Two Steps Back
Close enough to start a war
All that I have is on the floor
God only knows what we're fighting for
All that I say, you always say more
I can't keep up with your turning tables
Under your thumb, I can't breathe
So I won't let you close enough to hurt me
No, I won't ask you, you to just desert me
I can't give you what you think you gave me
It's time to say goodbye to turning tables, to turning tables
Under haunted skies I see
Where love is lost, your ghost is found
I've braved a hundred storms to leave you
As hard as you try, no, I will never be knocked down
I can't keep up with your turning tables
Under your thumb, I can't breathe
So I won't let you close enough to hurt me, no
I won't ask you, you to just desert me
I can't give you what you think you gave me
It's time to say goodbye to turning tables, turning tables
Next time I'll be braver, I'll be my own savior
When the thunder calls to me
Next time I'll be braver, I'll be my own savior
Standing on my own two feet
I won't let you close enough to hurt me, no
I won't ask you, you to just desert me
I can't give you what you think you gave me
It's time to say goodbye to turning tables, to turning tables
Turning tables, yeah, turning
-Adele
TW: Violence toward the end!
The day of the SEC hearing was an ordinary July day. Luckily, the chambers of the SEC room were air-conditioned, protecting the parties involved in the case from the 100-degree heat. The board members of the SEC were proceeding with charges against Charlie, Courtney and Cypress Sparks for unfair and unethical business practices. And the driving force behind these charges? The black sheep, Cerena.
Cerena, wearing a floral-print dress, a lavender bolero and nude flats, her hair in ringlets and escorted by five security guards, sat at the small table being sworn in. She'd spent her days in hiding writing, rewriting and rehearsing her speech. Faced with three of the people who weighed her down most of her life, she wasn't in the least bit nervous. On the contrary, she was excited to finally say her piece and do what she'd should've done when she was a teenager!
One by one, the board members interviewed Cere, who answered their questions crisply and calmly. She talked about the pre-determined life she was born into, the trips to the psychiatrists to "fix" her, the leather straps and belt buckles and saltwater baths, the homophobia and the anti-Luigi sentiment. She talked about the corruption she uncovered within the company, the poor animals the products were tested on, the cover-ups of workplace harassment, the secret support and funding of the abuse against Luigi and his fans and the widespread discrimination. Prospective workers had been turned away for being immigrants, homosexual, transsexual, bisexual, asexual—even African American. The employees had been prohibited from uttering Luigi's name for any reason. If it somehow "slipped out", then the offender was harshly punished. And if anybody complained about their policies, they and everyone they loved would have to answer for it. One poor elderly employee was even swindled out of his life savings. Finally, Cere talked about her arranged marriage to Spike for her money and company stock and his outrageous misuse of her assets. She also talked about the pending criminal charges against her family.
The family lawyer, a mousy-looking man in a tweed suit, tried to use his silver tongue to bail his clients out. He explained the bad examples and messages Luigi sent to today's youth, how his clients were trying to guide their youngest daughter in the right direction and how their company valued satisfaction in their customers. He tried to paint the picture of Cerena as the jealous, bratty younger sister who was always rejected in favor of the elder sister, just like Luigi. These charges, argued the lawyer, were part of a revenge plot to snag the family's company shares and money because they didn't give her the attention she felt she deserved. But then, the SEC was met with two surprise witnesses: Luigi and Giuliana! Turns out, before Luigi decided to return to the Smash World, he and Giulia, an old friend of his, had decided to check out this company. Turns out, none of the products created there were approved, save for Cere's tiny contribution! They'd also intimidated rival companies, promoted hate speech and hate crimes and lied, schemed, bribed and extorted their way to the top! Cere had her suspicions about the company growing up, but to see physical proof materialize before her shocked her to her very toes. Upon his return to the tournaments, Luigi had put Master, Crazy and MC on the case, and they dug up more skeletons. Like the checks deposited in to the bank accounts of known villains. Proof that some abductions of Luigi fans were arranged by the heads of the company, and that those supporting the company willingly sent their sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, parents, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces and even their grandparents into the clutches of Spike and the others! The family lawyer didn't know what to say with this being sprung on him. And the board members were eating it up like a delicious apple pie! They deliberated for only thirty minutes before deciding what to do with Charlie, Courtney and Cypress. Their passports were revoked, their assets and holdings were seized, and leadership of the company was taken from them and given to Cerena, along with control of said assets and holdings. Needless to say, the threesome was furious, and Cerena, Luigi, Giulia and the three final bosses had to be hustled out of there as the dethroned family members screamed threats, insults and slurs at them.
