Authoress' Notes: I'm glad everyone enjoyed the last sad chapter, so here's another depressing one! Also, if you can, I highly recommend listening to Fort Minor's song "Where'd You Go?" while reading Vivian's parts. I guarantee it'll probably make you cry. :(
Better Off Alone
Chapter 16: Forlorn
...She couldn't remember a thing...
It was like a piece of her mind had been erased...
...There was something there, she was sure of it...
At least she thought something was there...
She sat lost and confused amongst a thick fog... Looking in each direction, she saw a figure every now again. It would appear, then disappear and reappear somewhere else...
Something--No... someone was watching her every move.
Was this a dream? A hallucination? A memory? She wasn't sure.
Vivian didn't like this. Her dreams may've been strange, but at least they usually had meaning to them. This one felt dark and dreary, full of nothing but pain and guilt over something that couldn't be helped. She started to walk forward in a blind search for anything that could point her in the right direction of... whatever she was supposed to be doing.
It wasn't long before the fog started to clear up. Its gray haze still left the atmosphere dull and lifeless, but it was an improvement over an ominous abyss. As the mist receded, the surroundings soon became clear to the Shadow Siren.
It was that of a dense forest, full of sunlight and life. The sky was clear and warm, while the ground was nice and sturdy, despite being damp from recent rain. While the environment was beautiful, overflowing with the sounds of spring and the essence of summer, it all lacked color. From the huge, towering trees to several blades of grass sprouting from the ground, it was all so drab and dull. Everything was gray and faded, like an old painting...
What was this place? She'd never been anywhere like here before...Going deeper into the brush, she finally came upon two figures sitting on a steep cliff. They sat comfortably next to each other, admiring the distant ground below. In the foreground, she saw primitive buildings like the ones that used to exist hundreds of years ago. The sky was unusually clear, the air purer than ever before. It was like a giant natural reserve in the middle of nowhere.
But that was impossible... It just didn't make any sense. Where was she...?
"...No, Kevin... We can't do this..." one figure said. Her speaking brought Vivian back to focusing on the two silhouettes.
"Why not?" the other figure, probably this 'Kevin', asked.
"It's not right. This'll never work out."
"What makes you say that?"
"Don't you see?" her tone became frustrated. "It's like a cat falling in love with a dog! We're mortal enemies! We're supposed to be killing each other... like Mother said."
He chuckled conceitedly. "What's it's gonna take for you to get over that? How can we spend time together if you keep worrying about what won't happen? Who cares what everyone else says?"
"Mother would be appalled. If she found out about this, I'm sure she'd kill us both. Who'd look after Vivian if we were caught?"
...What? How did this girl know her name? Furthermore, who was she? And who was the guy with her? This was so confusing...
"Don't worry about it. You look repulsive when you're scared."
She pushed him, which made him laugh. "Shut up."
...From their dialogue, the two seemed like the best of friends. Why should they be mortal enemies? Who where they? And why did she have a feeling she'd seen them before? So many questions...
...Everything started to fade into nothing as she stood there thinking... Pondering... And asking herself 'Why?'
She felt something on her. Something pushing and pulling her body... It sounded like there were several of them, as they uttered and made weird noises to one another... It was like some kind of specific language, but she couldn't understand a word...
Slowly opening her eyes, her vision came into view... but she wasn't pleased at what she saw.
Several hordes of intrigued Spinias crowded around her, investigating this odd newcomer in their territory. They bumped and pushed together, squeaking and squirming to each other in a confused manner.
Letting out a shrill scream, she picked up her sack on a stick and swung it about the group of confused Spinias. They madly spun away in a frantic attempt to escape from this insane creature they once thought was a dead victim. Calming herself down from such a shock, she put a hand to her forehead to quell the pain of those horrible nightmares.
At least she couldn't remember them fully... And everything seemed all right. She was in one piece, everything was still in her bag, and there wasn't a soul in sight.
...Gathering her supplies, the lone siren walked over to an elongated pipe that would hopefully take her to the surface...
...She had to think. She just had to... Her very life depended on it.
Where had all her friends gone? None of them had actually planned on going to the Mushroom Kingdom, so they had to be around somewhere.
Vivian had made it back to Rogueport, swearing to herself to never set foot in Twilight Town ever again. It was full of too much hatred and failure. Now that she was free, she was no longer forced to stay in such a weird place with such weird people...
Then again, who was she to talk? She was weird herself. There wasn't another one like her for miles... and those only ones were her sisters.
Fortunately, the town didn't look much different last time. Actually, it seemed a lot more friendly...
The few residents loitering about didn't seem crude or deceitful. She didn't spot a single thief, thug, or Bandit and even noticed several beautiful flowers growing nearby. An old, stone fountain placed next to a wall continuously pumped out and took in clean water, as its soft trickling created a sense of tranquility around the surrounding area. There was a quaint shop no more than a few feet away, along with a few houses, and a corridor leading to what she remembered were the city limits. Sure, it was no Poshley Heights, but then again, what was? It still looked like a pretty nice neighborhood. She wouldn't mind living here for a while...
Leaving the somewhat fancy streets of the West Side, she wandered into the middle of town, eventually settling down behind a mass of old barrels and crates next to a fence. Lost in her thoughts, she suddenly found herself brought back to reality with the grumbling of her stomach. The Shadow Siren glanced at her bag, thinking of the three Golden Leaves inside.
Should she really eat one now? It seemed a bit too soon... But maybe finding a new place to live wouldn't be so hard. Maybe she was just overreacting earlier. The West Side of Rogueport certainly had potential for starting a new life... and she had to admit she was curious as to the taste of an undisturbed Golden Leaf.
Untying her bag from its stick, she pulled out a Golden Leaf. Holding it up to carefully observe its texture, the ochre hue sparkled brilliantly in the little sunlight reflected upon it. Vivian never realized how golden it really was. The newly-expressed colors made her happy in a small, childish kind of way... She took a small bite out of it and sampled its taste. Swallowing, she shrugged; the flavor was somewhat bland, although it did remind her a little of Honey Syrup. She continued munching her meal, surveying the harbor from a distance.
