Alas, fate had repeated itself.
Lockdowns were officially announced to be over 30 minutes later and 5 minutes after the mechanic had regained consciousness from the shock, the red cap keeping watch as he slept. Despite the lockdowns being very much over, no one dared to venture outside until the call for dinner, which was an obligation. No one liked seeing the king in his defeat, since half the time he was either in such a fury that half the castle's interior would be destroyed, or a massive sulk that would ring in people's ears for hours upon hours.
But, in the mechanic's case, he especially didn't want to go outside.
All of his thoughts were jumbled beyond belief, and despite his unconscious state for 25 minutes, he could remember absolutely everything that transpired.
Now, he paced in a half-dazed paranoia. He had retrieved his shoes from the bathroom and slipped them over his feet, which he realised only made his pacing louder, which triggered his anxiety more.
The thought that the person who had to give the king such grief for years upon years was of the same being as he was only the start of the long list. Out of every single creature out there, from koopas to lakitus- he was the same as him? With such similar features? With a near identical piece of attire?
Said hat was clutched tightly underneath his right arm, the mechanic holding it as if were more precious than jewels.
His heels turned in a moment, the mechanic kneeling down to his drawer and tugging it open vigorously. It was scrambled to move all the papers and blueprints he had stored away, seeing a vibrant green that seemed to glow in the light.
Fingers trembling, he brought the dusting cap to his chest, peeling the red one back from his chest.
This didn't make any sense- the mechanic threw the both of them on the bed as if they had caught fire. W-Why would the king's grandest enemy have such an item? The red hat was in such condition- dirt- fire marks- what hadn't it been through? The colour had faded from a dashing crimson to a mundane maroon, compared to his near-perfect lime green one.
Despite the differences- they were identical.
Different in colour and a single letter.
L breathed through his mouth, wiping the sweat off his brow with a feeling of needing to throw up in his throat. He was sure they were a perfectly reasonable explanation for all of this. There were many virtues to being an overthinker when being a mechanic, but in situations like this? He despised it more than anything under the sun.
What would he do?
Why wasn't he ever told that he was of the same race as the king's greatest enemy?
What if that was kept secret for a reason?
Bile rose to the mechanic's throat, his feet barely able to run him over to the basin before everything he ate that day came in that day, tears brimming his eyes and staining the already damp mask more.
Something was very very wrong-
Never in his life had he questioned his existence like this- n-now he just- he-
L pushed himself from the basin, retrieving tissue from the side and wiping his mouth clean-
He needed to find out.
XxX
Dinner was often segregated.
The army and 'lower' citizens were regimented to the dining hall which was filled with 6 large tables that stretched from one end of the room to the other. L was sure that if he was a part of that department, his need for personal space would send him into a panic attack. Thankfully, however, his skills as a mechanic had landed him somewhat of a higher position in the castle's hierarchy. Of course, it wasn't royalty conditions, but it was decent. 2 large tables that sat alongside one another, everyone with an individual, designated seat.
L didn't feel hungry. He felt anything he ate wouldn't stay down until he got himself an answer. Thankfully, he wouldn't need to wait so long-
Kamek the Magikoopa was the first person on his mind to ask about the whole ordeal. In reality, the Magikoopa had done more for him than anyone else. He was the Koopa who fought for his very rights as a mechanic! The king thought just to put L in the army with the others, but that certainly hadn't turned out to be the case, the Magikoopa giving him a workshop and the ability to prove himself. The king hadn't a choice but to promote him.
Kamek himself ate within the same demographic as the King and his children, which he often retired from to visit his demographic to check up.
The sound of the door opening was L's cue that it was that time of the night.
The mechanic looked over immediately, dragging his chair back as he stood up, which made a rather upsetting screech. But the mechanic wasn't bothered, immediately slipping from the table and trotting over.
"E-Erm-! Kamek sir-!"
Kamek gave him somewhat of a side look that was hidden behind his goggles.
"Evening."
The Magikoopa continued to walk between the tables, L trotting behind him with fast-paced steps and his hands fumbling.
"Evening- uhm- look there is something it'd like to talk about privately-"
Kamek didn't look back as he talked.
"I'm a very busy wizard. I won't be able to talk for a while."
"I know- but sir this is much grander of a topic than you think it is!"