They were met outside by Smashers, Assist Trophies, Miis, Luigi fans, the families of the deceased and the LGBT community.
"You did it, L!" cheered Peach. "Finally, the corporate world is free of those greedy monsters!"
"Way to put that family of yours in their place, Cere," smiled Samus. "Now, all that's left to do is punish Spike and the rest of them!"
"We're all very proud of you, Luigi," said Reflet, his arm around Cloud. "You got to look three of your tormentors in the eye and expose them in front of God and everyone. Now you'll get everyone else to pay attention!"
"Had to do what I had to do," said Luigi, "but my work isn't done yet."
"And we'll be happy to help you," volunteered Ryu, "no matter what the cost."
"Ditto," said Little Mac, kissing Ryu on the cheek.
"I don't know," fretted Luigi. "After what happened with Peach and Daisy…
"No matter what the cost," the crowd reiterated as one, and Luigi wasn't about to argue with that tone of voice.
Luigi blushed. "Thanks, guys."
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A week after the SEC hearing, Charlie, Courtney and Cypress, along with Spike and his associates, were put on trial for their crimes. DA Kovacs was ready to do battle with these two smarmy lawyers, demonstrating her years of experience with a strident, profound opening argument. All of her witnesses were lined up, ready to take a bite out of the defendants. And Luigi was among those witnesses.
The real scene stealer, though, was Cerena.
"When I was a little girl, my family hated me," she said, sitting up straight and glaring at the defendants. "They were supposed to support, encourage and nurture me, and instead, they made me feel like the ugly duckling. I was yelled at, dragged to these doctors and beaten just because I didn't want the life they pre-wrote for me. One of these doctors wanted to put me on drugs! And so, the idea came that they'd hand me over to Spike once I came of age so that I'd be out of their hair for good. They knew how he treated me, and they encouraged it. Neither of them cared whether I lived or died. Well, Spike kinda did, because he was after my money."
She started talking about her life with Spike. "During my childhood, I ran to him after arguing with my parents. I thought he understood me. But he was just grooming me to be his pet. He ensnared me in his net so that I couldn't break free once I saw his true self. He adopted similar punishments from my parents and made them worse. He made me do things that made me feel worthless and sullied. He made my body experience sensations it didn't want to experience. He openly flirted with other women in front of me, used me as a cash cow among other things, hit the roof when I even looked at another man, turned all of my fantasies into nightmares, and now I've learned that he was making babies behind my back. I told him that I'd spill if I ever caught him doing that."
She related other details, details not suitable for print, remaining composed, save for a few tears. Her eyes burned wrathfully into Spike as she concluded, "See you at your first parole hearing, love. I'll send a jar of lube—you're gonna need it!"
The judge stifled a laugh as he told the jury to disregard that statement.
Next, Evan and Mandy were questioned by the lawyers about the discovery of the vandals setting off fireworks in their bungalow during their honeymoon on Isle Delfino. Then, the couple guided the lawyers through the events leading to corruption charges being brought against the Pianta chief and the criminal threats he'd made against the pair. They talked about how they flew to Las Vegas, intending to help Luigi bring down Spike, before being summoned back to the Smash World by Master Core.
Afterward came testimony and victim impact statements from Alessa, Lauren, Susan, Melody, Connie, Ronnie and everyone else who'd been at Spike's mercy for most of their lives. They stood tall through intense cross examination and managed to hold in their sobs and weeps until they were allowed to step down from the stand. Then, the families whose hopes Giuliana and her colleagues were forced to shatter had their say, condemning not only Spike but also the crooked Sparks family members, stating that they knew they financially supported his schemes.
During Zach's testimony, he talked about how his marriage to Cypress started off as tender and loving and how they'd worked together to raise their children. But he empathized with Cerena for several reasons. One of his friends had endured an abusive household, the first woman he'd dated had been a control freak, and he'd written his undergrad thesis on forced marriages in third world countries. Zach also testified that Cypress began acting strangely, hiring bodyguards to watch over him and made a scene with the kids in an electronics store when she caught them looking at some Luigi games. He gave a forthright account of his beating at the hands of the bodyguards his wife hired, being forced to give Cerena up, and learning of Cypress's scheme to bring false abuse allegations against him, with Spike's help, of course. He concluded by saying that he never really trusted Spike from day one and acted cordial with him to pass vital information on to Cerena, and later to Luigi and his friends.
