Chapter 20: Don Pianta
The group was surprised when Madame Flurrie announced she was joining them on their quest to rescue Princess Peach. She confessed, "Never before have I felt such a burning desire for vengeance. Please take me with you or I fear this fire will consume me!" She swooned.
Without hesitation, Matthew grinned and nodded. "You're in."
"Wait, WHAT?!" Goombella cried. "You're just gonna let her in without asking us first?"
"You don't think she'd make a good team member?"
"Well, yeah, but that's not the issue! You can't just decide things for the team willy-nilly without consulting us first! We're a democracy here! Do you know what happens when the quote/unquote leader starts making decisions without..."
Matthew waved her aside. "All right, all right, I get it! Fine, then. All in favor of Madame Flurrie joining our team?"
Two hands plus Goombella's cheek in a gesture of agreement went up. Matthew made a show of counting all of their hands (including Goombella's invisible one) and then turned to Madame Flurrie and announced, "All right. Now you're in."
"Oh, thank you, Matthew! Thank you! I promise you: you will not regret this! The hammer of my anger shall strike down with the fury of ten thousand Hammer Bros!"
Having completed the induction of a new member of the Princess Rescue Brigade (a name immediately shot down by Goombella and, to Matthew's surprise, Koops, who explained that the name made their mission sound just a little bit silly), exhaustion hit them with the force of an oversized mallet. Madame Flurrie, consulting a golden wristwatch that she wore, informed them that it was an hour past midnight.
"And it's a long walk back to Rogueport, even with the transport pipes," Matthew remarked, stifling a huge yawn. He pulled out the Crystal Stars. "What do you think, guys? Should we use..."
"No! Nono, no, no, absolutely not, no!" Goombella shook her head, whipping Koops in the face with her ponytail. "I will not have those rocks shaking me all the way back to Rogueport."
Koops surreptitiously took a step backward to get out of Goombella's hair (literally) and suggested, "We could ask th-th-the Punies and the others if-if we could spend the n-night..."
"Well, if a good night's rest is what you seek," Madame Flurrie announced, her chest swelling importantly, "then perhaps I can provide." She raked her fingers through her hair with a flourish and winked. "I have a darling, little cottage not far from here, with all the comforts a merry band of adventurers could ever need. It would also give me a chance to bid my home farewell before I embark upon a journey into the unknown, filled with danger and adventure aplenty... oh my, I fear I'm getting carried away again." She put a finger to her lips in a gesture of darling sheepishness. "Please forgive me. Now then. We must be away to be well-rested, for who knows what awaits us on the morrow?"
Who knew indeed? That aside, when they arrived after a brief walk through the ghostly woods that Matthew could barely remember in his exhaustion, there were mixed opinions in regards to her description of her "darling, little cottage." Its size was indeed reminiscent of a cottage, but its furnishings made it clear the stage diva enjoyed her high-end comforts. Plush and silk everywhere in bold colors like red, purple, and gold.
"It may be perhaps a tad much," said Madame Flurrie with a note of genuine embarrassment in her voice.
"Hey, as long as there's a bed here, I don't care how much it is!" said Goombella. "Because I. Am. Pooped! Garcon! A tray of your finest pillows, please!" She giggled deliriously.
Fortunately, there was a four-post bed waiting for her in the bedroom, which she and Madame Flurrie shared. Matthew and Koops, being the chivalrous men that they were, took the sofas, which easily doubled as plush beds. It wasn't long before they were all out like the light of the Big Lantern Ghost of Shy Guy's Toy Box.
...
It was late the next morning when the gang awoke and they all felt like they had been filled with concrete. Every muscle in Matthew's body ached, including some that he never knew he had. He didn't so much get out of bed as he did roll out of it and onto the floor with a heavy thud, groaning about how much it all hurt.
"Oh, quit being a baby!" Goombella scoffed, kicking him lightly. "We've got a princess to rescue, remember?"
"I-I'm not sure we can, given...given our current s-state," Koops moaned, holding his head and swaying slightly.