"The last time you said that it was over your missing blueprints"
"I-I know! But- th-this is much more serious! I promise you-!" The mechanic suddenly jogged next to him, holding his hands out.
"Won't you hear me out? I-I tell you it's worthy of your interest!"
Kamek still didn't look at him.
"Likely. Tell me, what would demand my attention so much to demote my schedule?"
"I-It's about the hero-"
There was a collective gasp around the people who were listening in on their conversation, which was rather many considering the air of the room was near silent. Kamek himself had come to a dead halt, and despite his short stature, L felt his body weaken with fear. Even though L couldn't see his eyes behind those googles, as soon as Kamek looked at him his whole body trembled in thought of what kind of look he might be giving him.
No time to regret his words now; he basically had the whole palour looking at him-
The mechanic swallowed-
"It's important-"
The dead silence was awful- the mechanic wished that the ceiling would collapse just to get him out of this situation- and by some kind of a miracle, the wizard grabbed him hard by the arm, and in a moment with a flash of sparks, they disappeared.
L now found himself in somewhat of a studyroom- but he didn't have time to study its features as his whole weight was suddenly shoved to the ground.
Kamek seemed awfully unimpressed, L might even say furious-
"What are you thinking saying something like that out in the open? Do you want rumours to start spreading about you?"
The mechanic rose himself to his feet, his arms extended out as if he were making a peace treaty.
"I-I had to get your attention somehow-!"
"By mentioning that rat?!"
"B-But it's about him! Kamek- I wouldn't just call out his name if it weren't about him-!"
Kamek's face suddenly went deadly serious.
"Did you see him?"
"I-"
The mechanic's voice suddenly caught itself on its tongue, and his whole shoulders tensed up before he could speak. The Magikoopa looked the most terrifying he had ever seen him- in such a state of seriously that he worried that if he said the wrong words, it could warrant a death sentence-
"N-No I-" The mechanic swallowed, and his fear shivered from his shoulders.
"I-I just…uhm…I heard him down the hall- He was bashing on my door but- but I didn't see him. But I wanted to ask- uhm…"
Who is he?
Why is he like me?
Why haven't you told me about him before?
"...why does- the king hate him so much?"
Not the question he wanted to ask- but still a question nevertheless. It was apart of a list he always wanted to find out but never got the chance to learn- and despite its lack of regard for the topic, it was certainly something that could add a piece to the puzzle.
Kamek's shoulders seemed to deflat with some kind of relief, but it was barely noticeable. The Magikoopa trotted back over to his desk and placed his wand on it, as if retiring for the night.
"That is not your business, L. If you know what's good for you, you won't go asking about stupid questions."
And in another flash, the mechanic found himself back in his workshop.
…
The mechanic stood there, his eyes still fixated on where the wizard was previously standing, his shoulders stiff and to his neck-
That is not your business, L
Not his business? Not his business? It was very much- very well- his business-!
Fury started floating up the mechanic's stomach, his expression crunching with frustration and his fists clenched so hard it hurt his palms.
Oh, was it also none of his business of why that very man looked the same as him? Was it none of his business of why they were the same species? Was it none of his business to know why nothing in his life had added up until this turned everything on its head? Huh!?
The mechanic spun on his heels and punched his workbench as hard as he could, a horrible bang shooting into the sky from the jolt of screws and wrenches-
Why- oh why- was it none of his concern to look into the person who had very well changed his life in a matter of 2 minutes? Why did he look the same? Who was he? Why had no one, no one, mentioned this to him in the slightest!?
Pants were the only noise that filled the room, that and the faint droplet of tears falling him face that somehow missed soaking into his mask-
All questions no answers. The only person who could give him answers was the king, and he was sure that wouldn't go well considering how Kamek had reacted-
No-
He had to find out himself.
The mechanic looked over to his bed, where the two hats still slept soundly next to one another.
He was going to find that hero.
XxX
Mario didn't talk much. Mario also was not that much of a heavy thinking. And most importantly, Mario lived in the present.
All those characteristics seemed to be turned on his head, that was for certain. Right now, the hero in red sat by a crackling fire place in the middle of the woods that connected that of the Dark Lands and the Mushroom Kingdom. The time of day would make it impossible for them to get home safely before Boos and other undead creatures would start coming after them, and as strong as Mario was, he didn't want to risk the Princess' safety.
Said Princess was sitting close to him, their backs against the same tree, eyes closed and hand in that of the plumber's, who held it back tightly.
