Chapter 11: Of Tempered Skies

The morning came faster than I had anticipated it would. Even without the comfort of a sheet and the crutch of the ground I enjoyed my rest, waking up happy and renewed in a blink of the eye. I stretched my arms above my head as I lifted my body up into a sitting position. It had felt like it had been ten….Days since I last got out of my bed, but I was disappointed when I realized that I would be incapable of performing my usual routine. After all, I was without an extra set of clothes, and worst of all I had no bathroom accessories like a toothbrush or a comb. At the very least, I should be able to consume a nutritious breakfast.

The only problem I could foresee was if Luigi decided to use an ingredient that I hadn't tasted before. I remember eating some of the strange cuisine this planet had to offer on my previous venture, but a week's worth of food only covers the surface of the many delicacies that could be made. In the end, I would just have to wait and see what would be offered to me. I had my manners, I wasn't going to refuse a meal, especially since Luigi I was being allowed to stay here until I took care of Mr. Reality and returned to Earth.

Speak of the devil, the man in green himself peered into the living room from the kitchen to the left of me, and I quickly got a chuckle out of the fact that he had an apron on that was barely covered up by the smoke coming from the nearby stove. Whatever Luigi was baking, it was enough to draw my attention away from the humor of his ensemble thanks to its succulent aroma. "Good morning Mew, did you have a good sleep?" The man in green rushed out a waking message, making certain to avoid inhaling the smoke. I guess that's what happens when you don't have a fan to suck it all in, though I had to wonder just how they couldn't afford such accommodations considering their prestige.

"Yeah, no nightmares or nothing…Got to admit, your couch is very comfortable." I said the second half of my sentence as I lifted myself off the couch and creaked my arms back and forth. "Yeah, I had to lay down on it for the first few days we moved in here until we got a bed for myself…Anyways, breakfast is almost done, so could you get Driad up?" I was surprised that Driad hadn't awakened yet, but I figured that it would be easy to get him up if I went there myself. I walked into the bedroom and saw him snuggled under the sheets with a joyous smile on his face.

Would it be right to wake him? This peaceful slumber may be his way of dealing with what transpired yesterday. After all, Luigi proved that even with the "Shadows" possessing their bodies, the victims had some awareness of what was going on and if strong enough they could fight them from the inside. However, I was worried about how Driad would react if the first thing he saw was the person he was secretly jealous of. I kneeled down, moved my hand out towards his face, but quickly withdrew it out of nervousness for my friend's response.

"Maybe it is for the best if I do nothing and just tell Luigi that he didn't wake up right now…" I whispered to myself as I held my fist against my chest. I lifted my eyelids up and kept my teeth together while my mouth was open slightly, and as Driad started to show signs of movement I realized only one inevitability. He is going to awaken, and the issue is going to have to be dealt with when he notices me after that. "Sigh…Better to take care of it now while I got a chance to." I consigned to the hesitant solution and moved my arm back out, taking the back of my hand and brushing it against Driad's face.

He flinches for a moment, silence covering the room as he creaks his eyelids open slowly. At first he does nothing but stare at me with utter disbelief, which is understandable considering how long it has been. But as I get on my feet instead of following me with his head he quickly sits up much to the chargin of the sheets he scrambles with his sudden movements and gets a flustered glow in his cheeks. From the way he was reacting to my appearance I thought that perhaps he was still dreaming. Then, he leaps at me, wrapping both of his vine arms tightly around my body and refusing to let go.

I must admit, this was something I wasn't expecting, but at the same time his reaction just felt right. His hug was warm and tender, as he planted his face against my body and said to me in quiet happiness, "I can't believe it…You finally came back…" He sounded ready to cry in joy. I didn't think that Driad would've missed me THIS much, honestly. There was really no need to bring up the incident with his "Shadow" now, he was fine the way he was now, oblivious and happy. I wrapped my arms around Driad's head and said to him, "I missed you too, Driad…" With a warming tone of voice.

After a minute of us sharing our emotions, Luigi calls out to remind us that breakfast was ready. We embarrassingly removed our arms from each other and had an awkward conversation where the both of us tried to ask how the other has been doing as we made our way to the kitchen, but we stopped the moment Luigi asked Driad, "So did you finally recover?" "Eh?" Was all the Crayzee Dayzee said in response with a tilt of the head. I guess he didn't remember what happened like Luigi does, and as I looked at the man in green as he seemed ready to say something, he caught my motion and nervously retracted his comment to say, "Oh, nothing, I didn't say anything."