"Oh, goodness me, what a mistake it was going to bed stiff!" Madame Flurrie exclaimed, doing some stretches. "But it's nothing a hearty breakfast won't cure, I assure you! Wait right there and I'll whip up some magic!"
Madame Flurrie was certainly a woman of many talents, but as it turned out, cooking was not one of them. Matthew, Koops, and Goombella struggled bravely to down the soggy fried eggs and shrooms. Still, the rejuvenating effects of the mushrooms were enough to work out the kinks they all had and soon enough were all raring to go. With a flourish of the Magical Map, Matthew led them through the Boggly Woods to the Spirits' Gathering as this warp pipe was called. Once they were through the pipe, they trooped across the bridge from the little island and through the overgrown park.
"My goodness! Are these ruins we're gallivanting in?" Madame Flurrie exclaimed with sheer excitement, fanning herself.
Goombella perked right up. "You like ruins, too? I never would'a figured you for an archaeologist buff, but I guess it takes all kinds, am I right? Well, I haven't done too much research on this place, but from what I did find..." and off she went with dates and establishments and important people that Matthew had never heard of, and surprisingly, Madame Flurrie ate it all up with expressions like, "Ooooh!" and "Incredible!"
Koops sidled up to Matthew and bobbed his head back to the women. "L-Looks like those t-two are getting alo-along."
Matthew mouthed back, "It takes all kinds..."
With Goombella's narrative and Madame Flurrie's histrionics as their background noise, they made their way through the ruined city. The relative openness was soon replaced by the more enclosed catacombs found under the bridge, which was starting to become familiar to all of them save for the newest member of their team. Soon afterward they were traveling down the stony throat and finally, they splashed across the stones up to the thousand-year door.
Matthew hesitated as they approached. Goombella, oblivious to his anxiety, nudged him and said, "All right, Matthew. Do your thing. Find us the next Crystal Star." She turned to Madame Flurrie, "Just to warn you: there's going to be something of a light show in the next couple of seconds. I mean, the first time I saw it, it scared the living daylights out of me, but Matthew was okay and that was what started our whole journey..."
Matthew looked down at the map. Its ink was starting to shimmer in a rainbow of colors. He looked at the doors and saw its golden lines shimmering in the same way. He glanced at Koops, who looked away guiltily.
He took a bracing breath and said, "Welp... here goes nothing." He raised the map and took a step forward.
Once again, in a shimmer of colors, Matthew was plucked off the ground. He faintly heard Madame Flurrie gasp and Goombella assuring her that he was all right. The map's illustrations rose up and then he plunged into the stylized clouds. He cast his gaze over the inked land, wondering which direction this vision would take him. He went up, bobbing above the clouds like a buoy in a sea. At first, he thought it was because this next location was very far away, despite how fast he was flying, then he spotted something directly ahead. Before he had time to wonder, he zoomed straight into it, rushing past buildings and people... he was in a city... a city that was floating in the sky! He flew straight for what looked like an enormous stadium, complete with searchlight sky beams waving enthusiastically, until he was directly above it.
Then he dropped, his gut lurching in reaction. Within moments he was able to see the thousands of spectators packed in the seats, jumping up and down and waving for all their worth; and then the performers who were dressed a lot like luchadores... wait, were they wrestling?! He was going to land right in the middle of...
He gasped and shivered in cold sweat. Goombella bopped him on the shoulder. "What is it? What'd you see? Is it really that bad? Please tell me it isn't that bad. What could be worse than dragons and ghosts? Wait, don't tell me we've got to go to a high school!"
"It isn't a high school!" Matthew protested, the feeling of indignance shocking him out of his trance. A moment later, he blinked. Wait, why was he feeling so indignant?
"Goodness, Matthew, you gave me quite a scare!" Madame Flurrie declared, her hand on her heart. "I do hope this doesn't take too much out of you. Are you all right?"
Matthew wasn't used to people expressing concern for him so it took him a while to find the appropriate response. "Oh... um... I'm fine, thanks."
