"The two shades of green."
Chapter 6
"Mario's new job."
"I'm so happy you decided to get yourself a job here in Mushroom Knox!" Squealed an exited toad walking besides the new worker down the dark hall. "Everyone will be so excited to work with you (Yes in my Fanfiction his last name is JumpMan. Deal with it.)"
Mario only rolled his eyes at the manager. He thought once he officially retires from being the "Hero of the mushroom kingdom" his fans will die down a little. Situations like this one made him wonder why things never go the way he wanted them to.
"Having such an experienced he-uh-guardian in our ranks will definitely make the visitors feel safer." The small toad corrected herself after seeing the look on the, once, red clad hero's face.
Mario completely changed after facing through the first nightmare he had about Luigi, which resulted in him locking himself in his brother's mansion and crying himself to sleep when he was sure nobody was listening.
He doesn't like when people call him "hero" because he feels unworthy of that title, instead giving it to Luigi who, in his eyes, did what a real hero would do. Something he should have done.
And when somebody actually has the nerve to call him a hero, he simply points to the green cap he wore instead of his traditional red one and corrects them by saying:
"He was the real hero. I was only a wannabe."
He quitted wearing his traditional red sweater and blue overalls instead changing them into a long cream colored coat and dark gray trousers, because the reminded him so much of his failure and inability to save his younger sibling.
He even went so far as to quit hero-ing all together, leaving all the dirty work to Yoshi and Capitan Toad.
Now whenever Bowser attacks and does something stupid, he simply ignores him and goes to his new daily job.
And his character changed as well.
He's no longer cheerful and happy, only wears a permanent poker face.
Now I know what you felt every time I left you at home alone. Mario thought ignoring the happy, fan babble from his new boss, as she led him to his guar post. The cold feeling of being alone is like you said, crushing. To think you felt that way almost 75% of your life…What have I done to you little brother?
Whenever he asked that question his mind would answer in Luigi's voice:
Nothing. You just didn't save me.
"Here's your post ." The manager's squeaky, screechy, toad-like voice pulled him out of thought. What she showed him was the guard post that was the closest to the Golden Safe.
Instead of wasting his breath on a snort he simply rolled his eyes.
Of course they would give him that spot. Was there ever any doubt?
He was known for being the kingdom's "ex-hero" who had saved the damn place more than once in his life.
If someone had to protect the kingdom's collection of the most dangerous objects and weapons used by enemies in order to destroy it, it would have to be him.
Normally Mario wouldn't mind that extra bit of trust he reserved, but now he was both tired of and annoyed by it.
The post was a simple little building placed before the Golden Safe. Occupied by a small bench, desk, a coffee machine, a few cups, some paper with pens and a giant cork board filled with fan letters all the toads must have left him after they heard he was coming to work with them.
Joy.
"Your work hours are on the cork board, right next to Penelope's love letter to you." The small, purple dressed toad with green spots giggled, pointing at a large pink note that covered half the board and a white tiny little corner that was sticking from beneath it.
He nodded, signaling that he spotted the paper.
"Oh and there will be a giant welcoming party for you get into the family, tonight. Everyone will be there!"
Mario wanted nothing more than to bang his head on the brown desk.
This is not what he expected his retirement life to be like.
People…er…toads were supposed to treat him like a normal person doing his job.
Instead they treated him like the chosen one he wasn't.
The hero of the mushroom kingdom.
Oh how he hated that title.
"Thanks but…no thanks." He said in the most monotone voice he could muster, hoping it will cool down her enthusiasm.
"Oh." She frowned. "Well you're always welcome if you want to come." Almost immediately she recovered from his little resignation.
"Yeah. Sure. Whatever." Was his only answer.
When she left he thought this was the last distraction he would get during his duty as guard.
Little did he know that a certain koopa king was lurking outside the building.
Waiting for a clear opening and having no idea who he will meet once he gets inside.
Note: Sorry for the short chapter. Next will be longer I promise. Keep reading!