It was a reasonable enough fib, and Driad wasn't really the type of person to press issues. If need be, Luigi can fill him in on the situation after I leave to go to the Sky Temple. For now, I'd just like to enjoy a nice, peaceful breakfast. We sat down around the table, Luigi taking the plates of food he made and lining them out in front of us with the poise and grace you'd expect to see from a professional waiter. I complimented his actions, saying, "You know, if it wasn't for your job as a hero, you really should consider a job at a restaurant or something." Which caused Luigi to blush as he sat down on his table.

He tilted his hat forward to cover his eyes as he bent his head down to look at the food he made and picked his utensils up to start going at it. I looked down at my plate. It was an omelet, the top steaming slightly since it just came off the grill. Though the cheese used was white, I had no way of knowing what flavor was from a simple glance, so I used my knife to cut into the side to release even more steam from within and pluck out the pocket of ingredients with the prongs of my fork. I blew on it lightly and put it in my mouth.

My taste buds were immediately overwhelmed by the intoxicating flavors meshed into the yellow, scrambled shell. I could feel the gooeyness of the mozzarella fusing with the grilled onions and minced mushrooms, my pleasure receptors tingling as I started chewing the bitten fraction of the omelet to further experience the flavors buried within it. I thought that it was physically impossible for this breakfast to get any better, but then it happened. I tasted fried lobster, a delicacy that I didn't know existed on Plit. To describe the sensation that quivered my tongue would be like describing a vibrant landscape in one simple sentence. I had become completely overtaken by the flavor, and I swung my head back with my eyes glazed over while pulling the fork through my salivating lips and hang my arms out beside me.

Needless to say, when I finally got back up after swallowing, my actions elicited a reaction of utter confusion from both Driad and Luigi, who raise their left eyebrows and glare at me with widened eyes. The man in green, with his fork raised halfway, merely utters out, "Ok then…" Before continuing to eat. Once again, I got to into taking one bite out of a piece of food and started overly describing it as if I was a starving lunatic. "Heh, sorry about that overreaction, I was just surprised to eat such exquisite food." I apologized and complimented on Luigi's efforts, and he nods his head to forgive me.

I guess the Mario Bros. just choose to live in a humble abode, since they are clearly able to afford lobster for their meals and stuff. Or maybe Luigi went fishing, I don't know the answer to that one. Though I'll ask that later in the meal, since at the moment Driad took the point and said something to the man in green. "Hey Luigi, do you have any fruit available?" The man in green held his fork in his mouth for a few silent seconds as he nervously froze in place. He pulled the utensil out after chewing and downing his food and said after a light cough, "Umm…Heh, it seems I forgot to go to the fruit market in the past week. I'm sorry, I don't have anything for you to eat Driad."

"That's ok, watch this!" The Crayzee Dayzee enthusiastically drops his fork onto the napkin on his lap and raises his vine in the air. Suddenly, through the fibers emerges the tail end of a banana, and as the continued emergence causes both Luigi and I to perform a spit-take Driad takes his other arm and pulls the fruit right out, lowering his arm to peel the skin off for proper consumption. He giggles like an innocent child, smiling proudly at his achievement before saying to us, "I picked up this trick about a week or two ago. Not only can I produce any type of fruit or vegetable from my body, but I can do so without draining any energy."

"That…That's incredible Driad!" I was at a loss for words, so a simple compliment sufficed to express my emotions. From the way the Crayzee Dayzee blushed as he took a bite out of his banana and rested his left vine against his cheek, I could tell that he felt happy to hear that from me. So with that little event out of the way, the three of us kept eating and struck up some conversations about how our lives have been going. I said nothing about Mr. Reality's shenanigans to keep the peace, and by the time our plates were clean we had all caught up on each other's lives since the end of our journey.

It was pleasant to say the least, but I could sense the emptiness in my companion's hearts because of the lack of Mario's presence. "He really should be here to share in this moment…" I murmured as Driad went away from the table and Luigi started cleaning the dishes. The plumber was always the heart of our group, and now it was my duty to be that for everything I rescued. It was a difficult burden, and even though I was stronger Mario had much more experience, which sometimes proved to be more useful than power. "Bah, I can't really think about this too much…It just ruins the mood I had." I said to snap myself out of my serious thoughts.