Ships pulled in, letting sailors off with their supplies, while other ships pulled out, first mates hanging up the anchor and allowing the cloud-white sails to fly on their masts. Watching them dock and set sail like that made her think about Mario and the others...
The plumber himself was back in the Mushroom Kingdom at the moment, probably getting recognition for saving the princess once again. It was highly unlikely he'd come back anytime soon... But she had six other friends just waiting to see her again. One of them would help back on her feet; maybe get her a house, some money, and a job nearby. Maybe after a while, she could go to the Mushroom Kingdom and become one of Peach's associates. She seemed like a very nice person; a sweet, warm, nice person whom she admired for her grace and beauty. They'd be such close friends and she could live in the castle and everything'd be happy for once...
But before she could see Peach, she had to the get to the Mushroom Kingdom, and before she could do that, she had to get in touch with her friends. The easiest place to start was right here in Rogueport, as Professor Frankly would undoubtedly lend her a hand. Goombella would've been more than happy to see her again, and vice versa.
Frankly's house was only a feet away, just past the barrels and boxes rested on. Suddenly inspired by her fondest wishes coming true, Vivian made her way through the olden archway and over to the professor's place.
How glad she was to finally have friends she could depend on, especially the ones who didn't live hundreds of miles away. Goombella was probably her favorite out of the group, as she admired her spunk and sassy attitude. Excited about seeing her again, she was about to eagerly knock when a note tacked on the door suddenly caught her eye:
"To Whom It May Concern: I have temporarily left the premises in order to accompany a student in an expedition around the surrounding continents of our beloved Mushroom Kingdom. Back in 2 weeks," it read.
Two weeks? Vivian frowned. How could Goombella leave the group so fast, then turn right around and go on a field trip?
She couldn't help but feel a little rejected by that. Perhaps things weren't looking up for her, after all...
But with the disappointment of missing Goombella came the remembrance of Waffles, who often had a beef with her. While he had to be her least favorite ally, on account of his cheeky behavior, he still wouldn't hesitate to help out a friend in need... Before he left, he mentioned something about a 'Glitz Pit' and how he always wanted to fight there.
She racked her brain to think... Where was this Glitz Pit place? And how did Mario get there again? She wasn't with him the first time, but heard Goombella rambling on about it on a few occasions...
Retreating to the West Side of Rogueport, she began looking around for anyone that might've known anything about this 'Glitz Pit'.
Koops opened his eyes and awoke to the sound of breakfast sizzling downstairs. It wasn't long before the sweet smell of waffles and syrup graced his nose, causing him to rise from his dreary state. He yawned and took a deep breath. It was about 9 in the morning; an odd time for him to awaken, but it wasn't all that unusual.
He sat in silence for a moment, waiting for the rest of his body to wake up, all the while collecting on thoughts from his breathtaking adventure with Mario. Something like that wouldn't leave him for a good, long while...
After washing up and slipping on his old, blue jacket, he went downstairs. To do what, he didn't know. Maybe go outside and take a stroll to get reacquainted with all of Petalburg. Perhaps he'd talk to the locals and get caught up with the time he'd been missing. It was seldom often for anything big to happen there since Hooktail's defeat, but when something did come up, it was in everyone's best interest to know about it.
Lost in thought, he continued to grip the rail of the staircase, making his way to the living room. It never once crossed his mind where the source of the freshly-cooked breakfast originated from, despite their smells enticing his nose ever since awakening. He didn't think much of it as he reached the bottom and surveyed the scenery that was the living room of his father's house.
Everything was deathly silent, almost to the point he could hear the stream of a faint beeping sound in his ears...
It'd been so long... he thought.
So long since he'd seen those same curtains draping over the window next to the door he'd run out and dash back in so many times...
So long since his essence had graced the couch in front of the TV, which was rarely turned on after his departure...
So long since the smell of his mother and father graced his nose in a pleasant feeling of love and fond memories...
Yes, this was home, but it took him until now to realize it. He walked away from the staircase and gently fingered the couch's arm, recollecting on thoughts from happier times. Through all the hustle and bustle of saving the world, his mind now set itself at ease with the aid of being here. Being home.
He'd survived the dangerous threats of his mission and this was his reward: to come back and remind himself that the coat hanger was over near the slim bookcase, the remote was always waiting on the glass-top table placed in front of the couch, and the decorative rug on the floor was not for cleaning off your shoes.
There truly was no place like home.
Much to his dismay, his passionate thoughts were interrupted by Koopie Koo coming up from behind.
"Good morning, Koops!" she giggled, giving him a hug. "I made your favorite for breakfast today; Waffles with Honey Syrup and Fried Eggs with Fresh Juice. I thought I'd try my hand at making some food by Zess T.'s routine for once!"
"Yeah..." He muttered halfheartedly, not wanting to be bothered at the moment.
"Don'tcha think it turned out great? Why, I wouldn't be surprised if I became a gourmet chef!"
He walked into the kitchen and noticed his food on the table, stopping to take a glance. Just like Koopie Koo said, it consisted of two steaming hot waffles covered in oozing Honey Syrup, along with a pair of Fried Eggs fresh off the frying pan, grilled sunnyside up, just the way he liked him. The entire thing was topped off with the sprinkling of Turtley Leaf bits to give it a touch of nostalgic flavor, as he used to eat the native leaves when he was younger. Zess T. herself would've been proud; the whole dish was original, yet truly basic. It was made just the she would've wanted it.
But all of a sudden, their smells made him cringe... It made him sick to even look at its alluring display and welcoming gesture. His stomach quickly decided wasn't really hungry for warm breakfast today.
"Looks good..." he lied, looking into the refrigerator for something else.
Koopie Koo looked offended, then became worried. "Koops, what's wrong? Is something bothering you? You've been acting so weird lately."
"No, nothing's wrong. I'm just not hungry right now..."
He shuddered as he remembered how Vivian used to say that.
