Super Smash Bros adventures chapter 53
Back at the Smash mansion, the Nurse's Office is a tornado of activity. and any able-bodied Smashers rush around, providing medicine and relief to the injured. However, there are two particular cases that are 's first priority, as their injuries are the worst. "All set." says as he fastens one last bandage.
Dr. Mario has just finished treating Mario's and Palutena's wounds. "Thank you, ." says Palutena.
The Doctor nods. "You took a powerful hit from Tabuu. That was pretty reckless, what you did."
"I know. I just wanted to help Mario." says Palutena. She looks at Mario, who is unconscious and wrapped in bandages. "Will he… be okay?"
scribbles a few notes down on his clipboard. "Well, I've treated all his physical injuries, but he's in critical condition. Link and Zelda are out catching some healing fairies for him and the other patients. He'll be good as new if he can hang on until then. Of course, he'll still have to rest here for a day or so once he's healed."
"I see. Thanks again for helping all of us." says Palutena.
nods, then goes to help other patients. Seeing as there isn't much she can do because of her injuries, Palutena rests for a while. Or at least she tries to. Her head is buzzing from the recent activity. The fight with Tabuu seems so distant that it could have been a dream, but the words she said to Mario were too real for that to have been the case. She has done it. She has confessed her feelings. But, Palutena doesn't know what is scarier, the confession, or whether or not she'd get a response.
About an hour later, Zelda comes into the infirmary. "Palutena, I brought you a healing fairy," she says, holding a glass bottle with what looks to be a glowing, pink firefly.
Palutena smiles, relieved that the pain in her body will soon subside. It was uncommon for goddesses to feel such blinding pain, and Palutena doesn't want to repeat the experience. Tabuu's blast must have been powerful if it could do this to her. Zelda opens the bottle and the little fairy flies in circles around Palutena, releasing healing dust from its wings. Little by little, Palutena's pain is washed away. "How is everyone else doing? asks Palutena.
"Not good." Zelda says as Link rushes past carrying an armful of glass bottles. "Some Smashers can barely move, there injuries are so bad. R.O.B fell in some lava in the Great Maze, and Pit..."
"What's wrong with Pit?" Palutena asks, now totally alert.
Zelda takes a deep breath. "Nothing a fairy can't cure, but he looks bad."
"Oh, okay…" Palutena looks around the room at the resting Smashers and her eyes rest on Mario's bed. "What about Mario? Do you have a fairy for him?"
"Yes." says Zelda. "Right here." Zelda puts a bottled fairy on the table next to Mario's bed, and then she and Link leave the room to get more fairies for the patients who need them.
Palutena looks at the little fairy fluttering in the bottle. She knows it will start Mario on the road to recovery, but it won't heal everything. Feeling strong enough to move, Palutena gets out of bed and goes to the front of the mansion. She steps out into the cool night air and looks at the stars. "Mario always comes here after dinner," Palutena says to herself. She puts her hands together and prays. "I hope he'll be all right… I hope he can get rid of his Dark Energy."
The next day, Palutena heads to the emergency room to visit Mario and realizes he is awake. "Good morning, Mario." happily greets Palutena.
"Oh… hey Palutena." Mario sighs.
"Are you in much pain?" Palutena asks, glancing at the bottle that once held Mario's healing fairy.
"Not as much…" Mario says, struggling to sit up. But, it is as if the sadness in his voice is weighing him down.
"What's wrong?" Palutena asks. You sound so down. Is it from what happened yesterday?"
"You should know…" Mario says. "I almost killed you. When I used the Dark Energy to beat Tabuu. And after you sacrificed yourself to save me… I must be the worst person on the planet!"
Palutena's mouth tightens as she listens to Mario. "Mario. You fought to protect all of us. And I know you're not going to let that Dark Energy take over. told me that you must overcome your Dark Energy yourself, but, we'll still be here to help you when you need it."
"Thanks for the advice." Mario gets up from his bed then feels his wounds from yesterday. The fairy and 's medicine had lessened the pain a lot, but his body still aches.
"You should really get some rest. I'll get you breakfast." says Palutena, and she heads to the Cafeteria to get Mario's breakfast.
"I should really rest…" Mario muses to himself as he turns on the T.V. I traveled around different worlds to train, after all."
By then, most of the Smashers have been healed, or left with minor injuries, so it is easy for Mario to rest… and think. Palutena brings Mario a plate of waffles with whipped cream and strawberries. She wants to ask Mario something, but wonders if it is too soon. But, no one is in the room, and now seems like a good time to talk. "Mario, do you remember what I said yesterday?" asks Palutena.
