i'll be right behind you
A Super Mario Bros. One-Shot
Summary: "I'll be right behind you," Huey said. "I promise."
(Both he and Mario knew, though: some promises aren't meant to be kept.)
Notes: This one-shot is set immediately after the final boss of Paper Mario: Color Splash. Major spoilers for the game and its two predecessors, Super Paper Mario and Paper Mario: Sticker Star, are featured.
The castle was collapsing, as so many of Bowser's often did.
And as could be expected, the destruction was bringing in a lot of debris.
Slabs from the ceiling were coming down all over the fortress—and behind Mario, the elevated pathways were sinking into the sea of black paint. Ripples dotted its oily surface; one little slip, and it would be game over.
A bit of sweat went down his head.
C'mon, c'mon…! the plumber thought, biting his lip. We're almost at the end here—we can't fall now!
Holding his hand, Peach did her best to keep up with his pace.
"This is one heck of a rescue…!" she said, looking equally as anxious as Mario. "How much longer is this!?"
"Not too much more," Huey replied, floating alongside them (and much more three-dimensional than they were at the moment). "Keep moving! We've got this!"
"I won't let anything else happen to you, Peach," Mario promised—"just hang on!"
No stranger to the immediate need to escape, the hero continued to lead his companions through and out of Black Bowser's Castle. Hallway after hallway passed them by, seconds dragging out into minutes.
Mario could feel his dread mounting.
(Dread was a feeling he was all too familiar with.
Dread was a feeling he never wanted to revisit.
This final sprint very nearly carried that same ambience—
—but it was only a close thing, and Mario was thankful for it.)
Finally, Mario, Peach, and Huey had arrived at the entrance hall. As if on cue, parts of the ceiling promptly caved in mere inches away from them.
The plumber flinched—Oh great, it's getting worse!
Huey perked up. "There it is! The door!"
"But there's a gap in the way," Peach said—"can we even jump that?"
Indeed, the exit was dead ahead—but so was a rather sizable opening, beckoning what was likely to be a most unfortunate fall. They could always try crossing it with a long jump; he and Peach were well-acquainted with the technique—but would it be enough?
Mario shook his head.
"That doesn't matter," he decided. "Right now, it's do or die… and I refuse to let us die here!"
Still determined, the trio bounded toward the exit. Debris fell at an accelerated rate, behind and in front of them—one even served as a bridge over the pit, which the heroes gladly took, given the situation.
With barely any time to spare, they burst through the double doors—
—and there they were, at last out in the sunlight.
Luigi looked up, standing by the peak of the improvised Rainbow Road. His nervous expression soon melted into a relieved one as he cried, "Mario! Peach! Huey! You made it!"
Peach felt much the same way. "Luigi! You're here, too?"
"Well, of course! I can't-a leave my Big Bro hanging, after all!" He gestured toward his kart, delicately parked and facing back toward the direction of Prism Island. "Now, c'mon! Get on the kart! We're-a getting out of here!"
The green-clad plumber hopped in the driver's seat—right as the road he was on began the harrowing process of detaching from the castle. Mario and Peach leapt after him, and the three-quarters of a quartet found themselves barely fitting into the suddenly cramped seat.
The two carpoolers turned toward Huey, both their faces already expectant.
"Your turn, Huey!" Mario said. "Come on!"
But Huey didn't move, didn't do much more than float.
…
Something heavy settled in Mario's stomach.
Huey's eyes, all of a sudden, looked terribly sad; terribly reluctant.
He hovered about for a hot minute, visibly trying to figure out what he wanted to say.
Finally, he croaked…
"No… I'm afraid I can't."
Mario felt himself become weightless.
Everything else in range seemed to disappear.
In this moment—this singular, solid moment—nothing else seemed to matter.
All that did… was him and Huey.
Huey, his friend. His lovable, chipper friend.
"When this castle collapses," the paint bucket said, "all of that black paint… has to go somewhere. It's gonna fall. Hit the island. Ruin everyone's lives, through no fault of their own.
"I can't let that happen."
A solemn aura—solemn, but resolute—overtook him.
"I'm a guardian, created to protect the Prisma Fountain in times of crisis. It took me a while to realize it, but my purpose isn't to track down the Paint Stars.
"It's to destroy the black paint."
Another tremor struck, further lowering the bridge and almost sending Mario off his feet.
"The road is about to collapse! You guys need to leave, now!" Huey insisted.
"But—Huey!" Mario cried. "I can't just… leave you alone!"
"Hey, I can fly, remember? I'll be fine! I just need to take care of this mess first."
