Super Smash Bros adventures chapter 37
Mario, Link, and Pit are at Smash city looking at the flavors the new ice cream store has to offer.
"I would like to have strawberry flavor." says Mario.
"I would like pistachio." says Link.
"And I would like to have three flavors: chocolate, vanilla, and cookies and cream, with chocolate syrup and sprinkles." says Pit.
The lady over the counter smiles and begins scooping their ice cream into cups. "Smashers get a discount." She reminds them.
"Oh, great!" Mario cries, and the three friends pay for their dessert. They head out into the hot sun to enjoy their ice cream on their way back to the mansion.
"Can you finish that all by yourself?" asks Link, staring at Pit's enormous cup of frozen goodness.
"As long as Lady Palutena doesn't see me." Pit says, sliding a huge bit of chocolate ice cream into his mouth. "She doesn't want me to eat too many sweets when she's around me."
"I wonder what everyone's doing at the Smash mansion?" says Mario. "You think they'll announce another tournament soon?
"Don't know." Link responds. "It'll be nice to have one soon. I want to show you my new training results."
They finish their ice cream and enter the Smash mansion, grateful for the shade. However, their relaxing is cut short when Samus marches up to them.
"There you guys are! We're in the middle of a crisis and you just now deciding to show your faces?"
"What?" Mario asks, alarmed. "What's going on?" He turns and sees Peach sitting on the couch, crying. Zelda has her arms around her, trying to comfort her friend.
Finally, Samus gives them the answer they are looking for. "Palutena told us not to tell you, but she will not be staying here anymore."
Mario, Link, and Pit stare wide-eyed at the blonde bounty hunter. They aren't really sure what to say. Finally Pit speaks. "I… thought Lady Palutena loves being here."
"We don't actually know why she left, she just told us that she's not going to be here anymore." explains Samus, puzzling over the goddess's leave.
"I can't believe this." says Mario. Palutena can't just leave… Not after everything they've been through. Mario takes a deep breath, then starts looking for Sakurai.
Mario found Sakurai at the ballroom with a few of his employees. "Oh Mario how are you doing?" greeted Sakurai.
"Sakurai, did you know that Palutena left the Smash mansion?" Mario blurts out.
Sakurai's gaze falls to his feet and he doesn't meet Mario's eyes. "Yeah. It's hard to let her go, but I can't force her to stay here."
But, Mario wants answers. He at least wants to know why. "Is it ok if you can get a Smash portal ready for me?" asked Mario.
Sakurai looks up and exhales. "Where are you going?" he asks, suddenly business-like
"I want to talk to Palutena, alone." replies Mario.
The Smash host thinks for a moment, then nods. "Yes… That may be the best thing to do. I'll get it ready right away."
Within minutes, the portal is ready. "Thanks, Sakurai." Mario says, and leaps through the glowing light.
After going through what he wants to say in his mind, Mario takes a deep breath and walks up to the large doors of the palace. He isn't the best speaker when it came to things from the heart, and he hopes he can express his feelings correctly.
Mario doorbells and Viridi answers it. "Oh Mario, it's good to see you. Where's Pit?" the nature goddess asks, hoping to tease the angel some more.
"I actually came here by myself," Mario answers, tapping his foot nervously. "Is Palutena here?"
Viridi nods. "Palutena's in her room. She told me to not let anyone bother her." Viridi fiddled with the flower on her dress. "It's weird. I've never seen her so upset."
Mario sucks in some air between his teeth. "Do you think… I could talk to her?" he asks hesitantly. "I want to find out what's wrong. Maybe I could help."
The nature goddess thinks for a long moment, and then agrees. "I'll take you to her."
Mario follows Viridi to Palutena's room. Viridi knocks on Palutena's door. "Hey Palutena, Mario's here to talk to you."
No response.
Mario steps forward and speaks gently. "Palutena please talk to me. I came here because I want to know why you don't want to stay in the Smash mansion anymore. Please let's talk for a few minutes."
There is a long silence, then, the door slowly opens. Palutena looks at Mario, her eyes red and puffy. Her cheeks are streaked with tears, and her lips are trembling, as if it is the only thing holding back her sadness.
"Palutena. Please… Tell me why you don't want to stay in the Smash mansion anymore." Mario implores. He walks up to Palutena. "Did something happen?"
Mario becomes discouraged as fresh tears flow from Palutena's eyes. The goddess sniffles and blinks a few times before responding. "Nothing happened. I left because I'm weak."
Mario's eyes widen in shock and he wonders why she is saying this. "Palutena, you're not weak." says Mario.
"Yes I am! And I know you think I'm weak too!" Palutena exclaims, rubbing her eyes. Mario is about to speak when Palutena continues between tears. "Mario, I felt weak and useless when I fight a boss battle with you. When we fought the Imprisoned, my legs were crushed and I couldn't move. You did all of the fighting!"