She put a hand on his shoulder. "Well, maybe you just have an upset stomach."
He shrugged. "Maybe..."
"Well, all right," he heard her say, accompanied with the clatter of her picking up his dish and utensils from the table. "I'll just put this away until you feel like eating it, then."
With a yawn, he ferreted through the fridge to look for another source of food or refreshment. He went past eggs, milk, soda, leftover Fried Shroom, a pitcher of Koopa Tea...
Finally, he came across a batch of Mushrooms next to a carton of grape juice. He hadn't had that in a long while, so he poured himself a glass and grab three Mushrooms. Maybe that would make feel better, even though he wasn't sick to begin with... or was he?
...His musings were suddenly interrupted by someone ringing the doorbell. Placing his grape juice on the table, he called "Coming!" and went to answer it.
He opened the door, ready to greet someone, but saw nothing. Confused, he looked to the left, then right and frowned. Surely, someone wasn't trying to play a prank on him... were they?
"Hey, Koops! Down here!" said a familiar voice.
Quickly looking down, he smiled as he saw an old friend. "Goombella!"
"Yeah, long time, no see, huh?"
"What're you doing here?"
"The professor and I just found out what the 'ancient treasure' of the Thousand-Year Door was and I decided to do some research on it... A lot of research..."
"Oh." He was almost afraid to ask. "...So, what was it?"
Goombella shook her head. "It was just a stupid Dried Shroom! Of all of things!"
He laughed at the irony. "Really? So, that's what everyone was talking about? That's the treasure of the Thousand-Year Door, with all the magic and power and stuff?"
"Yeah, I know... Bummer, huh?" She stuck out her tongue. "The professor said it may've been an Ultra Shroom once in its lifetime, but it's way past its prime now..."
"Oh, well that's too bad. You win some, you lose some, I guess..." Suddenly out of things to say, he remembered something. "...Uh, not to change the subject or anything, but... have you seen Vivian anywhere lately?"
She frowned. "Sorry, I haven't seen her since we left Rogueport. She's probably back with her sisters in Twilight Town."
His expression also saddened. "Oh... uh, okay. Forget I asked."
"...Well, I just stopped by to tell you I'm going on a little trip around the Mushroom Kingdom to look for more clues on what happened with the Shadow Queen the Four Heroes. It's too bad we saved the princess when we did; there're still a lot of unanswered questions that don't add up, so I'm going to conduct some research of my own."
"You don't really think that Four Heroes nonsense is true, do you?"
"Of course I do! I know it sounds a little farfetched, but I've got a notion to believe it really happened. Hasn't anyone ever told you their tale before?"
"My mom did when I was a little kid, but I never thought it was nothing more than a tall tale..."
"Believe what you want, Koops, but as an aspiring archaeologist, I feel I have to uncover the mystery and prove the facts for the benefit of the future as we know it!"
"It's good to see you got off to such a good start..." He looked around. "But where's Professor Frankly? Isn't he coming with you?"
"Well, I thought we could try traveling together just for the experience, but the sewers really proved too much for him, so he decided to go back. We just mail each other back and forth to keep touch."
"Oh, I see..." He scratched his head, out of things to say again. "Uh... do you wanna like... come in for some Koopa Tea and rest awhile?"
"No thanks. I actually checked into the inn late last night and didn't leave too long ago, so I'm good. I only came to talk so you guys won't think I'm a total spaz for leaving and not telling anyone. I'm kinda in a hurry, so I think I'll just go see Waffles before I leave, since I'd really like to study more on the history of the Glitz Pit. If anyone comes looking for me, let 'em know I'm out."
"In that case, take this." He handed her a Mushroom and smiled. "For good luck. It must've been brutal getting here through the sewers."
"Oh, thank you! That's so sweet!" She happily accepted it and turned to leave. "I'll be sure to bring back a souvenir for everybody when I get back. See ya!"
He waved. "Have a great trip! I hope you find what you're looking for!"
Koops stood there watching until she disappeared from view, past the vast, green hills of flowers and the nearby stream outside Petalburg. He turned around and closed the door with a smile.
What a pleasant surprise to see her again so soon.
It made him feel appreciated, like the six friends he'd made over the journey turned out to be real ones. The ones who wouldn't laugh or make fun of him like the so-called 'friends' he had when he was little. They were true-blue, the kind that was nearly impossible to find.
Taking his remaining Mushrooms and grabbing his grape juice from the kitchen, he retreated to his room to eat in peace. He couldn't exactly explain how or why... but he was feeling a little bit better now...
After asking a few residents about the Glitz Pit, a small Toad on the West Side finally pointed Vivian in the right direction, saying that since the Glitz Pit was in the sky, a blimp was the only way to reach it. She'd never flown on anything before, and the very thought of having to control it intimidated her. Regardless, she followed his directions and soon spotted a Cheep-Cheep-esque blimp in the distance. Her spirits lifted, she started to make a dash for the pipe leading to it, but was stopped by a real Cheep-Cheep guarding the rail. Not wanting to seem rude, she politely spoke to him.
"Excuse me, sir. Is it alright if I can take this blimp to..." she paused to try and think of its name. "Uh... Glitzville?"
"Well, you're going to need a Blimp Ticket. I'm sorry, but you can't ride the blimp without it."
"But... Why?"
"I do apologize, but it's just so hard to trust people these days. If I rented this thing out to someone who didn't buy a ticket to pay for its services and it went missing, I'd be out of a cozy job! You understand where I'm coming from, right? Unless you have a ticket, I simply can't allow you to use our blimp."
After a long pause, she nodded. "...I understand."
Dejected, she turned and simply, if not angrily, walked away. It was for her sake and the Cheep-Cheep's.
What a crazy rule! she thought, an ugly scowl on her face. It wasn't like everyone in the world had enough money to buy a ticket, let alone know where to get one!
Vivian felt like doing something rash; something crazy, something she knew she'd come to regret afterwards... But committing a crime would only make things worse. It wouldn't bring her any closer to finding her friends if she ended up breaking the law out of desperation.