Goombella bumped his shoulder. "You're fine. Great. Good to know. Now tell us: where are we going next? Because from the expression on your face it was a doozy and I reeeally hope that was you overreacting. I've had it with dragons and ghosts and X-bullies... oooh, flashback..." she shuddered.
"Oh. You're back," said Professor Frankly as he emerged from the stone tunnel. He glanced at Madame Flurrie, "And with a new face, I see."
"Oh, Professor Frankly!" Goombella bounded toward him as he made his way toward the door. "Yeah, you should've seen it! The Boggly Woods is something else! Trees like icicles and creatures of no color..."
"I take it you've had another vision," said Professor Frankly, noting Matthew holding the map.
"Er, yeah." Matthew passed the map to him and he began to study it.
Madame Flurrie drew herself up. "A-hem! Matthew, would you be so kind as to introduce us? You know this man?"
"Oh! Right, um..." Matthew blushed as somewhere in the back of his mind, he remembered it was good manners to introduce new people to each other, and of course, Madame Flurrie would expect him to have good manners, so that's what he did while wondering furiously if there were any other standards of etiquette that he was forgetting.
Professor Frankly bowed. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Madame Flurrie, and I do apologize for my rudeness. I suppose I've spent so much time with these young kids, I'd come to think no one would bother with formalities anymore."
"Hey, wait a minute! Are you saying I'm rude? Because that's rude! I mean, I like to speak my mind, sure, but that's just the way I am, and you really shouldn't take it personally..."
"It's also rude to interrupt adults who are speaking, my dear," said Professor Frankly sternly, "and to hog the conversation, and to... oh dear, just how much of our original manners did we lose to this current generation?"
Goombella, Koops, and Matthew all protested at once, "HEY!"
Now, as riveting as all this interplay of old and new codes of conduct was, the time spent on it was longer than necessary and it took some time before the professor got back to the task of interpreting the map to find the next stop on their quest. When he did, however, his expression was rather grim.
He remarked, "Seems a rather odd place to find such an ancient relic in, but I believe I've found the location of the next Crystal Star."
Goombella tapped her foot impatiently. "Well, Professor? Don't keep us in suspense. Where is it?"
He folded the map and adjusted his glasses. "There's a slight chance that I'm wrong, but I'm ninety percent certain that the next Crystal Star as shown on the map is located in... Glitzville." He looked rather perturbed by it.
Madame Flurrie remarked, "Oh, yes! I've heard of the place! Is that not where they hold tournaments for the world's greatest fighters?"
"The city that floats in the sky?" Goombella added.
Matthew felt his stomach drop. A city in the sky filled with the world's greatest fighters? So that's what had Professor Frankly worried.
The wizened Goomba nodded. "Indeed, that's the one. Rather surprising, considering that it's a rather recent establishment - within the last hundred years, as a matter of fact. How does an artifact that was lost a thousand years ago wind up in a city that's only one hundred years old? That may be up to you kids to find out... assuming you can get there, of course."
Matthew looked over his party. He guessed they were going to need a member who could fly. Maybe they needed a paratroopa? Or a pidgit? Or maybe a lakitu with a really big cloud that could fit all of them?
Koops rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm..."
Goombella shook her head. "Oh, come on, Professor. It can't be that hard, right? It's a city, meaning people have to be getting there somehow. And with the tournaments, it's got to have tourists flooding in and out of there on a regular basis."
"Well, of course, that's the case!" Professor Frankly sniffed indignantly. "But don't you know? All traffic to and from there is regulated by the Pianta Syndicate."
The silence in that chamber was deafening. The echoing drip in the distance was all the louder in that stunned silence. Matthew whipped his head at each of his teammates. "Am I missing something?"
"Oh, come on, really?" Goombella spat. "Does the term 'gangster' mean anything to you?"
"Gangst... oh." Suddenly Matthew was wondering if the Crystal Stars were really worth all the trouble. They could just wait for Mario and let him deal with them.
Professor Frankly rocked on his feet uncertainly. "It may not necessarily be a problem. You won't have to speak with them directly. Just buy a ticket to the Cheep-Cheep Blimp and you're on your way. The fare will be quite pricey, but I'm sure you kids can manage."