"Palutena-!"
"When we fought Antasma, I was caught in a cage. Without the Dreamy Luigi, you would've let him go. And the battle with Ridley last week, I was taken out first and you fought Ridley on your own!"
"Oh, Palutena! None of that matters!' Mario starts to say as Palutena catches her breath.
But, the goddess continues speaking, her fists clenched. "Crazy Hand was right! I really am weak! I don't deserve to be living in the Smash mansion with all of you! What kind of Goddess am I?" Her tears fall from her eyes again. "Now please leave me alone."
"Palutena. Listen to me." Mario speaks gently, but firmly. He holds Palutena's hands and wipes her tears from her eyes. "You're a strong Goddess. I've seen you fight with a lot of Smashers and you did great. You always helped me in a lot of missions and I'm grateful for that. You did everything you can to get missions done and you're really helpful at the Smash mansion, too.
Palutena wipes a stray tear from her cheek and blinks at Mario, hanging onto every word as if it were a life preserver.
Mario continues. "You help clean dishes for Sakurai, you help the girls cook, you watch over Smashers who are sick, and you've helped me so much I can't even to begin to tell you how much that means. You're an amazing person Palutena and the other Smashers think so too. I know it may be too sudden to ask, but please come back with us, because…" Mario hesitates, then grits his teeth, struggling to keep his voice from cracking. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
Palutena is shocked. She has never heard Mario come out like this before. She considers the plumber's words, and finally speaks. "Mario, you're the nicest person next to Pit who always cares about me." She stands and straightens the folds in her golden gown and smiles. "Thank you for cheering me up."
"I'm glad you're feeling better now." Mario says with a sigh of relief. "Lets go back to the Smash mansion! Everyone's worried about you."
Mario and Palutena exit the room with smiles on their faces.
"Now that's the Palutena I know! Give it your all and show them how strong you are!" says Viridi.
"Oh I will." Palutena says smugly, and she and Mario take their leave back to the mansion.
"Palutena!" Link, Pit, Peach, Zelda, and Samus have been waiting on the front lawn for Mario to bring her back, and they happily greet her upon arrival.
Palutena smiles as she is smothered in hugs and handshakes. "We thought you were never coming back!" Pit exclaims with relief and crying for joy.
"I'm sorry for worrying everyone." apologizes Palutena.
"Who cares?" Peach asks. "You're back!"
Zelda sees that Palutena still has her luggage on her. "Come on! Let's go put your things in your room!"
Palutena smiles and nods and the two head inside the mansion.
"What did you do to get Palutena back?" Samus asks once the two girls are out of earshot.
"I just talked to her." replies Mario. "I told her what I think of her and she was happy."
"Wow, you're the only one who can bring Palutena back!" says Link.
"Yeah!" Pit cries, nudging Mario in the ribs. "I think she might like a certain someone!"
Mario feels heat creeping up his cheeks. "Uh… You're joking, right?" he asks. "Why would a Goddess like her, fall for a Plumber like me?"
"Of course I'm not joking!" Pit cries. "You two are really close to each other. Just tell her how you really feel already!"
"Oh! Look! Here she comes now!" Samus points. Indeed, Palutena is coming back down the steps and walking across the grass.
"Well, look at the time!" Link says suddenly. "Pit and I have a brawl to go to."
"What? No we don't!" Pit starts to protest.
"Link gives Pit a meaningful look. "Yes we do." he murmurs urgently in the angel's ear, and proceeds to pull him inside the mansion.
"I'm going to go watch them fight." Samus says quickly, and she runs off as well.
Mario smiles at their kindness.
Palutena goes up to Mario and tears of joy start falling off of her eyes. Palutena gives Mario a big hug and Mario hugs back, feeling her tears on his cheek. "Thank you, Mario," she says between sniffles. "You saved me from making a really bad decision."
"Oh, any time, Lady Palutena." says Mario.
Palutena is shocked at Mario's formality and smiles. There is silence for a while as they stare into each other's eyes. They are both lost to the world around them, as if the other's eyes are portals taking them to another world entirely, a world where just the two of them exist and there isn't anything else to worry about.
However, the illusion is short-lived when the goddess slowly pulls away. "I guess I'd better go unpack, huh?" she asks hesitantly.
"O-Oh. All right." Mario says as they let go of one another, butterflies fluttering in his stomach. "'Ill see you later."
"Yeah, see you." Palutena responds, as she gets her last luggage and waves bye to him.
Palutena arrives back into her room and unpack everything she brought back. While doing that, she remembers everything that happened between her and Mario. "Mario, I want to tell you how I really feel about you one day." she says and starts blushing.
Shoutout to Junior BLD for this amazing chapter!