Author's Note: Here it is! Tell me what you think of this chapter! :)
Super Mario Sunshine Adventure
Episode 7: Shadow Mario Revisited
Arriving back in Delfino Plaza, Mario let out a weary sigh, seeing that the evening was turning into darkness. The plumber took a glance at his two companions and noticed that they both looked pretty drowsy as well. Perhaps they should take a nap or sleep for the night? Thinking about that, Mario began to wonder what the fiendish imposter was doing to the girls and where they'd be sleeping for the night. It made him uneasy, but he knew that they'd be okay when they finally found them and freed them from the fake's dark clutches.
"I really am the Blooper-surfing legend!" Sonic aggrandized loudly as they strolled through Delfino Plaza, an enormous grin painting his facial features. "Did you see how awesome I was out there? I wasn't even afraid of the water while I was Blooper-surfing! I collected those Red Coins in less than two minutes! Heck, I didn't even need two minutes!"
Pauline let out a few chortles at this as she walked alongside the blue hedgehog, arms folded because she was a little chilly. "I can see the truth in that!" she agreed with him while nodding her head.
"I only needed five seconds!"
"Okay, now you're going a little overboard…"
"HA! You're just jealous that I'm the Blooper-surfing legend and you're not!"
"Uh…no?" Pauline gave him a look, sweat-dropping.
Sonic rolled his eyes and chuckled, all happy and whatnot from doing a little Blooper-surfing. "Your words deny, but your actions say otherwise!" he pointed out like he was highly intelligent or something. "I can't wait to tell Tails about this when I get home!" then his happiness faded away and he remembered what kind of predicament they were in.
"What's the matter, Sonic?" Mario questioned his comrade in concern, not hearing any of his constant gloating. The sudden change in Sonic's attitude was unnerving and it made him a little nervous.
Sonic shrugged, frowning a little. "Eh, I dunno. I guess I'm just thinking about Amy, Peach, and the babies. I'm worried about them, you know?"
"I'm worried about them too, but, like I've stated before, they'll be fine," Mario told him in a soothing tone, sending him a smile. "I'm sure of it."
Mario's smile was somehow contagious, because Sonic couldn't help but smile too. "You're right, Mario! I should stop worrying! Worrying isn't going to help anything," he gave the guy a thumbs up. "Thanks, man."
"No problem!"
Pauline had observed the two males' short conversation and noticed how easily Mario was able to cheer up Sonic. They must've been really good friends for that to be the conclusion of the conversation. Sure, they argued and bickered from time to time and sometimes made fun of each other, but they were still close friends. Pauline admired that and hoped to be as close to them as they were with each other. That would be so very splendid. She thought to herself.
Anyway, the trio made it back to the motel just as soon as the sun was gone in the sky. Once they arrived, Mario was the last one to enter their room and he shut the door behind them, releasing a loud and drowsy yawn. He locked the door just in case and then looked up to see Sonic crashing into one of the beds and pushing his face into the pillows, going out like a light and snoring softly. Mario was surprised that the speedy hedgehog had gone to sleep so fast! Well. Mario pondered. I guess when you're the fastest thing alive, you're also the fastest thing to go to sleep! He almost chortled.
Pauline found a bag of chips in the room and examined it before popping them open and finding them to be…Mushroom potato chips! "What do these taste like? Do they just taste like Mushrooms?" she questioned and dug her hand into the bag, pulling out mini Mushrooms and studying them to make sure they were edible.
"Pretty much," Mario responded to her query, removing FLUDD from his back and setting the device down onto a table. He stared at FLUDD for a few minutes before shrugging and sitting down on the bed that Sonic was currently sleeping on. Mario was going to let Pauline have the other bed that he usually slept on and he'd just share the bed with Sonic.
When Pauline finished devouring the Mushroom chips, she tucked herself into the bed and brought the blankets over her body, resting her head onto the soft pillows that the bed had to offer. The woman thanked Mario for letting her have the other bed and then slowly allowed sleep to come and whisk her away into dreamland.
The plumber watched her fall asleep before staring out of the window of their room, hoping to see the moon in the sky, but all he saw were clouds. Even in the nighttime, it was still gloomy because of the Shine Sprites' absence. Letting out a weary sigh, Luigi's older brother got comfortable at the end of the bed, curling up and shutting his eyes. "Goodnight, FLUDD," he told the device that was just sitting on the table alone.
"…goodnight, Mario."
[The next day…]
After waking up, getting some breakfast, and discussing what they were going to do next, the three adventurers left the motel and decided to head on back to Ricco Harbor. Upon reaching the now not so interesting construction location that consisted of a large port built into the cliff face with several buildings and construction equipment, a marketplace where seafood was sold, several large ships, various yachts, and personal vessels, Mario and Pauline were getting pretty tired of Ricco Harbor and would like to explore elsewhere, but Sonic loved the place due to receiving his title as the 'Blooper-surfing legend'.