He closed his eyes, his label turning yellow in faux reassurance.
"I'll be right behind you," Huey said. "I promise."
…
A memory, almost four years old, hit Mario's head.
Mario went diving to the floor, just in time to avoid a giant claw swipe aimed at his face.
Overhead, Bowser roared incoherently, his giant, glimmering cardboard self looming intimidatingly over the balcony. Sticker after sticker had been flung at the beast, from regular Iron Boots to Big Shiny Clone Boots—but nothing was working; his gait led no attack past his defense.
Kersti came out as he stood back on his feet, her countenance belaying her obvious worry.
"That last Royal Sticker will be our end…" she begrudgingly acknowledged. "Its sparkling power is too strong—our stickers won't be of any use."
"Then what do we do!?" the plumber asked, through gritted teeth. "We've come so far; broken through so much…! That can't have been for nothing! I refuse to let it be!"
He tightened his grip on his hammer, trying to beat back his growing exhaustion.
Even if it's hopeless… Even if I can't win…
I—
I have to fight…!
Kersti looked at Mario, whose fire was flickering with visible fatigue.
She couldn't let him do this, but she also knew he wasn't about to give up.
What can I do?
What options do I have left to get Mario through this?
…
…
…wait. There is one thing…
"…so it's come down to this, huh?" she murmured.
Mario blinked. "Wha—? Kersti—?"
The fairy crown floated in front of her friend, eyes just as steely.
"Mario. Listen carefully. You have to use me as a sticker."
…
No…
No, it can't be…
It took a second for the plumber's brain to register what she said.
"Y-You!?"
She continued, "The Gold Royal Sticker is the strongest of the six. It outclasses the others in individual power—but it does have a counter: the other five, united as one. If we combine that with my own shine—the same type of shine the Sticker Comet has… then you'll be able to take down Bowser!"
"Maybe that's the case, but…" Mario shook his head. "If I do that, then you'll—you'll—!"
He spotted a red-orange light in the corner of his eye, and the two of them moved. A torrent of flame went sailing over their heads—a prime candidate for a Game Over, akin to one powered by a Star Rod.
"We don't have a choice!" Kersti reminded him. "If we want this madness to stop, then we've got to do whatever it takes!
"I'm going into the album now; I trust you know what to do! If you sell me at a shop instead… I'll never forgive you!"
Mario's Sticker Album went flying from his inventory, just long enough for Kersti to plaster herself against one of the pages. The second he could find an opportunity, he opened it up and—
—bore witness to her.
Staring at him against a glittering purple backdrop; eyes pleading him to finish the fight.
…
She's right.
I have to do this.
Otherwise, this'll never end.
He carefully peeled off her sticker, raised her up high…
…and readied himself for what was to occur.
…
…it's happening again.
Tippi, Kersti—
I'm going to lose a friend again.
Once again, two to-be-wedded stood on opposite ends of Castle Bleck's altar, the Chaos Heart booming with malice between them.
Once upon a time, just a scant few weeks ago, it was Peach and Bowser in their place, being unwillingly married to instigate the apocalypse.
Now, though…
Now, it was Count Bleck and Tippi, coming to sacrifice themselves to do the exact opposite.
Blumiere and Timpani, renewing the love that had never faded, despite all the years they had been separated.
The count brought his top hat low. "There were so many things I wanted to say to you… but I could not find the words."
"Oh, Blumiere… there's only one thing that matters to be now," the human-turned-Pixl said. "I never had the chance to return your question… Blumiere, do you still love me, as well?"
"Of course," he replied. "I have thought about you every moment since you disappeared. But I have caused you so much suffering…"
Tippi nodded. "Perhaps. My life would have been more carefree with you, that is true."
"Even still… I had to be with you. I will never apologize for that. You are the treasure that lights my heart."
"…I know, Blumiere. I love you."
"And I love you, Timpani. And hundreds of thousands of years from now, that fact will not have changed…"
With a poignant ring, the eight Pure Hearts once more materialized, spinning around the Chaos Heart with absolute purpose.
And Mario watched it all unfold, broken tears running down his eyes.
Tippi… You…
The bells chimed their blessing, reiterating the fact that… this was it.
For both of them.
You're… really going away…?
"Thanks for sticking me up, Mario," Kersti's voice echoed. "I give to you all my shine. You must win!"
Her form began to glow white, sparkling like the sun amidst a warm, summery day.
"Y'know… looking back… I haven't been the kindest to you," she admitted. "I forced you along this adventure, and all the while I was all pushy and condescending and… just a totally insensitive jerk."
