I had a huge urge to write a Halloween story then I remembered I had this one. I just felt like no one cared about it, only one review and all. But I'm giving this story another chance. Reviews aren't everything after all. If I'm entertaining someone, then that should be reward enough. I just can't help wondering if people do care about this little fic lol. Well, enjoy this chapter. We are almost there, if you are reading, just hold on. The ride had yet to begin, but we're are getting close ;)
Ada T. carried a box into the building, her eyes wide in excitement. After working as a secretary for the Mushroom Chronicle, she had finally been notified yesterday of a promotion. Now she would be part of a team that went out and did research for the paper. It was a very important job and she looked forward to it. It was her dream to work for the Chronicle and that dream would finally be realized today.
"Welcome." A tall female toad with cinnamon colored spots on her cap, Sandy T. smiled at her, ushering her into the room, "Your desk is this way, I recommend you purchase a calendar later to keep up with important events."
Ada just nodded and followed Sandy past several cubicles where Toads typed at computers, to a lone cubicle against the wall, "This is your work area, remember to keep it tidy. Assignments will be tucked in your mailbox, check your box everyday. I hope you enjoy working with us, we're happy to have another member on the team. If you have any questions, just ask."
"Thank you." Ada shook hands with the toad and looked down at the empty desk. She sat down, almost hesitating. She could not believe she was finally here. She rested her hands on the cold silver colored table and closed her eyes, a smile on her face. Maybe dreams really did come true.
00oo00oo00oo00~
"B-bro, are you sure about this?"
Mario straightened his hat as the jeep turned down the forest path, "Yes, it's our job to keep this kingdom safe."
Luigi sighed and glanced out the open window. Princess Peach had begged them to check out the crime scene, she said that most of the toad investigators were scared off, only having enough time to collect miniscule evidence. So it was up to the Mario brothers to solve this mystery. Luigi had defeated ghosts in a haunted mansion but this was going a bit too far, those ghosts sounded like cotton candy and rainbows compared to this adventure. It hadn't even started yet and the green man was getting the quivers…
The jeep the princess had thoughtfully supplied for them was a small but suitable machine for the terrain they were on. The path was getting bumpier as they went. They were taking a different path into the forest then the main, hoping to pick up something strange on the way.
So far all they saw was nature. Tree…tree…bush…log….tree….tree. Luigi was actually feeling pleasantly bored. The sunshine leaking down on them from the leafy foliage above was warm on his cap and a cool forest breeze tickled his mustache. It didn't seem like the sort of place where murders took place. It was actually a very beautiful day.
The vehicle turned down another path, this one deeper into the forest. It was a little darker through here, but still fairly sunny. From what the official's said, they were about half way there, first they would have to turn down another path. They drove for a few minutes before Luigi spotted something.
"Left bro!" He spoke to soon and they missed the turn. Mario turned around and they started down the path at a steep decline. Soon the ground leveled out and Luigi let go of his hat. He didn't want to have to leave the safety of the vehicle if it had flown off.
Soon they had reached the area and the stopped the jeep right at where the crime scene tape was hanging from tree to tree, barring any further movement into the area via jeep.
The two got out of the car, Luigi last. The moment his feet hit the ground he was scanning the area like a hawk. Mario crept under the tape, his taller brother Luigi merely jumping over, doing what he did best. The two looked around the clearing, Mario's eyes pausing where the grass was darker. It was obviously blood, and seeing it got his heart thumping. Luigi also noticed the stain and paled. Whatever had done this meant business, there was a lot of the stuff.
They cautiously stepped around the blood and tire treads and began their investigation. Luigi went a bit to the right of the clearing, where he kneeled down to peer into some bushes, and Mario went into the trees.
"Weegee!" Luigi heard his voice and he jumped a foot into the air.
"What?" Luigi quickly ran over to see what Mario wanted and stopped in his tracks. He stood right next to his brother and was shocked at what he saw. On the thick bark of the tree before them, was a clear handprint. It was small and obviously that of a toad, but it went high over their heads…so it meant that whatever killed him was pretty big; that or the toad attempted to climb, but they seriously doubted that was the case. There was only one handprint.
A twig snapped nearby and Luigi yelped, and twisted around his hat askew on his head. There was nothing there.
Calm down Luigi…relax, Luigi told himself, I'm sure Mario can handle whatever this thing is…I hope.