She just had to take it and move on...
It was nearly noon and Koops was actually bored. He sat in the front room staring blankly at the TV as it went on about Bowser being recently spotted in the Poshley Heights area. The eyewitnesses were all stunned and shocked to see the Koopa King in such a remote area of the Mushroom Kingdom. Many of them feared it was some sort of omen, with the entire region doing deathly dark not long afterwards.
But that's over with. Nobody even cares anymore... he thought, changing the channel to some natural documentary on Yoshies.
Koopie Koo had been next to perfect with keeping up with the chores around the house, making impossible for him to do anything at the moment. The only thing Koops had to do was wash his jacket and undershirt, wearing only a plain, indigo shirt while waiting for it to dry. At that time, Koopley walked in.
"Koops, it's a beautiful day outside. Why don't you go out and socialize a little?" He smirked. "Or are you afraid of all your fans planning to ambush you?"
He laughed at his dad's comment, not sure if he was being sarcastic or not. " It's not that big of a deal, Dad. I bet everyone's already forgotten about what I did anyway..."
"Of course it's a big deal!" he exclaimed, startling him. "You need to show a little more backbone! Go out there and show everyone you've got a good head on your shoulders and you're not afraid to show it! You know that's what they want in a mayor: bravery, courage, and a good sense of amiability. And trust me, you've got that all... if you'd just show it a little more often."
Unfortunately, he was right. Although he wasn't old enough to qualify, he was still a worthy candidate and residents would judge him nonetheless. He always said he wanted to be mayor, ever since he was a child. He wanted to be in charge so he could change all the "bad things" about town, like having to eat all your vegetables before dessert and an earlier curfew on weekends.
He was so naive back then... It made him laugh at how simple he used to be.
"Yeah... I guess you're right," he finally said.
"Have I ever not been?" he joked, walking over to the door. "I'm going to the shop and get some Honey Syrup. Want anything?"
He shook his head. "No, I'm good. There're still some Mushrooms in the fridge."
With a nod of understanding, Koopley left. No sooner had he passed the window, the phone rang. Koops didn't know who it could possibly be. No one hardly ever called the house...
Nonetheless, he rose from the couch and answered it. "Hello?"
"Hey, my main Koopa! Can you guess who this is?"
He made a face. "Uh... I think you may have the wrong number..."
The voice scoffed. "For crying out loud! It's me, man! Waffles! Remember? Don't tell me the mayor of Petalburg forgot about his best buds already!"
"Waffles!" Koops' face lit up. "You know I'm not the mayor yet. I just got back home the other day."
"Eh, it could happen... Anyway, how ya doin'? I just wanted to touch base with someone before I get into the fray."
"Oh, you're fighting already?"
"Like it's that hard to get signed up! They were practically begging me to join! And the really cool thing is they'll set me up with double pay for an entire week if I win the first five fights with no help! Next time you see me, I'll have my name up in lights! 'The Great Gonzales Jr.!' Yeah!"
He stifled a laugh. "So... that's your name?"
"Yeah! Gonzales helped inspire it! It's like a... a second coming, you know? Like the return of some guy's apprentice to carry on and finish what he started, just like in those crazy fighting movies, right?"
"Uh huh... Have you beat anybody yet?"
"Nah, haven't even started. I've been out here in this phone booth, looking up everybody's numbers for the last hour, but no one's picking up! Hey, if you see anybody else from the team, tell them to drop me a line. I want you guys to see me kick butt on the stage!"
"I just got done talking to Goombella. She said she might be coming that way soon."
"Cool! We could have an interview or something so she can spread the name of the Great Gonzales Jr. around! All the way from Keelhaul Key to Twilight Town, everybody'll know who I am, just like Gonzales!"
His smile slowly turned into a frown at the mentioning of that dreadful place. Donning a somber tone, he cleared his throat. "Uh, Waffles?"
"Yeah?"
"I know this might sound a little strange, but... You haven't heard anything about Vivian since yesterday, have you?"
"No, why? Is that a bad thing?"
"Oh, no... No, it's not a bad thing. I was just wondering..."
Unbeknownst to Koops, Waffles frowned. "Well, it sure sounded like it."
"No, no. It's not like that."
There was a short pause on Waffles' end as another voice could be heard in the background. The Yoshi turned away from talking and began a conversation with it. Koops held the phone in confusion for a while and was about to hang up when Waffles came back on.
"Hey man, I'd love to talk longer, but I gotta go. I'm fighting a buncha Goombas next, so wish me luck! I'm out!"
The phone abruptly clicked off, leaving Koops to hear the dial tone from the other end. Hanging up, he went back to watching TV.
...But his dad was right, he concluded, glancing at the warm sunbeams coming through a window. It was a great day outside, a lot better than some of the weather on Mario's journey. It was usually way too hot, much too cold, or far too dark to venture off and enjoy the time alone.
He decided to wait until his attire was done washing; he felt naked leaving the house without it...
So, going to Glitzville was out. Who else could she turn to?
Vivian walked into Rogueport's main area once again, a little depressed from being denied contact with Waffles. But her tender heart would eventually cope, as there were still other friends available who didn't live in some fighting arena in the sky...
About that moment, she happened to pass that same noose and wooden platform marking the middle of town. For a moment, if just a second, it forced her to stop and look at it. Watching the roped loop lightly swing in the breeze sent chills up and down her spine. Memories came back to her while looking at its dismal frame...
They were fuzzy and difficult to draw from, but all she could recall was that the noose was a very bad thing she should avoid at all costs. Lillian once told her a story about a careless friend of hers who got caught in one and she never saw her again.
...Revisiting sorrow, she hung over the wooden fence nearby, contemplating her next move. As she sat there thinking, several Toads rushed over from the East Side and ran down the stairway leading to the docks. They all looked like sailors, similar to ones back on Keelhaul Key. Upon closer inspection, they all carried barrels and fish nets, perfect for a ship setting sail on a long voyage. Seeing this made her think of how much of their adventure she missed on the island, due to some stupid Putrid Piranha.
