Author's Note: You WILL enjoy this chapter, I command you! You will, YOU WILL...just kidding. I don't know if you'll ENJOY it. :)

Super Mario Sunshine Adventure

Episode 7: It's Shadow Mario! After Him!

Pauline strolled along Gelato Beach with a very contemplative expression painting her facial features. She had removed her high heels and allowed her bare feet to touch the sand. Running a hand through her dark hair, she looked up towards the sky and realized that the day was moving into deep evening. As she walked, the pretty woman began to wonder whether or not if they were making good progress in saving Princess Peach and Amy Rose. The female ruminated on what they might be doing right now. Would Bowser and Bowser Jr. harm them? Pauline shook her head, twirling a piece of hair around her finger.

"No," she breathed. "They wouldn't. After all, Bowser's son had claimed that Peach was his mama and Amy was his aunt. That's still pretty weird, though."

"Weird indeed!" Mario piped up, suddenly appearing beside her with FLUDD strapped to his back as usual. The red plumber was wearing a calm smile and he was fiddling around with his red cap in his gloved hands. "I don't understand how Bowser got his son to believe such a thing! Heck, I didn't even know Bowser had a son! I wonder who the REAL mother is!"

Pauline moved her eyes to the plumber, blinking a few times. She noticed that Mario looked rather different without his red cap. Still, she thought he looked okay without it on too. Both ways suited her, actually. On and off. It was then that she began to recall the time when she and Mario had actually been together. Pauline had actually been Mario's girlfriend once. He used to rescue her from Donkey Kong when Donkey Kong used to have a…problem. From there, they just started dating. They had been together for a quite some time, but then they just ended their relationship abruptly.

"I wonder that too…" Pauline softly muttered, her mind elsewhere other than what Mario had said. She was still thinking about the time they shared together while in a romantic relationship. Sure, they had been jubilant and everything. Plus, it seemed as though they had been made for each other, but that just wasn't to be true. There was no problems in their relationship at all. It was just that, they realized that being close friends was much better. They had decided together that they would end their relationship. There weren't any problems or anything at all. It was just that. Pauline didn't mind at all, though, and neither did Mario.

Mario noticed the faraway look in Pauline's eyes and nudged her side with his elbow to get her attention. Pauline turned her eyes on him, blinking several times as if she were snapping out of a trance. "Pauline, you okay? You looked out of it for a moment there."

"I'm fine," Pauline gave him a smile. "Just remembering things from the past. Anyway, when do you think we'll be able to venture into Corona Mountain? I'm sure Princess Peach and Amy Rose are expecting us to come rescue them soon!"

Mario shrugged. "Honestly, I don't know. We'll just have to continue collecting the Shine Sprites until we'll be able to get up there, you know?" he answered.

"Alright," commented Pauline.

Suddenly, Silver, Blaze, and Sonic all approached them. Silver and Blaze were discussing about random things and Sonic was eating another chili dog while bragging about how he was the Blooper-surfing legend.

"Hey, guys!" Silver greeted them. "What are you guys doing? Just taking a stroll and stuff?"

"Actually," Sonic began with a playful glint in his eyes. "They're taking a lovers' stroll in the beautiful evening! Mario and Pauline are boyfriend and girlfriend!"

Blaze whipped her head around to peer at Mario and Pauline. "Are you both together? Is that true?"

Pauline waved her hand in a dismissive manner. "Goodness, no."

"That is certainly NOT true!" yelled Mario while flailing his arms about wildly.

"Buuuuut you are Mario's ex-girlfriend, right?" Silver questioned Pauline, curiosity coloring his voice.

Pauline nodded her head. "That's true."

"Wow!" Silver gawked.

Pauline shrugged.

Mario sighed.

"It's crazy, right?" Sonic remarked, grinning. "Mario used to have a girlfriend!"

Suddenly, before anyone could answer, Shadow Mario zoomed right past them while performing very impressive acrobatic moves, holding his Magic Paintbrush tightly. Everyone released loud gasps at the sight of him!

"It's Shadow Mario! After him!" Silver hollered while pointing a finger.

"I'm on it!" Sonic took off at maximum speed, blowing everyone away who was standing next to him. Blaze hissed like the cat she was and spun wildly in the air, Mario flipped backwards and caught his hat that had flown from his head, Pauline screamed as she went tumbling in the air with her hair flapping about, and Silver flew high up into the sky like a bird that had started flying for the first time.

Sonic the Hedgehog reached Shadow Mario in no time and performed a Sonic Wind move on him. "Sonic Wind!" he announced his attack.

Shadow Mario got swept up in the attack and fell down into the sand. He could see Sonic bounding towards him and he used his Magic Paintbrush to swipe at Sonic's legs. Sonic yelled as he fell down to the ground on his rear. Shadow Mario was on him now, trying to choke the hedgehog with his Magic Paintbrush. Sonic managed to kick the imposter off of him and send him flying. When Shadow Mario landed back on the ground Sonic was rushing him with a series of kicks and punches.

Like a pro, Shadow Mario blocked each and every assault from the blue hedgehog with his Magic Paintbrush. Sonic used his newly obtained powers and caused a mountain of water to splash into Shadow Mario, knocking him down to the ground hard.

"Dang it! This ain't over!" Shadow Mario complained like the little brat he was before dispersing and leaving behind a Shine Sprite.

Instantly, Mario, Pauline, Blaze, and Silver all ran over, having recovered from the blow back Sonic had created with his supersonic speed.

"Did he get away?" Mario asked.

"Yep," Sonic replied while picking up the Shine Sprite. "But we got a Shine Sprite!"

Everyone sighed.