Lending An Ear
Something I made in celebration for Odyssey's four year anniversary. Four years of fun and I'm repaying the game I sank 140 hours with a one shot, just prefect.
All rights go to Nintendo
Hot off the heels of Mecha Wiggler's defeat, New Donk City went to work rebuilding the metropolitan area. Sleepless nights went into the project before the city looked better than ever. The streets were spotless, the local park was given new plants breathing with new life.
Stepping out of his hat ship the man responsible for battling the robotic centipede marveled at bustling sprawl. The town appeared overwhelming but the hero had grown up in similar home so this was not out of the ordinary.
"Um are you-a sure there's more-a Power Moons left here Cappy?" the plumber asked, accent laced with undeniable Italian heritage.
"I'm sure of it Mario, I can practically taste them!" The red cap resting on the gentleman grew eyes and hovered slightly above his head.
Mario, lionheart of the Mushroom Kingdom, was on a globe trotting odyssey chasing after Bowser. His unquenchable desire to make Princess Peach his resulted in his grandest scheme yet, a wedding on the moon.
Along the way in Cap Kingdom, the place he landed after Bowser sent him into the stratosphere during their battle above Peach's castle, Mario met Cappy. A small white top hat bonneter who was likewise stripped of a person he cared about by Bowser, his sister Tiara.
The two agreed to travel the world together as a duo keeping the heat on the Koopa King. So far they kept a good pace until their first detour.
In the clouds Mario and Cappy had their first real shot at the fire breathing turtle. After the back and forth contest the plumber and bonneter had the evil king on the ropes. Disaster soon followed as the personal battleship of Bowser holding Peach and Tiara hostage launched their cannons.
Landing in the Lost Kingdom the knight in blue overalls took a hold of the setback and repaired the red ship. Leading them where they stood on a rooftop in the Metro Kingdom.
The short plumber smiled at his companion's enthusiasm. Their partnership reminded him of Luma, the star child who took such a shine to the daredevil both traversed solar systems after his unrelenting archrival.
Though Mario viewed both in different lenses. He treated Luma as a child, guarding him from the dangers of the outside universe. It was apparently clear the young star viewed Mario as a father he never had.
Filling the role the experienced adventurer exported his own values on Luma guiding him how he viewed proper. Luma filled a similar hole in the plumber's life, a surrogate son of sort he could dolt on. The day he lost Luma to a blackhole in part of his doing ate at him losing the son he never had.
Cappy to him was more of a friend than anything else. Both were protective older siblings to a fault and fearless to peril. The blue eyed hero had no discretion allowing the possessive cap to leave his side trusting he'll find his way back.
"Alright let's-a go!" Mario bellowed at the top of his lungs, capturing a spark pylon arriving in the main center of New Donk.
Setting in his surroundings to his right was a tiny but pleasant park. To his left he saw a tall man struggling to conduct a RC car in between a simple course.
"Hey Mario he's not wearing a hat! Maybe we can assist with his course." Cappy suggested, Mario pondered the idea but went against his talking cap and continued on.
He moved off the road to the left sidewalk walking up and taking a left. He found a crazy cap business large and robust. Two different sides, one for coins and the other for region specific purple coins.
"Huh, must-a be their currency." Mario speculated, scratching the back of his head.
"Oh can we go in Mario? I could use a new look, I'm getting tired of this old thing." Cappy remarked, clearly referring to Mario's red cap.
The underhanded insult stung the plumber. "That-a 'old thing' was from my dad!"
The bonneter's eyes widened realizing his running mouth. "I'm sorry Mario I didn't know!"
Mario's stern upward glare faded, grunting to acknowledge the apology. Running past the boutique the duo wander some more. Turning the right corner Mario finally gave his attention to the citizens.
New Donkers as they were called lived fast but comfortable lives. The plumber struggled to keep pace with them, constantly being walked around or through him punishing the poor newcomer who couldn't keep up.
All dressed in black or grey suits finishing their outfit with a matching fedora. If their height didn't make him stand out like a sore thumb his attire did. His red turtleneck shirt and worn out denim overalls stood out in the usually busy city.
"Don't let yourself be startled Mario. I've seen you go through so much worth, a few staring eyes won't hurt you!" the peppy voice of Cappy encouraged.
The short statured individual admired his pal's encouragement and listened, ignoring the watchful judging eyes.
While walking someone captured the tearaway's eyesight. A man in a black suit, a red tie around his neck seemed stressed. Mario could not break away his view from New Donker, could he be in need of a friend. The person had his head in his hands confirming his suspicion.
Without thought he took a seat on the open half of the bench. The man looked from hands greeted by a friendly smile.
