hello.

Mario: Would you like to play a game with me?

Celis: No. My mommy told me not to play with strangers.

Mario: Wa hoo! Come on! We're going to have a party!

Celis: I'm busy.

Mario: It's going to be the best party ever! A MARIO party! And I'M Mario!

Celis: Naming a party after yourself is rather…stuck up.

Mario: Hee hee, well, I AM the best.

Celis: The best? The best at what? Hopscotch? Coloring?

Mario: Everything! I'm the best at everything! I can do whatever I want, because I'M the best!

Celis: You can't prove it.

Mario: Hee hee! Yes I can! I can defeat anybody! I can beat everybody in every kind of game! Racing. Tennis. Golf. I can kill, too.

Celis: …Will you kill me if I don't come with you?

Mario: Yes. My party's are for my friends. If you don't come, you're going to die eventually, hee hee. My friends and I will all plot your death at the party, if you don't come. It's what we do to everybody!

Celis: I don't want to come. I want to sit here. I want to drift away. From you. From my mommy. From all the strangers…

Mario: You don't seem to understand. Ever since I came to this land of mushroom people and turtles, it all seemed very simple to me, and eventually, everybody else learned too!

Celis: …

Mario: That everything revolves around ME. This world belongs to ME. I don't care if it existed before, my very influence controls this world. And I am invincible. I am a God. Star Spirits have no power. If there is a God, it is me.

Celis: You're no God. You were just lucky. Like me.

Mario: Excuse me?

(Mario grabs her neck with one hand, and holds her above the water. Celis's deadpan face doesn't change.)

Mario: Even when I die…my legacy will not end. As my daughter you will be forced to carry my legacy, and they will hate you. They will hate you, because of ME. Because I was a God, and I was better then everybody, and because they couldn't beat me.

(As Celis suddenly turns back into her normal age, Mario drops her into the water. She cannot float like Mario. A whirlpool forms around her, and starts to drag her down.)

Mario: Don't worry. You'll make enemies too. People will hate you, even without my help. Goodbye.

(Celis's head disappears, and only her raised hand sticks out of the water.)

Mario: Oh! And by the way, say hello to Luigi for me! Hee hee hee! Hee hee hee hee hee he-

(Jonas wakes up at the same time Celis does. Jonas is not as shocked as last time. He takes a deep breath. In ten minutes, the train will arrive. Celis wakes up, looking forlorn. Jonas pretends not to notice. Gripping Eisader tightly, Jonas prepares for departure.)

Celis: You know…I can't believe they let you bring that staff on…and that you were able to convince them it was just a walking staff.

Jonas: That's erm, rather random.

Celis: (Sigh…) I'm not feeling very well. I have an odd feeling…about Wes…

Jonas: …

(The train stops. Celis and Jonas depart. The train goes off towards Hakahsh. Celis and Jonas turn towards the Harsofol Palace. In six hours, the Blood Masks would attack…)