"I forgave you for that, though," Mario reminded her. "I mean, I was once young and immature, too."
"I should've been better from the start, though," she said. "I'm supposed to be the Sticker Comet's ambassador; someone who can be personable, patient, accommodating. You were lost and struggling with me—it shouldn't have taken me 'til Rustle Barrow to realize that."
The glow became a little stronger, accompanied by the edge of her body beginning to peel off.
"…I really am sorry. For everything, even if I've been better since."
"It's alright. I could never stay mad at a friend." The red-clad hero smiled. "Not after all we've been through."
She laughed. "No kidding! It feels like yesterday we rose the Drybake Stadium, or solved the Enigmansion, or survived Long Fall Falls. Oh, and we can't forget Wiggler—err, Flutter, too! Man," she huffed, "his segments were all a pain to find."
"…yeah, I can't say everything was always fun," he agreed. "But at least we did it together."
A brief silence overtook them as Kersti continued to peel and shine.
…
"…I don't want you to go," Mario whispered.
"I don't want to, either," Kersti admitted. "I wanted to see the Sticker Fest with you so badly. I did, I did, I did—"
She choked.
"But… I guess it's okay. For all the memories you gave me… are worth any price."
She looked at Mario, one last time, and let out an invisible, sincere smile.
"Thanks for everything, Mario. Goodbye!"
…
A part of Mario wanted to rage against the heavens for this.
…why?
Why does this keep happening?
Why is it that my friends keep sacrificing themselves to save us?
The answer to that, perhaps, could never truly be told.
(And that wasn't what mattered, anyway.)
The hero and companion stared meaningfully at each other, one moment stretching out into what seemed like an eternity.
It had been a long three weeks for Mario and Huey—much like the three weeks that had defined his and Kersti's quest, and the three that had defined his and Tippi's.
Just like back then, he'd found a new friend.
Just like back then, they'd grown, laughed, and lived—
—and just like back then, he knew what choice he had to let happen.
This wasn't about what Mario desired; this was about what Huey did.
And Mario would always trust his friends to do what they had to, if it meant protecting everything else both parties held dear.
The plumber kept his gaze on the paint bucket for a little while longer, before giving out an incredibly sad smile.
('I'll be right behind you,' Huey's words had resonated. 'I promise.'
Both he and Mario knew, though: some promises aren't meant to be kept.)
"…yeah. See you soon," he said.
Luigi nodded. "Alright, Bro—it's now or never! Time to go!"
As the Rainbow Road began its slow descent, the green sidekick drove off back to Port Prisma, leaving behind a trail of sparks and emerald smoke emitted from his kart.
Huey watched the trio leave him behind, melancholy resting in his heart.
"All right," he sighed. "I hate lying to them… but it's the only way!"
He spun around toward the bottom of the flying castle, getting ready to perform his final act for the world he'd come to love.
"Here goes nothing… Big Paint Stars, grant me the power to SQUEEZE!"
Before Mario's eyes, Black Bowser's Castle was intensely and literally thrown through the wringer. The castle's form was distorted beyond what was physically possible, with every last drop of black paint being squeezed out of it like any regular Thing.
The sight of it was absolutely bewildering—but it was also extremely touching.
This… was Huey's strength of will.
(…the power to protect all the things that matter.)
"Wow…" Peach gasped, one hand hovering over her mouth. "That's…"
Mario let out a light snuffle. "Go, Huey."
See you again someday, buddy.
I won't ever forget what you mean to me.
Not now, not ever.
Here's a short fic to get me back into the swing of things.
Huey is arguably the best part of Paper Mario: Color Splash. He's genuinely funny, jovial, quirky—overall, he's just more of a friend than Kersti ever was. It's why his leaving at the end of the game actually feels poignant: you actually don't want him to.
A part of me would like to think that Mario, after everything he's been through—especially post-Super Paper Mario and Sticker Star—would recognize Huey's words as a comforting lie. That sometimes, people have to go, and you have to let them do so. It's not easy, it never is—but it is the truth, and he can't change that.
So… he lets him go.
To drive the point home, I added the flashback to Sticker Star's final boss. Kersti's sacrifice was very hamfisted and abrupt, don't get me wrong… but knowing what happens to Huey (and others), it's got a little more impact in retrospect. Thus, I tried to give it more gravitas here.
I hope it reads well for y'all, even for you who didn't care about her.
(And hey, who knows? I might do a fic exploring her and Mario's dynamic sometime…)
Well, that's all for now – see you around!