It finally crossed her mind that Bobbery had planned to sail the seven seas and get back to the sailor life he was so accustomed to. He was such a sweet, old guy and she sometimes pitied him for having to maneuver the ship to Keelhaul, despite his great abhorrence of it. She remembered how sometimes he talked about how the fresh, open air of the ocean always put him at ease when it blew past his mustache, and how grateful he was for Mario to return that feeling to him once more. If only more Bob-ombs had that type of outlook on life...
Then it hit her... Maybe he was the one setting sail! Yeah! That made perfect sense! Bobbery had to be in the harbor somewhere! Being the sweet, old guy he was, she imagined him offering to take her straight to the Mushroom Kingdom and see Peach and Mario again!
Excited her theory was right, she quickly followed the Toads. Just as she suspected, a large ship with lots of cargo was about to leave and sailors of many different types ran about with boxes, nets, and food for the trip. Many of them pushed past her in a hurry with utterances of "Move it! Outta the way!" and "Watch where you're goin'!"
Dodging the rude workers, she wandered around in hopes of finding help. Most of the sailors had frightening marks, scars, and tattoos on their bodies earned from the rough life of working on ships. She couldn't help but cower as some of them stared her down with the intentions of doing harm.
Finally, she came across a young Bob-omb sailor reading off a list of supplies behind the stairway. He didn't look too big or scary, so she cautiously approached him.
"Uh, yes? Hello there... Um, do you know if this ship will be going anywhere near Keelhaul Key?"
He looked up at her in shock. "What? No way! You must be outta your ever-lovin' mind if you think we're goin' anywhere near that place!"
She bit her lip, startled by his response. "Well... Have you ever heard of an old Bob-omb sailor? Named Bobbery?"
"You must be new here, little lady!" he laughed. "Of course we know about Bobbery, that old sea dog! He's like a legend around here!"
Her eyes lit up. "Then, could you tell me where he is? Is he in the harbor somewhere?"
"Oh, yeah, I've seen him around the harbor... but you won't find him here anymore!"
"...What?"
"You really must be a newcomer, or else you'd know Bobbery just set sail to destinations unknown yesterday!"
She winced as she felt the agony of defeat slice through her confidence...
"...Really?"
"Really! It was all thanks to that Mario guy from the Mushroom Kingdom for bringin' back his love of the salty ocean! Said he wanted to get back to his roots and set off to freely sail the seven seas like he used to! Why, I wouldn't be surprised if that guy ended up livin' on an island!"
"...Do you think he'd be on Keelhaul, at least?"
"Hmm, I doubt it. Keelhaul's kinda his home base. It's where he crashes to take a break, or somethin' like that. I don't think he'd go there and stay for too long before zoomin' off on his vessel once more."
"I see..." She lowered her head. "Well... thank you for your time..."
Her heart literally fell to pieces as she slowly walked past the big, burly sailors to make her way back upstairs...
The clock in the living room began to chime, reminding everyone it was four o' clock. Ignoring it, Koops sat on the couch reading a book he started before running into Mario a while ago. He'd lost his place and had to start over, but at least it was helping to take his mind off a certain somebody whose name he didn't want to think about...
The door opened then slammed shut as Koopie Koo came in, humming to herself. Along with a bag of groceries, she had several letters in hand. Koops disregarded this and continued reading. He never got any mail other than chain letters, which he didn't approve of.
"Hey, Koops!" she called, placing some letters on the table. "Look, you got some mail!"
"Really?" he asked, taken aback. "You sure it's not for Dad?"
She looked closely at the envelope and showed it to him. "No, it says you name right here. See?"
Taking the envelope, he scoffed as he opened it. "I bet it's one of those dumb chain letters again. You'd think they'd have better things to do, rather than send me this junk..."
Skimming over the contents of the note, he quickly realized he was far from right. He read through it carefully, then again to make sure it was from the right person.
Koopie Koo leaned over, intrigued. "What is it? Who's it from?"
"A friend of mine," he said, more excited than he let on.
"Dear Honorable Koops
I have decided to go on a quite a long trip around the world with some old cohorts of mine. Yes, I know it seems sudden, but that old braggart Flavio has already bought another ship, found a treasure map, and even had the gall to ask me to be its captain! I think this may be a sign from Scarlette that it's high time to revisit the seas once more... Wish me good luck and bountiful adventures, my boy!
Sincerely, Bobbery."
After reading the letter to herself, she asked, "Is that the sailor guy whose wife died?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, that's so inspiring! Koops, why haven't you done something cool like that?"
He heaved a sigh. She probably didn't mean any harm and might've been joking... but did she have to say it in such a degrading way?
"I helped the famous Mario save the world, and that's all you have to say about that?" he replied, trying to play along.
"Yeah, but that was Mario's doing. You guys may've helped him out, but I bet he had to rescue you more than you helped him," she laughed, poking him in the nose. "You've always been such a clumsy Koopa."
He laughed weakly. "I never was very light on my feet..."
He tried not to sound hurt, but he truly was... Koops knew she didn't mean to hurt his self-esteem; she just never realized where the funny jokes ended and the offensive ones began. It was mostly his own fault for never voicing on how it made him feel, allowing her to ramble on and on, delving deeper into his past and pour salt on old wounds.
Looking down and away from her, he absentmindedly searched through the mess of letters on the table. She continued to list examples of how inept he'd been in the past and read through another letter that was probably for her. He didn't care at the moment...
"Koops! Look, look! You got another letter!"
"What?" He raised his head. "Another one?"
She opened the envelope. "Yeah, I'll read it to you."
"Dear Koops
Sorry for the messy writing, but I wrote this letter just a few minutes before leaving Boggly Woods. I'm pleased to announce that not only has my career gotten off to a great start, but I'm getting additional assistance from the real Zip Toad! After hearing about my return to the stage, he proposed a script for his new movie in its early stages. He decided to turn it into a live performance and we've been working on it ever since! We plan on auditioning for only the best and editing nearly everything, so the actual opening night could be months away. But I'll make sure you all get in free, of course.