00oo00oo00oo00~
The party didn't go on after all, and Daisy was still bugged by that. Peach was still feeling on edge so the two girls decided on a spa date.
Daisy was currently relaxing by the poolside, while Peach sat in the shallow part of the water, her long blond hair pinned to the top of her head. Her lips were pursed, her eyes deep in thought. She looked stressed out still and Daisy sat up in her seat, "Seriously Peachy, try to relax."
"I'm sorry Daisy," Peach sighed, "I'm just so worried about everything."
"Meh, Mario and Luigi can handle it. Luigi can be a coward but I know he can get the job done, we talked about the murder and he was pretty upset. He wants to help figure this thing out with Mario."
"Daisy…what if they can't do it?" Peach said softly, her head resting on the poolside.
The other princess looked down at her, surprise clear on her face. Did Peach just say…" So you don't think they can do it? After all these years of him saving your rear and you actually think something like that?"
Princess Peach flushed, "Well…I-I…"
Daisy scowled and slipped on her sunglasses, "Just relax Peach! At least try? You're stressing me out over here."
"I…okay Daisy. I will." Peach rested her head on her arm; "I just can't help worrying for them, don't you worry about Luigi?"
"Duh, of course! I'm only calm about it because I have faith that he will be okay, I believe in him. Don't you believe in Mario anymore?"
Peach closed her eyes. He had always been there for her. Climbed unimaginable heights for her…fought for her on a daily basis. Could she not have faith in him? "You are right Daisy, forgive me." Princess Peach smiled, "I believe in him. I always have."
Daisy grinned, "That's the spirit." She waved a hand up in the air, "Hey, someone bring us something tangy to drink! Lots of ice!"
00oo00oo00oo00~
Ada had decorated her cubicle just the way she wanted and sat at her desk when she finished, running a hand through her shoulder length red hair. What to do now…oh! Didn't Sandy say something about a mailbox?
The toad girl stood up and glanced outside her desk. Hanging outside the cubicle wall was a small box. She lifted up the top and pulled out a paper.
Welcome to your first day on the job. We are happy to have you with us at Mushroom Chronicle! To start you off we have a few easy jobs for you until you are ready for the big stuff. Listed below are your assignments:
Do a grammar check on documents: Re1350 and Re1358 in your computer files
Print out the pictures in the 'Page 2' folder on the desktop, only the ones marked with the letters 10 at the end.
When finished with the above please speak with Sam T. the main researcher and on the field worker in the Chronicle, he will take you on your first field job. You will work as his assistant.
Ada quickly went to work on the grammar checking, excited for the last assignment. She would get to leave the office and head out into the kingdom for some research with one of the top dogs in the Chronicle. What a dream come true for sure! The girl grinned as she scanned the articles for any mistakes, looking forward to the rest of her day.
She finished objective one quickly and moved to print the pictures, she did this in a snap and stacked the fully printed pictures onto her desk. She then walked to Sandy's desk.
"Umm, hi. Do you know where Sam T. is?"
Sandy looked up from the screen, "Yes, he is at the end of that hall." She pointed to her right, "He has his own office. It's the one with the mail box labeled 23."
"Thanks!" Ada quickly moved down the hall, her heart abuzz with excitement. Soon she had reached the door and without thinking, she opened it.
A toad with a yellow cap with white spots rolled his eyes at her, "Doesn't anyone knock anymore?"
Ada closed the door quickly, feeling flustered. Stupid…stupid..
"You silly goose! Get in here!" She heard the laughter in Sam's voice and opened the door, her face red like a cherry. How embarrassing.
Ada stood awkwardly by the door, "Hello, I'm-"
Sam waved a hand at her, "Yes, I know, take a seat please."
The toad girl carefully took a seat in front of his desk, eyeing the pictures and plaques on the walls. She told herself to relax, but every moment she sat there her heart seemed to race faster in her chest.
"So, have you heard of the murder, of course you have, everyone has. Well that's what we're going to be investigating." Sam grinned at her expression of shock.
"I-I, that's…you want…me? But-" Ada stammered.
"Yes, lets think of it as an adventure." Sam kept smiling at her, almost mischievous in appearance, "Unless of course, you don't think you can handle it."
"Oh! No, I mean yes, of course I can handle it. I really want to work here and I will help you with the investigation." Ada gave him a nervous smile, "Its just that, it seems like an awfully big thing for someone inexperienced like myself, I was just hired."