The days lazily drifted by. Both the prosecution and the defense filled that stand with witnesses. The Royal Guards of the Mushroom Kingdom and Sarasaland were on hand when Peach and Daisy had their respective days in court. In between watching the trial unfold, Luigi was back in action on the battlefield, unwinding and letting loose the moments of uncertainty churning within him as he sat in the gallery. He still wore his green armband, as did the rest of the Smashers. His opponents felt the visceral sorrow and grief in every blow he threw, and they all wondered when it had gotten this bad. The good news was that Spike was paying the price. The bad news was that Luigi was right. There were still bullies out there who needed to be caught and disciplined.
But who should discipline these bullies and how they should be disciplined was still a matter of contention between Luigi and the heads of the Smash tournament. Though Luigi had faith in the justice system, he couldn't help but fear that Spike would get a slap on the wrist, a mistrial, or worse, a not guilty verdict due to a technicality. The Hands, in turn, expressed wholehearted faith in the 'see something, say something' policy, stating that it would finally discourage the bullies, both real and cyber, since their actions would no longer be easily hidden. Luigi tried his hardest to forgive and to drop the grudges he held, but in his eyes, "sorry" wouldn't undo the harm done to him, to others or bring back the lives senselessly lost. He'd been forgiving in the past, and many tormentors had taken advantage of that. Who was to say that they wouldn't take advantage of his quickness to forgive again?
Who was to say that, in the midst of Spike's trial, there were people still actively harassing Luigi?
The last person to testify against Spike was Luigi. He was clad in a business suit and tie, fully prepared to deflect the defense attorney's attempts to discredit him. The gallery was stuffed with Smashers to emotionally gird him for the ordeal ahead. On the appointed day, Luigi sat confidently on the witness stand, hands in his lap, eyes locked on the defendants.
"While I haven't really met the defendants in person until today," he stated, "I became aware through friends of what they were up to. How they oppressed their own family members just because they stick up for me. How they spread their gospel of hatred to an entire city. How Spike and his cronies graduated from cyberbullying to burning plushies and defacing property and finally holding innocent people against their will and forcing them to do their evil bidding. I have also uncovered plots against my own life and survived an attempt by one of his former henchmen to end my game. The testimony I've heard from my fans is sickening and horrifying. And I cannot un-see the images of that mass grave being unearthed, knowing that the bodies contained in there were once living, breathing fans of mine.
"What was the point of all of this? To keep me in my place as Player Two? To prevent Daisy from ever making it into Smash? I was used to the cyberbullying and other harassment, but this—it's a thousand times lower. Was your hatred of me worth the blood on your hands, the lies you've told and the lives you ruined? Are you proud of yourself, trying to keep me from reaching a good place emotionally? How long was it going on, and what made you think it was okay? Because of you, a woman was trapped in a loveless engagement like an animal. On your watch, my enemies carried out threats to put their hands on my Princess. And you even had the gall to treat the carnage in Orlando as a joke. I can't believe that you'd perpetuate all of this destruction—just to get to me.
"I'm seeing you, standing there with hangdog looks, hoping for leniency. I'm hearing the testimony of the witnesses the defense called up, the words of certified child psychiatrists who examined young Cerena at her parents' behest. I'm hearing the screams of your victims, their cries as you hurt them. Tell me this—did you do anything when they pleaded with you to stop, the way you're silently pleading now? Did you ever take responsibility for your actions and apologize? No. Some may disagree, but I'm a firm believer in the concept of forgiveness, redemption and second chances. Yet I also think that forgiveness is something to be earned—not something to be freely dispensed. And you—it's too late for you to earn my forgiveness. You're past the point of redemption. You don't deserve a second chance. And pardon my choice of words, but I hope you rot in prison. I sincerely do."
A parent of one of the deceased suddenly lost it, screaming at the defendants. Quickly, a bailiff ushered him out.
The judge called a recess so that the jury could deliberate.
Cerena walked up to Luigi and touched him on the arm. "Hey," she said.
"Hey," replied Luigi.
"Thank you," sniffled Cere. "Thank you for being here. These people tried to tear us down, but they built us up, instead. We're not so different, you and I. Didn't I say that once before?"
Luigi beamed at her. "You did," he choked out. "You did."
Cerena grabbed Luigi and pulled him into a powerful hug.
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"Has the jury reached a verdict?"
"We have, Your Honor."
"Will the defendants please rise?"
Spike, Courtney, Cypress and Charlie stood, along with their lawyer.
"How does the jury find?"
"On all counts of the indictment, we, the jury, do find the defendants—guilty."
"The court would like to thank the jurors for their service. Defendants are remanded until sentencing. Court is adjourned."