Fashionable and Fabulous, Flurrie."
Wow... Koops thought, a little shocked.
He didn't really know all that much about the famous actor, but for him to approach Flurrie in hopes of working with her was a rare treat. And it happened so fast, too... Then again, Zip Toad was famous; he could do almost anything. He was probably waiting for her the second she got home. Either way, he was glad for her.
"Hey, this one must be from the actress!" Koope Koo grinned. "It must be nice to be able to travel the world and give people a thrill like that, huh?"
"She might not stop here, though. It's such a small town..."
"Well, who knows? She could come by just because you live here." She took his hand. "If she does, would you take me to see it?"
He managed a wary smile. "Yeah... Of course, I would..."
She smiled. "Great. I'd love to see you portrayed. And your friends, too."
Koops wasn't so sure he felt the same way...
Failure... That's what she was, plain and simple. She was a failure at everything she attempted to do, and failures never got far in life. That had to be the reason for her ongoing bad luck. Who knew so many bad things could happen to such a good person in one day?
Ever since her disappointment at the harbor, things had only gone from bad to worse...
In her haste to get down to the docks, the Shadow Siren failed to realize she didn't take her precious bag, leaving it out in the open for all to see. After realizing it wasn't slung across her back like usual, she rushed back over to the barrels and went through it, hoping against all hope its contents were still there.
But hope was somewhere else that day. It wouldn't be coming for her anytime soon...
The small bag had been completely raided; not one bit of food or money was left. The only thing spared from the greedy hands of its thieves was her blanket, which was the bag itself, and the old book. Vivian was devastated, to say the least.
It was gone, all gone. Her items, her belongings... Her dreams... Gone.
She was on her own now. She had to rely solely on herself and nothing else... The world was her enemy and she was no one's friend.
All of a sudden, her dream of starting a new lifestyle seemed further away than ever before...
...That happened days ago... Or was it hours? Her mind was slowly slipping away and was barely able to keep its focus... Several times she'd gotten lost in her own desperation. It was her worst adversary, yet her only form of solitude.
She'd traveled long and far... Through the twisting maze of Rogueport Sewers and to some other place, too. She didn't know where, though.
The Shadow Siren was looking for someone, someone who'd be nice to her. She couldn't recall her name at the moment, but she was the one who gave her pretty necklace hidden securely in her hair. The Cloud Spirit... she lived down here in the sewers, didn't she?
No, she lived in Boggly Woods... Vivian knew this, she just couldn't remember...
Unfortunately, she also knew Flurrie had planned to immediately leave for the stage and probably wasn't at home...
But she had to try... She just had to...
As much as she hated trekking through the colorless foliage, admiring their beauty and hating the memories they gave her, she was determined to find what she sought.
...That's what brought her here; to this huge tree thing, where she now pleaded to these tiny, docile creatures for their help... For their concern. And possibly, for their pity...
"Please..." her voice quivered with exhaustion, "Please tell me you know where Madame Flurrie is... I really need to know... It's very important..."
"Sorry," squeaked a Puni, "she left in such a hurry to get her tour started, we have no idea where she's gone."
"I'm pretty sure she said something about striking a deal with that famous Zip Toad guy to get some actors for the stage..." said another. "That's all we know, I'm afraid."
Yes, that was always the answer... It always had been and it always would be. Forever and ever and ever in a continuous cycle of relentless animosity until it killed her. Flurrie wasn't in at the moment and wouldn't be back until it was too late to save her troubled friend. Yes, that was always the answer. It wouldn't have been any other way...
She bid a halfhearted goodbye to the Punies and left their tree. Their home. Where they had family and friends... Something she wasn't allowed to deserve. After aiding in the destruction of the Shadow Queen, this was her ultimate punishment. At the rate she was going, expiration wasn't too far behind...
The evening sky changed from blue to lavender, then a soft pink as the sun steadily lowered itself behind the mountains in the distance. Shadows of the natives' houses were cast and hung over themselves over the olive green grass. A single star sparkled amid the clouds above, possibly signifying something... Something trivial and seemingly unimportant, yet full of meaning to those who knew how to look at it. Koops didn't go outside as early as he'd hoped to, but wanted to enjoy the cool night air.
People here and there saw him strolling about and bid him friendly greetings and treated him with respect. It was like they'd all turned over a new leaf. Prior to leaving town a couple of months back, the residents of Petalburg often paid him no heed; not because they were ignoring him, but because he often seemed so uncomfortable talking to others. He was a good guy and all, but sometimes had an issue with socializing. He usually froze up and would stutter, run out of things to say, and ultimately leave in a sudden hurry.
But he wasn't like that. Not anymore... Whatever transpired over the amount of time he spent with Mario built him up with a tough backbone, while failing to change his overall docile nature. It gave him more confidence, better judgment, and taught him how life should be taken one step at a time. He saw the world in a different way, with new opportunities knocking on his door. Maybe it had something to do with puberty and hormones, as he was right in the middle of that awkward stage...
He walked in a mature stride towards Petal Meadows, hands in his pockets, eyes on the ground in a reflective manner. The dirt trails and cobblestone roads slowly turned to fresh, green and grass, with wildflowers growing in every direction. Only Petal Meadows had such things that remained pure and untouched.
Finding a nice, smooth patch of grass near a tree, Koops settled down. He looked up at the evening sky, the setting sun now in the process of coloring it orange like it did at the end of every day... The clouds slowly drifted past, overshadowing him with their lofty nature, then gracefully floated away as another cloud took its place. It usually made him happy to just lay there in the warm grass with Koopie Koo and watch as the stars slowly became visible. The cool breeze would occasionally sweep past them and her hair flowed with it in a mess of orange.
At that moment, her hair made him think of Goombella's ponytail and he smiled. In just the last 24 hours alone, nearly all his friends had contacted him in some sort of way to either talk about what they were doing or ask him the same thing.