He lost his hat- something he was deeply troubled about. It was sacred to him, sort of like a cross you would wear around your neck. It had meaning, but more than that, it was apart of him. And, most disturbingly, he knew where he lost it.
With that very strange individual he encountered.
Mario banged his head against the tree.
Humans weren't common. The Princess, her cousin Daisy, and himself were the only humans he knew about*. Other than him, humans meant royalty. The princess was surprised when she first met him that Mario didn't rule any sort of kingdom, but even more surprised to see Mario's enhanced strength and athletic abilities. Humans, at the very least, had such strength unlike any other species, and in Mario's case, was nearly undefeatable. Mario didn't have a clue to his origins, nor his parents, yet he hated the theory he was some run away royal. The whole being a king thing didn't really suit his vibe.
But, then that was the question. The man he had seen in heart of the castle was certainly human. That was so odd- why would Bowser have a human there other than the princess? Was he caputured? No- that wouldn't make sense. Why would he have knocked him out and appeared to be out of cage? Was he the rightful ruler of the Dark Lands kingdom? Bowser would have killed him if that was the case, wouldn't he?
The plumber groaned at his own speculation, dragging his free hand across his exhausted face.
He shouldn't have just dropped the guy. Mario acted on an impulse spectrum in which he acted first, thought later. God, that was really stupid; what if he was another prisonor, or worse, hostage?
A gentle squeezing of his left hand suddenly brought him out of his delirium, and he almost jumped at the gentle voice.
"Mario? Are- you alright? You seem troubled-"
The plumber sighed, resting his forehead into the princess' shoulder. The princess held his hand with both of her own.
"Y-You haven't been yourself dear- please talk to me."
Mario lifted his face off her shoulder, sighing through his nose and holding both of her hands like a hand sandwich.
"Mm, I'm-a sorry- there's something-a bugging me…"
"Like what?"
The plumber scrunched his face.
"I don't know. I saw this someone at the castle when I was looking for you- I feel like-a we need to go back-"
"Back-?"
"I-a got such a bad feeling all of a sudden- Peachy, they were human."
The princess froze for a moment, her expression melting into fear. She was always better at emoting that he ever was- and everything from her stance to her tone said everything Mario was feeling all at once.
"Human?" The princess continued-
"A-Are you sure?"
"Yes- I'm-a sure-! The guy almost looked like me, Peachy-"
That was the worst thing, Mario was sure of. As far as he was aware, he was the only male human Mario had ever seen. And yet- they looked so similar. Princess Peach and Daisy looked very similar, and were the only two female humans he had seen, but they were related so that was understandable. But this stranger- he had never seen him before in his life.
Despite his missing hat- despite the fact they look like each other- Mario had a bad feeling. And if there was one thing Mario was sure to trust, it was his gut.
The plumber stood up in a haste-
"We need to go back-!"
A sudden pain shot up his right leg and the plumber crumbled underneath his weight. The princess shot to his side immediately, holding his shoulders to keep him stable.
"Mario- we can't go back- You're still hurt from your fight. Bowser may have sent out new soldiers already that could easily take you down-"
"But he was human! What if he's a pawn in Bowser's game just like you are half the time?"
Peach exhaled through her nose, gripping his shoulders.
"Mario- you know you're not going to get anywhere if you go back. Human or not, you can't go back for him- n-not when you're in such a condition. We can send out a force to see who he is as soon as we get home- But Mario you can't do this to yourself. What if you get killed?"
Mario's face crinckled with frustration, his teeth pinned against one another. The hurtful thing is that he knew the princess was right. Mario didn't think half the time- and even if he wasn't considering it- the fact that he was hurt from his fight certainly would help him. Plus- the guy had managed to know him out when they first met- and getting captured in Bowser's castle certainly wasn't ideal-
He hated it when he was wrong- especially in a situation he couldn't punch his way through-
But eventually his shoulders slumped with defeat-
"Mm…"
The plumber went silent, his shoulder slipping from her fingers and his frame sinking against the tree back to floor. The princess didn't make a comment, instead sitting beside him once again, holding her hand against his-
"We'll go back for him- but soon- not now…"
The plumber looked up to the stars behind on the trees, and his hand looked for that of the princess' and held it tightly-
He would find him- not today- or maybe the next day- but he would find him.
He would for sure.