After all, I deserved a bit of relaxation before I left. Of course, I had to offer my gratitude to Luigi for making such a wonderful meal and providing me a peaceful atmosphere to sleep in, so I walked over to him and started putting my experience in dish washing to good use. I didn't use my powers even though it would speed things up, since there are times when it is nice to be reminded that I am mortal. The clean-up duties took ten minutes with our combined help, and afterwards I looked around to wonder where Driad had wandered off to.

"Driad? Where are you?" I said in order to call him into view. There was no response from him, but Luigi was more than happy to turn around to answer my question. "Driad probably went out to get some fresh air. He has gotten into a habit of taking strolls after breakfast. Personally, while I like that pattern, he really shouldn't be wandering about without any clue about that realm you talked about. Thankfully, I know the route he took, so I'll quickly catch up to him and tell him about what has been going on. Now, you are welcome to stay here for a bit longer if you like, but I'd imagine you'd want to get back to your journey."

Luigi read me like a book even though he was looking at me from behind before I turned around. I was concerned from Driad's safety, but the man in green was better suited for dealing with him since I had an issue to deal with right here and now. "Thank you Luigi. And don't worry, I'll come back alive with good news about my progress." The man in green smiled and nodded his head, though I could tell that deep down he regretted not being able to travel with me once again. But those were the circumstances, and I could do nothing to change them.

So with a fond farewell, I left through the front door with Luigi stepping close behind me. Our paths diverged once we got off the porch, and I didn't turn around to see where he was headed as I went towards the pipe. I jumped into it and after the familiar sequence I arrived back in Toad Town, where the clouds were as usual parted to let the sun soak the landscape in its entirety. The Toads were moving about, going through their usual business as if the events of yesterday had not transpired.

My eyes immediately focused on a familiar robed Toad standing near the edge of a pond. I quick stroll through the crowd put me beside him, and I said to him, "What are you doing over here this fine morning?" The Master did not turn to look at me like usual, instead responding to my inquiry with, "Just reminding myself of the simple things in life. You know how long it has been since I've chosen to come here and see the sun's beaming rays reflecting on the water's gentle surface?" It was a question that I knew right off the bat he didn't expect me to answer, so I didn't make any gestures or noises and just looked at him with eager anticipation in my pupils.

He turned to look in my own eyes, and with a sudden, elderly sounding "Ha!" he said to me, "It was a bit of a trick question sonny. With the way the weather is around here, I come out here everyday to take in the clear, crystalline air rising from the waters to get my mind focused for meditation. Not to mention the water is clean enough to use in my morning tea…" The Master turned to me and took in a whiff of the air. His behavior was a bit odd, he was acting more like a stereotype instead of his own person, but as he opened his eyelids and looked up at me he said, "Sorry for the tripe clichés, but considering the fact that you have restored your control over the water element, my spoken inner thoughts had some degree of relevance…"

Geez, sometimes I wonder why I allow myself to be so easily read. Just from a single shift in my facial features, the Master knew what I was thinking and made a response that corresponded to it instantly. I folded my arms in front of my chest and said to the Toad, "Not a problem, I think it is nice that you are willing to be open about your daily life. It helps break the ice between the two of us." I said with utter honesty in my voice. "Well I'm glad you think that way. You know, you probably wouldn't believe this, but there was a time long, LONG ago when I was hot-blooded like you are now."

"Really?" I was surprised to hear that from the Master, but considering how long he claims to have been around for his comment just means that he has been this wise, caring individual for much longer than he was his younger, hot-blooded self. "Yes, but eventually the times demanded for a hero, and when the Star Spirits gave me their blessing and I lost my clan to the first invading forces of the Koopa Clan I discarded the irrational side of my personality and vowed to travel the world as an immortal being, settling down only when I found a perfect place to create a dojo and teach the worthy the ways of the world. Of course, you know all about my motivations already, but nothing about who I was before those travels…"

The Master took a brief pause in his speaking, and I used that moment to think about what has been said so far. A man living a normal, innocent life is forced to change when the circumstances called for it, that type of story had been told many times before in fiction and even reality, but to hear and witness someone who experienced those events puts a new retrospective on the person themselves. In a way, I felt a deeper connection with the wise Toad, especially since I reminded him of what he used to be. "Now, I don't mean to scare you into believing that the same will happen to you as it did to me…After all, you travel a different road than I did. You don't have the burden of an entire race, but instead that of an entire universe."