It made him feel really loved. He already mailed all of them letters explaining how Goombella was doing this, Flurrie was doing that, and so on. Everyone seemed to be doing fine, especially after going on such a death-defying adventure with one of the most popular heroes in the world. It was like it was their destiny to be a part of something so amazing and full of wonderment.
Yeah, it was a good feeling to be surrounded by so many friends... But it didn't satisfy him...
Sure, everybody seemed to be doing well... But that wasn't good enough...
Because he had no idea where she was...
Where had Vivian gone? That's what he wanted to know. The answer to that simple question would put his mind to rest and settle his disturbed conscience.
But what if the answer he was seeking turned out to be an awful one he'd rather not know? What if her sisters had done something horrible to her? What if she was cornered by a pack of bloodthirsty Chomps in a cold, dark alley with no hope of escape? What if she was being held against her will by a perverted lunatic?
This entitled him to worry about her well-being. It was clear his concern for Vivian had turned into despair. Even if she was doing fine and living on her own, he still wanted to see her again.
Looking at the orange sky becoming red, then slowly changing into a creamy purple, her image came to mind.
Sweet and innocent... Lost and confused... Lovable, but self-hating... Perky, yet sad... He pitied her so much...
Maybe one day, he'd take her out somewhere quaint where they could sit and talk about things on a more delicate level. Koops wanted to learn more about Vivian and he wanted her to know he was always available if she ever needed help.
He was in the middle of picturing the siren curling her fingers nervously in that pink mane she called her hair, smirking shyly from a complement when a pair of hands obscured his vision. Startled, he flinched, uttering a small grunt of shock.
"Guess who?" said a sly, feminine voice.
For a split second, he thought it was Vivian, appearing from the shadows and coming back to see him once again... But his senses told him otherwise. The Shadow Siren didn't have a sly voice and the hands were too small to be hers. Raising an eyebrow, he made a guess.
"Ms. Mowz?"
She removed her hands and laughed. "What gave it away?"
He smiled and turned to face her. "I have my ways."
"I'm sure you do. I've just returned from Hooktail Castle with a few more findings," she bragged, showing him several odd-looking badges. "What have you been doing lately?"
"Well, nothing really. Enjoying the quiet life, I guess."
"After going on that expedition, I don't think any of us have the right to call our normal living standards hectic, am I right in saying so?"
"Yeah, I guess so..."
She cocked her head in confusion of his somber tone. "Is there something wrong? You sound... perplexed."
"Um, Ms. Mowz..." he looked at her again, seemingly desperate for a positive response. "Tell me... Have you seen Vivian lately? I know it's only been a day, but... I haven't heard anything from her. Neither has anyone else. You've been to Twilight Town, haven't you? You must've at least heard about her..."
"My sincerest apologies, but I haven't heard from her either. I feel she's gone into a reclusive state. Maybe it's better that we leave her alone for now. You know how vague she is."
"But..."
"I understand you're worried, but sometimes people need to be left alone. Like you said, it's only been a day; just give her a while. Why, I bet she's at home right now, teaching her sisters a well-deserved lesson about how they should respect her from now on."
Could that be possible? he thought. Vivian was very headstrong when it came to how she wanted to be treated, even if it took some coaxing to bring out. He laughed to himself as he pictured Marilyn and Beldam wearing dunce caps with Vivian standing over them, wielding a rolled-up newspaper.
"I guess that makes sense..." he finally said.
"If you'd like, I can post a request on the Trouble Center for her when I go back to Rogueport. I'll offer some of these new badges for the reward. I'm sure something'll come up sooner or later."
He looked at her in disbelief of her offer. "Really? You'd do that... for me?"
"Of course. I always love to help allies, as my karma will be good to me someday. It's starting to get dark, so I'd better go before it's time to close up shop," she turned to leave, but not before winking. "Let us meet again soon, dear. It was wonderful to see you again."
Koops didn't have time to say goodbye before she disappeared into the nearby patches of wheat and literally vanished.
The Shadow Siren sat huddled behind a wooden near the Rogueport Inn. Looking up, she noticed it was starting to get dark and Bandits were becoming more and more common on the streets. She looked down into her almost empty bag and sighed.
What an awful day this had been... She couldn't find any of friends... It was like the world was against her...
Shivering as a long, cold breeze swept by, she rubbed her arms in an attempt to keep warm. She couldn't even check into the inn because some stupid thief took almost all her valuables. ...It would've been nice to see the friendly Toad innkeeper again. Vivian glanced at the building, its soft beds and warm seeming so close, yet so far away. Her mind began to wander again and she soon found her gaze drifting past the inn and resting on an overpass that lead to another store.
Wait... Another store? Vivian looked again. She'd never seen that before...
Maybe it was another inn, or a shelter of some sort where you didn't have to pay anything for a stay. Could it even be a refuge? What if it was something dangerous, like a gang's hideout? Whether or not she wanted to take the chance of walking into danger, she had no choice at this point. It wasn't like she had had anything else to lose...
Going through the inn, she avoided the loitering customers on the first floor and went upstairs. It didn't look like the innkeeper was in at the moment; no one was up there, not even guests. Despite this, she walked through the room until she spotted a door. She opened it first, making sure the platform was steady enough to walk on and followed it until she arrived at the unknown building.
Walking inside, she saw a sparkling array of badges, both rare and common, displayed on a counter with prices labeling them. Were they being offered as souvenirs?
"Well, good afternoon to you, little lady!" someone shouted.
The screaming made her hair stand on end. Out the corner of her eye, she saw that a small, yellowish rodent was the source of the noise.
"Is there anything I could possibly help you with today?"
Teeth gritted from the volume, she managed to ask, "Um... What is this place? Do you offer shelter here?"
"Sorry, ma'am! I'm afraid all we do here is sell badges!"
She heaved a sigh. So, this wasn't a shelter, just a shop for badges. Perfect...
Vivian was about to leave when she thought about how much the manager resembled Ms. Mowz. Maybe he knew where she was... Trying to find the rodent herself never once crossed her mind, as her next appearance always seemed unpredictable.