Luigi and Daisy sat with Cere, Alessa, and the rest of their fans and supporters, staring into the faces of their tormentors as their guilt was at last proven in the court of law. They'd done it. They'd survived dirty looks and threatening and obscene gestures from the accused to help put them where they belonged.
"What now?" asked Alessa.
Daisy looked her in the eye. "We move on," she said.
"We're not through yet, though," warned Cere.
"She's right," said Luigi. "We may have won the battle against Spike Plaxwell, but the war against the bullies is far from over."
"The question is: who should fight it?" Connie put in. "Us or them?"
Luigi nodded. "Smart girl."
Just then, Mario sidled over and put his arm around Luigi. "C'mon, Lil' Bro," he said softly. "Master Hand is waiting for us."
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The scene in the Smash Mansion was pandemonium when Mario, Luigi and Peach returned from the trial. Squawking radios, the static of walkie-talkies, pale and ashen Miis being questioned by police officers and EMTs wheeling stretchers carrying wounded Smashers. Luigi's heart dropped like an anchor into his stomach. This couldn't be…
"Dio!" he exclaimed, racing toward MH's office, Mario and Peach close on his tail.
He burst through the door, firing questions at once. "Master Hand! Are you okay? What happened? Who did this?!"
Master and Crazy peered at the man in green as Dr. Mario tended to them. Bandages and gauze were wrapped all over the place, and the fabric of each glove had been torn. Master Core was likewise gashed and banged up.
"Luigi," said Master.
"Oh, Dio. I'm so sorry. Mario and I—we were at the trial, and we weren't able to protect you…" Luigi began to sob.
"It's not your fault," MC said weakly. "Nobody saw this coming."
"Define 'this'," said Luigi.
"These men—wore masks—broke in," said Crazy. "Attacked us. A lot are badly hurt."
"The Smash Mansion was attacked?!" yelled Luigi. "Where was security?!"
"Caught us by surprise," said MC, beginning to summon his healing energy.
But Luigi was inconsolable. "You see?! You see now?! You see what happens when I step back and let authority handle things?!" he exploded, grabbing the nearest objects he could get his hands on and hurling them at the walls.
"Luigi, calm down!" ordered Master. "We may have been injured, but we all put up a good fight."
"How much you wanna bet that Spike is behind this?!" challenged Luigi.
"It could be someone else," offered Crazy. "I mean—Spike had no knowledge of the Smash Mansion—did he?"
"Unless he had a mole in here!" piped up Luigi.
"Whoa, there!" said Crazy. "Let's not jump to conclusions!"
"I mean, think about it! If Spike is behind this, then how would he be able to launch this attack without an inside man? But maybe you're right. Maybe it's some random attack not connected to Spike. The question that remains is: what would be the motive in that case?"
"I have a clue that may assist you, and I really shouldn't be telling you this," MC said tentatively. "The men in the masks defaced the property as well, leaving some—messages—about you."
Luigi turned red and started pounding on the desk. "Just when I think I'm out—they pull me back in!" he seethed.
Meanwhile, Mario and Peach went to help the other injured Smashers and investigate the crime. They were surprised and relieved to meet up with Giulia.
"Guys, you might want to see this," she said gravely.
She let them to the Main Hall, where Peach let out a bloodcurdling scream. Dangling from a chandelier was a Luigi plushie, burned and beaten, a rope tied around its neck. Spray-painted on the walls were messages such as U SUCK LUIGI, racial slurs and demeaning terms against Daisy.
Luigi ran inside and slid to a halt at the sight of the wrecked room. "They—they said that about Daisy?!" he exclaimed.
It was all too much. Luigi dove for a trash can and threw up, his green cap falling off his head and into the mess!
As Mario went to comfort Luigi, Peach and Giulia exchanged a horrified look. If this was Spike's last stand, then—
"Oh, God," they said as one. "Cerena!"
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In a matter of hours, a woman who was supposed to be celebrating victory had found herself in a life-or-death situation.
One moment, she was lounging in her secret hideout, watching TV. She'd just gotten to the best part of her show when her phone rang.
"Yeah?"
"Cerena Sparks," said a robotic voice. "Your location will be penetrated in ten seconds. Clear the area now."
"What trickery is this?!" she snapped.
Alas, this was no trick. Masked men came bursting through the door and crashing through the roof. Rough, angry voices shouted. Cerena put up her dukes and left some marks on the intruders, but her fighting skills were no match for superior numbers. She soon found herself in a windowless room, where more men waited, and the masked ones made it clear to these guys that Cerena had betrayed her family and her fiancée—an absolute no-no. This announcement earned her plenty of attention—and not the good kind—as the men set about punishing her for her acts of treachery. So, instead of basking in her newfound freedom, Cere was currently chained to a bed, every inch of her body in pain, a stereotypical cranky nurse tending to her.