"Hi I'm-a Mario."
Dazed by the welcome the young man offered one back. "Oh, um… I'm Jason."
"So-a Jason, is something wrong?"
"What makes you think that?" clearly uncomfortable by the mustached man's astute observation.
"Well…, you're-a sitting on a bench all by yourself in-a always moving city." Mario explained, trying not to be impolite in tone or manner.
The pale blonde was blown back, amazed by the brown haired lionheart's words he had no option but to open up.
"You see…, I'm new here. I moved far from my family after a chance of following my dream. Where I used to live was nothing like this place." the country boy let out, allowing all his pent up emotion to flow out. "Rural farmland, dirt roads, quiet nights, New Donk is nothing like that. I'm starting to regret my decision wondering if it was the right choice."
Mario sympathized with the young adult, he knew his crisis better then anyone. "I-a can relate."
The New Donker shifted his brown eyes over to the heroic plumber, who's sky blue eyes looked upon the hectic street with taxis traveling up and down both lanes.
"Me and my-a brother when we were-a kids our parents moved us to Brooklyn. It-a was nothing like our old home and I-a thought it was awful." Mario reminisced of his childhood, recalling old memories.
"What'd you do?" The well dressed adult, now fully engrossed into the conversation.
"I-a embraced the change, change is-a scary but only if you-a run from it." The white gloved Italian passed on. Thinking back of the days he and Luigi only had each other in an always moving environment.
"So I should give this place a chance?" Mario nodded, turning his face showing his agreement.
The once nervous wreck changed his demeanor to gratitude. "Thank you Mario. You know, you're the first person to sit down next to me. It's a lonely city, thank you for reaching out."
The superstar bashfully waved him off. "It was-a nothing."
"Say take this, take it as a thank you." Jason reached under his blazer showcasing a brown Power Moon!
The red plumber was dumbfounded, eyes wide and mouth hanging. "Um, thank you." he accepted in a soft tone.
"One more thing, you did say your name was Mario right?" Jason put forward. Mario nodded, confirming his name for the second time.
"You weren't the brave hero who battled Mecha Wiggler were you?"
Mario became flushed, not used to being recognized for his courageous deeds. "Uh, yes," evil's worst nightmare admitted sheepishly, nervously grinning displaying his pearly whites.
Jason's face lit up. "I should have known, You're jumpman!"
Mario was thrown back, he hadn't heard his old title since chasing after Cranky Kong back then given the name Donkey Kong. He grew fame for jumping up unfinished construction after the ape kidnapped his first squeeze.
"The mayor is looking for you." Mario's new pal informed him. "She was on the radio asking for your appearance or if someone knows you to direct you where her office is."
"Oh no, tell her I-a don't need a reward, I-a do what I-a do because it's-a right not for publicity." putting his shaking hands in front of him.
Jason shook his head. "All she wants is to thank you, Mayor Pauline is the nicest."
At the sound of her name the plumber went pale. His tongue felt heavy, heart pounding in his ear and ears blushing becoming as red as his shirt.
"Pauline?" the former construction worker whispered, blushing at the thought of her. She had been his first in many categories. First friend, crush and love from his younger days. From daycare to early adulthood she had been there with him, he could recall Luigi's teasing voice about his not so well hidden feeling for the brunette in their teenage years.
"Yeah she's the greatest, if anything she's one of the best things about New Donk." Jason exclaimed being one of the mayor's hearten supporters. "She works in the biggest building. Go up from here and you'll see it, you can miss it."
The brown work shoes of Mario fell to the pavement. Following the route he was told he walked towards the mayor's skyscraper.
"Hey Mario, thanks again."
Mario turned around tipping his hat. "No problemo," he waved his goodbyes while hiking along. Cappy who remained hushed throughout the heart to heart revealed his eyes looking sweetly at the plumber.
"That was really nice, you're a good guy Mario."
Mario's mouth formed into a wolfish smile by the Bonneter's complement. "I-a know." he simply responded mind still on the thought of Pauline, after all those years lost by slipping in the wrong pipe he would finally lay his eyes on her again.
Thanks for being here, I hope that was at least somewhat enjoyable.
Mario Odyssey was been one game I liked but never loved. I think the game is amazing no doubt but I've never made that emotional connection to it. I prefer the more linear 3D missioned based Mario games like the galaxies or sunshine so maybe that's why but I digress. I've said all this but it doesn't change the fact I a hundred percent the game once every year it's been out.
Here's one for you Odyssey, many people's first outing with a Mario game and another stellar pillar in the great once a generational experience only a 3D Mario game can achieved, you can say my hat is off to you!