Mario starts remembering Palutena's confession and looks down to hide his red face. "Yeah." replied Mario. "I remember."
"I confessed to you because I thought I was going to die from Tabuu and I would like to know what you feel for Me." says Palutena, slightly blushing.
Mario looks down at his white sheets. "After all this time, the moment has come." he thinks to himself. "I can finally confess to Palutena my feelings, but, I don't want to start our relationship with my Dark Energy is still in Me. What if it triggers and I accidentally killed her? I don't want anything bad happen to her. To keep it safe for both of us, I have to deny her confession."
Mario breathes in and out. "I'm sorry Palutena, but I don't have the same feelings for you."
Palutena's face turned shocked after Mario's answer. "W- what?"
"It's not you, it's me." says Mario. "We've done a lot together and I still can't figure my feelings out. Somewhere in my heart, there's a spot for Peach that I can't forget. She was the love of my life. You may also think that she's married already, but it's still hard for me to forget this feeling for her. A guy like me doesn't deserve like you. You deserve someone more than me."
Palutena is speechless. She opens her mouth, but no words come out. Mario continues. "I'm sorry… I think we should… just be friends. Ok?"
Palutena stands there, her body trembling with shock. Tears now prick her eyes, but she tries her best to blink them away. "I-I don't believe this." she whispers.
"Are you ok, Palutena?" asks Mario.
"No I'm not ok!" angrily says Palutena, surprising Mario with her tone. "After everything we've done together and that's your answer? We done missions together, go out a lot, and laugh together a lot . I even risked my life for you so I could tell you how I feel. I can't believe you still think that way, Mario. I thought you changed. I thought you forgot your feelings for Peach and you moved on. I guess I was wrong."
Mario stares at Palutena and watches her tears going down from her eyes. "P- Palutena."
"That's enough!" angrily says Palutena. "I don't want to hear anything from you anymore. I hope you're happy to what you said to someone that loved you."
Palutena runs out the room, leaving Mario by himself in the Nurse's Office. Mario stares at the open door. "Palu-tena!" he tries to call out, but his voice fails him. He didn't know she would react like that. He thought she'd just respond with an 'okay' or 'I'll wait'. Mario hasn't seen her this sad since the time he helped her come back to the mansion when she was feeling inadequate. What kind of person was he?
That afternoon, Link and Pit come to the Nurse's office. "Hey Mario, you feeling all right?" asked Link.
"Yeah, I'm okay." replies Mario.
Link raises an eyebrow. "Really? You don't sound okay."
"Yeah. Did something happen?" Pit asks, wondering if he should be asking this so soon after the fight with Tabuu.
Mario looks up at his friends. "Palutena said she loved me…" he whispers.
Link and Pit listen patiently, but when Mario doesn't say anything, Link prompts him. "And…"
"I told her that I don't have the same feelings for her." Mario says.
"What do you mean?" asks Link.
Mario tells them about Palutena's confession, what he told her that morning, and her reaction.
Link and Pit look stunned. "Why don't you feel the same?" asks Pit. "I thought you two were getting along very well."
"I didn't really mean it," Mario explains. He picks up the empty bottle on his bedside table and twists it in his hands. "I do feel the same for Palutena. I just don't want to confess right away. You know what happened during the fight with Tabuu. I don't want to hurt her! I need to deal with my Dark Energy first, then I'll confess to her properly. I just wish I know how."
Link and Pit nod solemnly. Then, Pit's eyes light "The reason why there's a Pittoo is because of a mirror called the Mirror of Truth. This mirror is what created Dark Pit. When you look into it, it'll bring out your dark side, literally. Dark Pit turned out okay, but I was thinking, if you looked in the mirror…"
"Then, it'll take my Dark Energy…" Mario muses to himself. I guess that's our best choice." He thinks for a while, then nods. "I'm going to defeat my Dark Energy and confess to Palutena my true feelings."
"That's the spirit, Mario. We'll help you find the Mirror of Truth." says Link.
"We'll go tomorrow," says Mario. "I need to stay here and rest up."
" won't let you leave early, will he?" Link asks knowingly.
Mario nods, an amused smile stretching across his face.
"That's too bad." says Pit. "We're going to Smash city to get a milkshake. Want one?"
"Sure. Strawberry please." replies Mario.
"You got it!" Pit says, and they leave Mario to rest and think about a future free of darkness with his goddess of light, wondering if it is really meant to be.