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Author's Note:

Last chapter of the year 2017. Hope you all enjoy it.

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Disclaimer: This following FanFiction story is a fan-based parody. "Mario" and all of its respectable characters are all owned by Nintendo and created by video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Please enjoy; favorite and review whenever you want.

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Chapter 85:
In Too Deep

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"Hey Rocco, hurry up will ya? We got a meeting and everyone has to take part,"

A tall, muscular man roughly stacks a box on top of another. He sighs tiredly as he wipes the sweat from his forehead. Dark green eyes turn to the person who called him – a coworker you could say.

"Be there in a minute," He calls out.

His coworker nods and left with the others to attend the meeting. The man, Rocco as he was called, turns back to the three remaining boxes left with on the floor. He grabs one little effort and continues piling on the boxes on top of each other. He took hold of the last one; it was smaller than all the others. Expecting it to be lighter, he was completely surprise when he lifts it off the ground that it was a lot heavier than it appears.

"Damn it," He curses loudly.

He stumbles forward, causing the box to tilt over and spill some of the contents inside onto the floor. He walks around the box and starts checking on the items. He curses yet again when he saw what it was.

Several explosives were now scattered around on the floor. Thankfully to him, they weren't the type to go off at the drop of a hat.

"Would have been nice if someone threw a warning my way," He mumbles annoyingly as he carefully places them back in the box.

Regardless of his frustration, he doesn't plan on bring it up with his boss. This actually shouldn't have come too much of a surprise to him. After all, these were mobsters he was working with, and this wasn't the first time he handled and discovered illegal items. Besides, he was hired to do a job and complaining about say job would only bring more harm than good. As long as he was getting paid and they get him to where he needs to go, he was satisfied.

After he got everything back inside the box, he quickly rearranges them so that the explosives were on the floor and other non-explosive items were places on top of it. Once his work done, he took a swig of water and hurry off to the meeting he was already late for.

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X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X

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His head was throbbing painfully and vibration from underneath him wasn't helping. Regardless, Luigi tries his best to ignore it as he struggles to break through the spider web that was wrapped around him.

And he wasn't the only one. He could hear and feel someone struggling next to him. He could only assume that it was Paraplonk or maybe one of the other two. He had webbing around his eyes so he really couldn't see what was going on.

Judging from the loud engine and vibration he was feeling, he knew he was on a plane, mostly a cargo plane. Not too far away from him, he could faintly hear some of the Masrestler children's fearful cries and whimpers and he couldn't help but feel guilty about it.

With every minute they were flying, they were traveling farther and farther away from their families. Except for Brianna and the Chief, the children never had to travel so far away from their home before. Luigi remembered the first time he had to leave the comforts of his parents' home. It was scary at first but he had Mario beside him to get him through it. These children didn't have that such luxury and he couldn't do anything to stop it.

'You're not died yet,' Mr. L comments. 'As long as you still have those kids in your sight, there's no reason for you to just quit.'

L was right; he can't just give up. As of right now, the children were under his protection and until they were return to their village, he has to look after them and keep them safe.

He struggles in the web a bit, trying to give himself a good tap down. It seems the smugglers didn't bother removing anything on his person. Good... He still had his wand and some power ups he had stored in his pocket. All he needed now was a good plan and an opportunity.

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Rocco let out a frustrated groan as he struggles to light the cigarette in between his lips. After multiple ties, his efforts were finally rewarded with a successful flame. He lit the end of his roll of finely cut tobacco leaves, taking in a few puffs, inhaling them deep into his lungs and holding it for a second or two before exhaling the smoke up into the air. He glances down at his lighter, taking note on how low the it was.

"Damn," he mumbles to himself before stuffing it away in his back pocket. "Gotta get a new one,"

He stuffs the lighter in his back pocket as he took another deep inhale from his cigarette. Minutes from now, a cargo plane will be arriving to the hideout, carrying some new 'merchandises'. During the meeting, the boss informed them that they were supposed to help with the unloading. He shades his eyes as he tries to determine the time by the position of the sun. If he was right, the cargo ship should be here soon.