"Uh, sir? Excuse me if I'm wrong, but do you know of someone named Ms. Mowz?"
"Well, sure I do!"
She winced with every syllable he bellowed. "...Is she available?"
"Nope! I'm afraid she's out badge-hunting at the moment!"
"Do you at least know where she went... or where you saw her last?"
"Sorry, ma'am! I can't say I have! That Ms. Mowz! The very second she sets foot outta this store, she's off like a rocket! ZOOM! All I see is a white blur! It's like someone lit a fire under her tail and she shot off like a pistol!"
Vivian wasn't sure if she could take much more of his screaming. Getting the point, she quickly thanked him and left in disgust. Thanks to him, she now had a splitting headache...
The stars sparkled bright and beautiful overhead; a cool breeze rushed past in a hurried whisper amongst the leaves. The nighttime air was warm and soothing, with the grass acting as a warm carpet for one to lay on and stare mindlessly into the sky in awe of its stellar beauty. The calm glowing of the moon colored everything in a soft blanket of its undisturbed silver, reflecting off a nearby lake and shining through the thick brush of Shhwonk Fortress.
Koops remembered his mother telling him how dangerous it was to set foot in the ancient forest without supervision. All children were supposed to stay away from that awful place.
He sighed. How was this place awful? Aside from a few pesky Fuzzies and nomad Koopas, the area was calm and pure, void of any artificial creations. It was like a secluded Petal Meadows... He could've stayed ther for hours, but it was getting late. It was time to go home.
He sat up fast, having to stop a moment and wait for the blood to get back to his head.
The Shadow Siren was still vividly in his mind; he just couldn't stop thinking about her. Upon returning, how much would she've changed? Would she be a whole new person? Would she be the leader, with Beldam and Marilyn following behind in shame? Would she have a complete and total makeover to where he could finally see her eyes? The very thought of her coming back with a success story to tell made him excited. He began walking home, hands still in his pockets. He continued to stare upon the ground, thinking... reflecting...
Tomorrow was another day... Another start, another chance for her to show up. She'd turn up eventually. Just give her time...
He smirked once more as he imagined her smacking Beldam upside the head with her newspaper weapon...
Vivian treaded through the East Side, crushed and defeated...
Desperate, she made one last attempt to seek help and posted her predicament at the Trouble Center. At the time, she hoped someone would be courteous enough to help, but the board looked pretty full. With no real reward to offer, chances were slim anyone would even try...
It was dark out. All shops and houses were closed for the night. She saw a horde of Bandits standing in an alley, showing their stealings from the day to each other. She sneered at the thought of one of them having her belongings up his long, sneaky sleeves.
The entire town of cobblestone and wood became bathed in a pale blue. The patterns and lines of the streets were more evident at this time of night. Their shadows revealed every crack, crease, and penny on the ground she passed. It was a beautiful sight to see the moon working its magic even in this barren town, but that alone did nothing to quell her pain.
...Her spirit was broken... her body, tired... her stomach, empty...
She couldn't take anymore disappointment. It was so painful... Like an arrow to the heart.
It was time to face facts; Vivian knew she was never going to find any of her friends. Why even bother with it anymore? Rogueport had quickly become what she now knew Twilight Town was; a hellhole full of pain and misery with the darkness of her evitable passing slowly suffocating her will to live. No one there would help her in the least bit. All they wanted to do was break her down, kill what little strip of dignity she had left...
She'd had it with this town...
She'd had it with the people who mistreated her...
And she'd had it with being shunned just because she was different...
That was it, the final straw...
She slung her almost empty sack over her back and peered down the road of train tracks made for the Excess Express. They seemed to go on forever, leading into a parched, arid region and beyond. The lack of daylight made it seem more ominous and cold; like the not-too-distant abyss that was her future. There were no houses, no shelter, no people... Nothing but sand, rocks... and possibly more sand.
...But that's what she wanted; to be left alone and peacefully waste away into nothing while everybody else kept on living their lives. Her existence was no longer important to those who knew her, or else they would at least check on how she was doing.
Not even Koops showed signs of sympathy... He didn't care anymore, either. She would've looked for him, but had no idea how to reach Petal Town... Village... or wherever he said he lived. After she knew Mario was fitted for Peach, her sights began to turn to the timid Koopa for his many acts of kindness. Sure, they were complete opposites as far species went, but did it really matter? He was a sweet, understanding guy who always gave her the attention she needed. Her lack of confidence often interfered on how she felt about him... But it was plain to see he had no real interest in her.
Vivian had been forcing herself to hold them back since her items were stolen, but she couldn't hold them in anymore...
Squeezing her eyes shut, she broke down and quietly cried. They said crying made a person feel better, but all it did was make her headache worse. She sat down, her shoulders shaking from so many crushed dreams. Her hands were dampened by the aching that was her sobs... The ones of failure. The ones that showed she was a weakling. The ones that she'd cried into countless times before.
She swallowed hard and roughly brushed the tears away, for with her sadness came frustration. It was the worst feeling in the world; to be so sad, it actually made you angry.
All this time, she thought they were her friends... her allies... her family... But once again, her simplicity had gotten the best her. For once, Beldam was right; without her or Marilyn around, there was no one to care for her. Her so-called 'friends' didn't care about what she did after their time together, as she had no life to return to and no past to look back on.
...If that were the case, she didn't even want to remain a thought in their minds. They didn't have time to remember who 'that girl' was.
She walked off into the desert, following the train tracks until she found a reason to live again...
The moon gleamed overhead, outlining her shady form in the darkness of the night. It made her appear eerily beautiful, like Shadow Sirens were meant to look. The lining of her hat shimmered a stunning ruby and silver, in response to its normal red-and-white coloring. Her hair glistened a rosy pink and her gloves also glowed silver...
The stars above twinkled serenely that night. A lone wind blew.
A light of hope died that day; its soul forever caught in the void of loneliness...
Authoress' Notes: BLARG. All my other story updates are way late and I apologize for that. I'll see if I can get Pikario and Chuigi's lazy asses back in gear sometime this November.