NOCTURNE

Chapter XI (11): A Quick Farewell

"WE'VE FOUND IT, SIR!"

"Found what?"

"THE MONSTER WE'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR ALL THIS TIME!"

"You don't mean--!"

"BAGAN!"


Several days have past since the incident at the airship, and both Dark and Akira have been residing at Princess Peach's Castle in the Mushroom Kingdom, located in the "Mushroom World." Time has flown by very quickly, and Bowser has almost completely recovered.

Akira is currently wandering around outside in the castle's huge terrace, while Dark runs about frantically, trying to catch birds that flutter from the skies and to the ground for food. So far, he hasn't had any success of catching any, for he makes too much racket when he rushes towards the birds, causing them to flee quickly, leaving poor Dark very disappointed, but he never seems to give up. As Akira walks around with his hands in his pockets, he runs into a peculiar character, who is also wandering about. The small man has a red hat with a large red "M" inside a white circle. The man is also wearing blue overalls and a red shirt underneath. The man has a large mustache that looks like a boat in water (the "bottom" part of the mustache is circled into little semi-circles, while the "top" part is straight, but a bit curved, almost like a crescent moon). The man has a large nose and sky blue eyes. He also wears large white gloves and brown, lace-less leather shoes. The man is a bit overweight, but that doesn't seem to bother him the least as he walks towards Akira smiling brightly.

"Hey, it's you… I remember you…"

"Hello!"

"Your name is… Mario, correct?"

"Yes-a sir-a!"

"Oh great. You still have that English-Italian accent."

"Your name is Akira, right-a?"

"Err, yes it is. We've met in the past, remember?"

"Of course I-a do! Who could forget about-a you-a?"

"Thanks. I needed that."

"Well, I just-a heard you were passing-a by-a, so I thought I could say hello-a."

"I see… Well, I'd best be on my way anyways. Many places to go, many questions unanswered… See you around sometime."

"Okie dokie! See you sometime. And-a thanks for saving Bowser."

"Sure thing."

With that, the small man named Mario walks away. Akira shakes his head and also goes on his way.

Several hours later, Akira and Dark are back on their ship (which has totally been remodeled by the Toads in appreciation for saving Bowser) and they set sail into the ocean blue. Bowser, Mario, Princess Peach, and many Toads wave farewell as Akira and Dark disappear into the horizon, sailing to new places and new adventures.

NOCTURNE

"Justice does not come from the outside. It comes from inner peace." –Barbara Hall