I didn't really need a reminder of that, but instead of interrupting to rudely point that out I shut myself up and let the Master continue. "There was one time I let myself slip. It was with a person who I had desired to be my pupil for his own good. I tried too hard to get him to listen, attacking a part of his personality that he was too young to conquer…And because of his own desire to defy what I said and prove that said trait was not an inherent flaw, he eventually got caught up in a series of events that…Well, ended in his death. I don't want to repeat those mistakes with you, young Mewmaster, which is why I'm handling you in a way that respects who you are while still teaching you whatever I can about the elements you control."

"I'm…I'm so sorry to hear that." My condolences were to the Master's dead 'pupil', and I felt honored to hear that he was trying to make amends via training me. "Actually, my words have some relevance to the element you just re-acquired." The Master folded his arms into his robe and turned towards the water. "After all, though life may be steady at times, there are other instances where certain events will cause it to sway back and forth. It is up to you as the controller of your life to either let the tides of destiny overwhelming you as they drag you away against you will, or you can take command of your life until the disruptions in the flow die out. You control water in a similar matter. You can either let the liquid overwhelm you, or keep your focus and guide it all in whatever direction you wish for it to go."

"But I would assume you already know what I'm talking about, correct?" The Master finished things up by asking me if I was familiar with his lesson. He was right too. Just yesterday, even before I started this new journey, I was almost ready to surrender because of my fear of Mr. Reality's powers. If I had let myself get swept away with that very fear, then I would truly have lost. By taking control of my destiny, I've already made commendable progress in restoring not just this world, but my friends as well. "Yeah, I do." I quickly say after that brief period of recollection.

The Master nods his head happily in response, smiling at me before saying, "You are coming along nicely then…I don't have anything else to teach you for the time being, so I shall let you get on your way." Even after the elderly Toad's comment he didn't leave, looking at me as if expecting me to react in a certain way. And that's when I remembered the problem with my trip to the next temple. It was near Nimbus Land, but I was without the flight powers needed to reach there. I nervously chuckled as I moved my arms away from my body, but as I was ready to say something the Master went first "I already know that you are without your flight. That's why I took the liberty to call in someone to assist you in getting there."

Before I even had a chance to react in surprise, I heard a horn honk and turned around to see a two-tier crimson taxi cab that is prevented from falling by a cloud connected on its underside. The crowd of Toads nearby back away as the vehicle lands on the ground behind me, turned to the side so the entry door is pointed my way. I recognized the machine instantly, and in my moment of exasperated disbelief I turned my head back to the Master and jumbled a sentence to try and get an answer as to how he knew to do this. Even with the confusing way I put it, the elderly Toad merely smiled and chuckled before saying, "What happens once always has a way of happening again. That is the blessing and curse of time."

The Master pulls his arms out and folds them behind his back, walking past me towards the Nimbus Taxi in hopes that I would soon follow him. Even as I did that, I had a question to ask him, "But how did you get in contact with this guy?" "Simple. He wasn't around the vicinity of Nimbus Land when Mr. Reality did his business, so I called his service after you restored the Nature Castle and told him to be here by today. Fate is also a cruel mistress, but that doesn't mean that she won't sometimes work in our favor."

As we approached the doors, they flung open and a cloud person wearing blue jeans, a black police officer outfit, and a blue leather hat waved to us from the driver's seat. He said to the Master as if he was a familiar face, "Greetings Master, where do you wish to go today?" "Oh, I'm not the one traveling here. My friend, the young Elemental Overlord beside me, wishes to go to Nimbus Land." The bus driver raised his eyes in suspicion as he looked at me, following up with, "Wait a second, didn't the Elemental Overlord kid di-" The Nimbusian freezes mid-sentence, sweating as the Master glares at him for some unknown reason.

After the spectacle whose purpose was not known to me, the bus driver continued his sentence at the pronunciation point he left off at, "-iiiecide to go back to Earth? Sorry about the misspelling and pronunciation, I just didn't expect to see you ever again, that's all, yeah…" He was a bit nervously, but he went back to a normal mood as he turned towards the wheel and said to me, "Well hop on in. I'll take you straight there without any difficulties." After thanking the Master for his efforts, I leapt into the taxi and the doors shut behind me. I walked deeper into the vehicle and went for the first seat I could find as the machine started to lift off, ready to take me to the now corrupted city in the sky…

Next Time: The Crash of…Thunder