"Just got a call from the pilot," His boss, a Doogan, announces to them all. "The plane should be arriving in another ten minutes,"

"Great,"

He sat down on the floor and lean against the building wall. He closes his eyes as his coworkers (Goombos, Dryite Toads, and Boom Booms) began to engage in some light conversations among themselves. He enjoys his cigarette quietly as his mind began to drift off.

He must have doze off because the next thing he knew, he was jerked awake by the sound of a plane. He blinks several times sleepily before yawning and stretching his tired limps. He stood up and walks towards the landing plane.

Sand flew around in the air, and he had to shield himself to protect his eyes. Soon enough the plane was on the ground and the engine was turned off. The cargo entrance in the back opened and the first one to come out was a large black Kumo spider.

'Scorpio,' He reminded himself. He met the Kumo one too many times before. He was not the kind of guy he'll like being in a room with. He was also his boss' boss.

"Welcome back, Scorpio Sir," His boss, Doogma was his name, greets the Kumo as he approaches him. "I hope your get away was successful,"

"I won't call it a get away, but it was successful," Scorpio comments

He turns back to the plane as two of his men starts to bring out the new 'merchandises'. Rocco follows his glance. His eyes widen upon seeing just what the 'merchandises' were.

"Eight Masrestler children…all of them healthy and ready to be sold to the highest bidder,"

"An excellent catch, Sir," Doogma comments as he examines the children walking pass him. "There's been some talk while you were away. From what I have heard the price for Masrestlers has gone up; if we play our cards just right, we might get up to $45,000 to $60,000 coins for each."

"That's nearly $500,000 coins," Scorpio smirks. "Fate is shining upon us, boys. This new business is going to make us loads of money,"

"Uhm, sir…" a new voice spoke. "If you don't mind me asking,"

"What?" Scorpio snarled at the Goombo standing next to him.

The little mushroom creature shook slightly under his gaze before turning his head/body in the plane's direction. "Uh, we wanted to know…what should we do with them, uh, Sir?"

Scorpio turns his gaze to the plane and Rocco did the same. Scorpio's men had brought out the three individuals he hadn't seen before. One of them was a human while the other two were a Parakoopa and Shy Guy. The Doogan raises a curious eyebrow and asks,

"Who are they?"

"I don't know," Scorpio answered. "They stumbled into the Outpost just last night. They claim to be travelers, but their true intention became clear when I caught this one trying to steal my 'merchandises'." He points one of his many limbs at the hated man in the middle. He was tired up and gagged by Scorpio's webbing, but that didn't stop him from shooting a heated glare in the Kumo's direction. "I'm not sure why they were there in the first place, but I DO want to find out."

"Don't worry sir, we'll get them to talk…one way or another,"

"Good…" Scorpio turns and starts walking inside the Hideout.

"Oh, and one more thing, Sir…" Doogma spoke out.

Scorpio pauses and glances back at him with some annoyance. "What?"

"Should I inform Pharoah about your success? I'm sure he'll be content about today's hall,"

"No need," Scorpio answers while continuing to walk inside. "I'll inform him myself,"

"Yes, Sir," Doogma nods before turning to the henchmen holding down the captives. "Get those three inside. Make sure they're properly bonded for interrogation."

The mention of interrogation didn't seem to suit well for the Parakoopa and the Shy Guy; they started to struggle even harder. Unfortunately for them, the Boom Booms' had a very firm, if not rough hold on them.

Rocco simply stood there as he watched the three getting force into the Hideout. His attention landed on the hated man who was silent and strangely cooperative. As he passes by him, they manage to make brief eye contact with one another before it was cut off as the man was lead inside.

"Hey Rocco," Doogma calls him out, breaking him out of his stupor. "You're not getting paid to just stand there; get to work, would ya?"

The green-eyed man blinks twice before rubbing the back of his neck from slight embarrassment. "Right, sorry about that,"

He strides over to the plane and got to work. Usually, he's put everything he got into his job, good or bad. But after today's discovery, he was feeling less than motivated to do anything. Nevertheless, he wisely kept that to himself and kept working.

'Great…' He mentally sighs deeply. 'I may have gotten myself in a little too deep this time around,'

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Ending Note:

Happy New Year everyone!

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