Sam just stacked some papers on his desk and shook his head, still smiling, "That's the beauty of it. Fresh faces are always welcome. Half the people in this place, I'm getting tired of seeing their mugs." He laughed, "And your not the only one sweet heart, I'm also bringing another gal along."
Ada perked up. Another? Well that was a relief she supposed, "Oh."
Sam stood up and pressed a button on his wall, "Trini, can you send Mia to my office please. Thanks."
They only had to wait a moment before there was a soft knock on the door.
"Come in Mia."
A small toad entered wearing a yellow dress, her spots a similar sunshiny yellow on a snow-white surface, the complete opposite of Sam's cap. She looked at them with wide eyes, her little hands clasped in front of her, trembling slightly, "Y-yes sir, um, you called me?" Ada stared in surprise at the girl. He wanted to bring this timid looking thing on an investigation of a MURDER?
"Take a seat next to Ada please." Sam nodded at the girl who moved to do as he asked.
Mia glanced at Ada for only a second before nervously averting her gaze to the toad in front of her.
This was going to be fun, Ada thought dryly.
00oo00oo00oo00~
After an hour of trekking through thick woodland and tripping over brush (Luigi) the two brothers took a break near a trickling stream. They had found not much else at the crime scene and had decided to head deeper into the forests to see if anything else could be discovered.
Throughout this venture, Mario was most definitely the calmest, like this was no big deal to him. Luigi on the other hand was a quiver. As he pulled out a small plastic bag with a sandwich in it he had brought for lunch his hands shook so much that he accidently dropped it into the water with a 'plop'.
Mario was too busy eating and gazing about at the forest around them to notice; Luigi just stared at the currents of water where his lunch had disappeared and sighed. He couldn't wait until this day was over.
VRMMMM
"YEEEEEK!" Lugi jumped several feet in the air with a cry of terror, his hair standing on end.
The green clad brother landed and glanced side to side, noticing finally that Mario wasn't panicking. He groaned out loud when he saw the phone in his brother's hand, "Mario!"
He watched, slightly annoyed, as Mario typed something into the phone (which was pink, probably one of Peach's). After awhile he tucked the phone away, "We have to head west now, and check out some abandoned buildings Weegee."
"I am not looking forward to that." Luigi took off his hat and smoothed his hair back, "This whole thing is giving me the shakes Mario, you know how I am in these situations."
Mario nodded, straightening his own hat as he stood up, "I know Weegee, but I need you. We're a team remember? We don't get to do many things together anymore. Let's bring back the old days, what do you think?"
"I…didn't know you felt that way Mario." Luigi gave him a confused look, "Seeing you and the Princess…well, I guess maybe I drifted away because…I didn't want to get in the way of things. It always felt…awkward when you two were talking, in your own space. So I gave you some room, you know?
Mario gave him a curious look, "Really? Weegee why didn't you tell me this before?"
Luigi felt embarrassed and pulled his hat over his ears a little, "Well, I guess it never came up…a right time not available…uh I don't know."
Mario placed a gloved hand on his brother's shoulder. "Let's try and do more things together, maybe…." Silence.
Luigi gave Mario a confused look, "What-"
"Shh." Mario's eyes were narrowed, he glanced over Luigi's shoulder, and the green brother felt his neck prickle in fear. Was something coming up behind him? His eyes widened in fear, he stared into his brother's eyes that were looking far behind him, looking for some clue of what was going on, too freaked out to look for himself.
A twig snapped and Luigi freaked, launching into the air forward. He immediately dived straight into the stream, too spooked to think about it.
Mario heard the splash but kept his eyes forward, in a battle stance. Whatever it was it was getting closer…
Suddenly…
"Hey!"
"EEEK!"
"Oh."
Mario blinked in confusion at the three toads in front of him. The toad girl at the front was just looking at him curiously. One behind was cowering, the little thing looking ready to faint, pale with fear. The one a bit to the right was taller and male, carrying a shoulder bag, which appeared to hold a laptop. He looked Mario up and down and grinned, pushing past the other two.
"Well, what a surprise! The famous Mario, nice to meet ya!" He grabbed up Mario's hand and began shaking it vigorously, Mario too surprised to say anything right away.
"Mario?" The taller toad girl stepped forward, "Are you here to find the murderer? Wow, its amazing to see you in person, this is such an honor."