However, the three individuals were shocked to see Shadow Mario standing off on a panel that led him into a ship. He was looking around while holding his Magic Paintbrush, smirking to himself and whatnot.
"It's the faker!" gasped Mario.
"He looks just like you!" Pauline surveyed, astonished.
"LET'S GET 'EM!" Sonic took off at full speed, literally blowing Pauline and Mario back. Shadow Mario instantly started running at the sight of Sonic coming after him and shockingly was pretty fast!
Shadow Mario possessed the same impressive acrobatic skills that Mario had and he flipped, spun, and danced all over the place to get out of Sonic's reach. A devious chortle escaped the imposter's lips as Sonic was having a hard time catching him as he bounced around like a puppet that had come to life.
"Get back here!" Sonic howled, Spin Dashing at Shadow Mario. Shadow Mario simply dodged it by doing a backflip and landing on top of one of the ship's chimney thingamajigs. From there, he leapt up onto a girdle. Sonic had been about to jump after him, but lost his footing and crashed down into the water below with a wail of horror.
Mario glanced at Pauline with a serious expression on his face. "Pauline, you go help Sonic! I'm going after the imposter!" the plumber ordered her. Without waiting for an answer, the red-capped hero jumped onto the ship and made his way up onto the girdle using FLUDD's Hover Nozzle. Pauline watched him go before going to help the blue hedgehog out.
Shadow Mario saw Mario dashing towards him and he immediately started running again. Mario determinedly chased him while constantly spraying water at the fiend with FLUDD. Growling, Shadow Mario flipped on top of a higher girdle and attempted to get away, but Mario repeated his actions and joined him up there.
"Who are you really?!" Mario demanded to know as he sprayed Shadow Mario with FLUDD.
Shadow Mario snorted. "You don't need to know my true identity yet, Mario!" he then used his Magic Paintbrush to swing it at Mario's head as they positioned into close combat.
Ducking over the assault, Mario threw a kick to Shadow Mario's belly, which he evaded by using his Magic Paintbrush to shove Mario's leg away from making contact with his tummy. Next, Shadow Mario delivered a vertical swing to Mario's body and Mario flipped backwards to safety, still standing on the girdle and breathing heavily.
"Why are you doing this?" Mario wanted to know, glaring angrily at the imposter. "What is all of this for?! Are the girls safe?!"
Shadow Mario only chuckled and swiped his Magic Paintbrush across Mario's face, leaving colorful goop there. Then, without warning, he started running off again. Mario followed him while grumbling underneath his breath about not getting answers. As Mario chased him, he continuously sprayed the fiendish fool with FLUDD.
Stopping, Shadow Mario turned around to whack Mario with his Magic Paintbrush again, but Mario was quick. The red plumber ducked and then used his leg to trip up the faker. Shadow Mario squealed in surprise as he was sent to the ground, almost dropping his Magic Paintbrush. Mario aimed FLUDD at his face and squirted water at Shadow Mario with all his might.
Shadow Mario gave in and then started throwing a tantrum on the ground, choleric that he had failed once again to best Mario. "Phooey! I'll remember this!" he whined like an immature child before dispersing and leaving behind a Shine Sprite.
As Mario watched the Shine Sprite shine brilliantly in front of him, he couldn't help but think that Shadow Mario behaved like a child. He also sounded like one too, which was very strange and bizarre. What was up with that? Mario had a feeling that he and his companions would be finding that out very soon.
"Yo, Mario!"
Hearing Sonic's voice, Mario lifted his gaze and peered at the blue hedgehog that was running towards him on the girdle with Pauline behind him. They both wore worried expressions, but then relaxed when they saw that Mario was okay and that the Shine Sprite was there.
"What happened? You caught him, right?" Sonic questioned the red-capped man.
Mario nodded. "I did!"
"Did you ask him anything? Are the girls safe?" asked Sonic wonderingly.
"He didn't answer any of my questions properly," Mario confessed through a frustrated sigh. "But I'm very sure the girls are safe and that we'll get to them soon."
Sonic sighed. "Okay."
"Well, we're glad you're safe, Mario," Pauline yawped with a small smile decorating her features. "Why don't you grab the Shine Sprite and see what's in store for us next?"
Mario complied with the woman's wishes and took the Shine Sprite into his hands, holding it up and feeling a little better. "We got another Shine Sprite!"
"Now we have 21 Shine Sprites!" Sonic caterwauled in a merry cheer, holding up two peace signs.
Pauline only smiled at the two of them as they were instantly transported back to Delfino Plaza.