"Is the mastermind behind this coming to see me?" Cerena asked, just as cranky.
The nurse obnoxiously smacked the gum in her mouth. "Well, let's use our reasoning, shall we? If the mastermind was here, then you'd already be getting what's really coming to you, and since I'm the only other person in this room—I'm guessing that the mastermind doesn't want to deal with you yet. And furthermore, I'd love to send flowers to the guys who just tore you up because—wow!" She blew a nice-sized bubble and popped the gum in Cere's face before turning her attention to her iPhone.
"Gee—what kind of nurse are you?" snapped Cere.
"Okay, you know what? I'd watch my mouth if I were you, seeing that you've already angered a lot of people. And furthermore, my shift is ending soon, so unless your betraying, backstabbing behind wants to…" She was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Well, lookie here. The mastermind's showed up. May God be with you." She walked to the door and opened it, brushing past the visitor as she continued on her way.
"Who are you?" Cere growled at the new arrival. "What do you want from me?"
"You don't recognize me, Cerena?" asked a man's voice.
"Nope—can't say I do."
The man walked closer. "Perhaps you'll recognize my clients."
Something about the voice banked into the prisoner's memory. "Wait a minute!" she laughed despite the mastermind's fearsome presence. "Hold on a freaking minute! How can I not recognize my own family's lawyer? Step outside and let me buy you a cup of coffee, 'cause we've got stuff to talk about!"
"I'm afraid we have nothing to talk about, Miss Sparks."
"Aww—are you here to whine about how I completely destroyed the family name and the company?" Cerena asked mockingly. "Hashtag: heard it all before! But I'm surprised my darling ex-fiancé isn't here to unleash his rage, seeing how I brought his empire crashing down around him!"
"His attorney plans to file an appeal, so at least he has something to live for. But my clients and I—we have absolutely nothing to live for—and nothing to lose."
"Well, that's too bad, because I just wanted to tell him how good he'll look in prison dungarees. No matter—I'll just tell you! I can see him now, cuffed like a common criminal and caged like an animal! I'm not ashamed of what I've done, and I'm not sorry for what I did to my abusive family and that serpent they wanted me to marry! I accuse them all before human justice and before God! And the only regret I feel right now is that I wasn't there when the police stormed that chapel and brought their parade to a screeching halt!"
That was all she had time to say before the rat-faced lawyer straddled her and set upon her already-battered face with his fists, seeing in his mind the anguish on the faces of the mother, the father and the sister of this thankless demon. Unsatisfied with the damage his fists were doing, the family lawyer now turned on her with his briefcase, bringing it down over and over until he could no longer feel the being below him struggling or hear her screams. Looking down at the sordid deed he'd done, the anger left him in a rush, and he let the briefcase fall to the floor, cradling what was left of Cerena's face in his hands and sobbing in remorse.
"Oh, what have I done?" he sobbed. "What have I done?"
Gently, he closed the eyelids of the woman he'd known since she was a chubby-cheeked little girl. "Be at peace, my child," he whispered. "Please, forgive me as I forgive you myself."
A gurgling laugh escaped from Cerena's throat as she sent a thick, dark glob of her blood into his face.
"You lose," she rasped.
"POLICE! FREEZE! HANDS WHERE WE CAN SEE THEM!"
Bewildered, the lawyer turned. Samus, Fox, Falco, Captain Falcon, Val, Giuliana and a score of police officers stood where the door used to be, armed and ready. Knowing that resistance was futile, he immediately surrendered.
"What in God's name?!" bellowed Master Core as he, his sons, Luigi, Mario, Peach and the rest of the Smashers arrived on the scene.
"Why didn't she just do as she was told?!" bawled the lawyer as the police quickly slapped handcuffs on him. "Why did it have to end like this?"
Cerena's mocking, triumphant laughter pursued him as he was hauled outside and into a police cruiser.
Dr. Mario rushed to the woman's side as her laughs quieted and her eyes closed. "She has a pulse!" he announced, to sighs of relief from both the Smashers and law enforcement.
The GPS on her phone had done its job—and saved her life.
As the EMTs whisked her away, Master Hand floated toward Luigi. "L…"
Luigi cut him off with an icy glare. "How could you let this happen?!" he snapped. "How could you?!"
"I—I…" stammered Master.
But the plumber stomped away from him.
Will those two ever catch a break? Depends. At least Cerena's still kicking.
Stay tuned!