The short one just followed the other, glancing behind her nervously, playing with the frilly hem of her dress.
"Wha?" Luigi had surfaced and was half out of the water, his hat hanging on his head like a wet dead thing, sopping wet. He looked at them with an incredulous expression and groaned. He dragged himself out of the stream, and stood there, his clothes sagging damp on his frame, looking like the face of misery.
Mario had to hide a grin, which was easy with his stache and nodded at the toads, "Yes, that's why we're here, what about you three?"
"We are doing some research." Sam pulled out some papers and flashed them for a second, then tucked them away. "We are with the Chronicle."
"Where are you two going? Will you still be here looking around as well? I'm Ada by the way." The toad girl smiled at him.
"Oh, I am Sam and this is Mia." He nodded at the short toad girl who just nodded back in response.
"Hi." Mia said softly.
"It is nice to meet you, really, but isn't this a bit…dangerous for you?" Mario said.
"Well, yes." Sam said with a small smile, "But we will probably be fine, especially with you two fine figures with us."
The brothers glanced at one another. Luigi cleared his throat, "Well, that's okay and all, but were going to be getting in pretty deep, Mario wants to find this thing and get rid of it as soon as possible. We may actually…err, run into something."
Mia squeaked in fear," No! We can't go with them then. Maybe we should leave…"
Sam glared at her, "Mia for crying out loud, calm down! You're a nervous wreck all the time, this will be good for you."
"Sam, sir, I don't think this sounds like a good idea either." Ada crossed her fingers, she didn't want to get dropped on the first day, but this was beginning to sound dangerous, "Maybe we should just look at the area where it happened and just take some notes and leave."
"Yes!" Mia said quickly, "Sounds like a plan, can we go now?"
Sam opened his mouth and there was a rumble of thunder nearby. They all were still, everyone glancing up at the grey clouds visible through the branches above.
"It's going to rain? I guess we should have checked the forecast before coming out here." Ada sighed.
Sam rolled his eyes, "Rain isn't going to make you melt Ada, and I want this story filled to the brim, we need to get some information. We work in the field to gather information for our paper, it takes hard work and dedication." He gave Ada a hard look, "Are you willing to do the work?"
She hated being put on the spot, and pushed back her feelings of frustration, "Of course sir! I-I just don't want to endanger myself in a job! If I wanted to do that I would have looked for a job in construction or something."
"Maybe you folks should get going before you get wet like me." Luigi said, giving them a weak smile.
Mario nodded in agreement, "Yes, this is a risky job, we cant have innocents nearby at risk. This isn't a game."
"I didn't say it was." Sam argued, "We just want to get some valuable pictures and facts then we will be out. In and out, we wont take long."
"Please, " Mia said suddenly, "I-f we have to go…can you…if it's not too much to ask, um, can you escort us to where this happened? I would feel safer…please?"
Ada was silent, but looked from Sam to the Mario's, hoping that they could have company to the zone they were investigating. The thought of running into the killer out here was terrifying. With the Mario brothers at least they would be safe. Hopefully.
No one spoke for a minute then Mario said, "Alright. But if we tell you to do something you do it, no hesitation. If I yell 'run' you run. Got it?"
Sam nodded, "Yes. That will be fine." He looked excited now and pulled out a camera from a bag hanging from his shoulder bag.
There were now a group in the woods, consisting of investigators and heroes. The forest animals were nowhere in sight, as they ventured back to the place where it had happened. The trees around them were silent, holding many secrets. The clouds above darkened and a breeze picked up around them.
Ada tightened her small jacket around her shoulders and glanced up at the darkening sky. She felt something, deep inside herself. That this was not going to be simple, that something big was going to happen. This feeling terrified her, and sent dread deep in her chest. Some sort of intuition, but was it only a blind panic?
Today she would find out, without a doubt, whether the feelings were true or of fearful imaging's. And there was no backing out now. Because once you get on a ride, you can't get off until that ride ends. And this was only the beginning…
This is a real long chapter, seven pages, I hope you enjoyed reading, please review and tell me what you think. Thanks and critiques are welcome! :) Oh! And please review/pm and tell me who you want to live the most, O.C and character (only three at most to make it interesting, though that may or may not effect the story, it depends). Please include at least one O.C in your vote o.o I would hope you wouldn't want to kill off all my creations. Or would you? ^-^