"How much are we talking?" Goombella asked.
The professor hesitated. "Eight hundred coins... per person."
There were gasps of outrage, from Matthew and Koops who simply choked to Goombella who exclaimed, "That's criminal!" to Madame Flurrie who remarked, "Well, goodness! Even for someone as well off as me, that's a little much." She added, "I might have a few things I could sell although I'm not sure we'd quite reach the thirty-two hundred we need."
"You could try running some errands for money," Professor Frankly suggested. "There's something in town called a Trouble Center where people post jobs and pay. I doubt any of them will offer thirty-two hundred right off the bat, but it's certainly a start."
"Thirty-two hundred!" Goombella exclaimed, bouncing in agitation. "How in the negative one world are we supposed to get that much money? Maybe we should leave some of us behind or..." She shook her head. "Professor, isn't there some other way? Maybe a hidden pipe that would take us to Glitzville or something much, much cheaper than the Cheep-Cheep Blimp?"
"Heh..." Koops chuckled under his breath. "Cheaper than the Cheep-Cheep Blimp... good one..."
The old Goomba shook his head. "Not that I'm aware of. But perhaps the Magical Map..."
They all turned to the Map eagerly, but it was obstinately unhelpful. Goombella grumbled a few unflattering words about the Map while Matthew rolled it up. "Thirty-two hundred," he murmured. Then he shook his head and said, "Well, we're not getting any closer to the Princess by standing around here. If this is the path the Map thinks we should take, then I say, let's go get some jobs!" Hearing the words said aloud made him grimace. Not something a hero should be saying.
Madame Flurrie gave a determined nod and began rolling up her sleeves. "Very well then. I must confess, physical labor isn't something I'm accustomed to, but I'm sure it will be a most edifying experience for me. And I've no doubt that if we split the jobs between the four of us, we'll have that money in no time!"
...
The Trouble Center was tucked in a corner in the back of the main square and seemed to be a popular hangout. It was like being back in high school for Matthew trying to shoulder past everyone gathered at the board where all the jobs were posted. To the side was a receptionist booth, which Matthew thought was empty at first until a voice spoke from the dark interior, "You new here?"
"Gah! I mean, yeah. We're looking for jobs..."
"Y'are, huh? Well, aren't you a good Samaritan? Not many of those kinds here. Plenty of other kinds wanting their problems solved. Very few wanting to solve them. Good kinds. Rare kinds. Here's to hoping you're the kind that lasts."
That was a little chilling to hear, especially from an invisible mediator with a flat monotone. Nevertheless, he shrugged it off and turned to the board. He spotted the job almost immediately. In fact, it was kind of hard to miss, taking up a good chunk of the board, crowding out all the other favors posted there. Koops choked when they read the pay offer. "Ten... ten thousand coins?"
"There's gotta be a catch," Goombella said immediately. "There's always a catch with an offer that high. The job is probably something reeeally difficult or reeeally embarrassing."
The job seemed innocent enough. It read thus: The job is real simple: bring back my daughter, Francesca, and her associate, Frankie. Do this and the ten thousand is yours. If you can't do that then just tell me where they are and I'll come get them myself. and was accompanied by pictures of the two of them, who were Piantas. Signed at the bottom of the offer...
"Ah, there's your catch..." Goombella said, nodding sagely at the signature: Don Pianta. "I wonder what they did to upset him. He wouldn't be shelling out this many coins unless he wanted them really bad."
"Dear me, with an offer like that, I'm astonished no one has found them already!" Madame Flurrie exclaimed. "That is a lot of money, but given who it is making the offer, I'm not certain we'd be able to live with ourselves if we took the job. Who knows what he plans to do with poor Francesca and Frankie if he finds them?"
Matthew shuddered. Everyone was right. It was best that they stay out of the Mafia's family issues. Even if that ten thousand was very tempting...
He felt something warm in his pocket. He ignored it at first, then people started pointing and making weird "ooh"ing noises. Forced to address it, he pulled it out and realized the map was glowing.
Two dots were making their way through the illustrated Rogueport. The map pulsed with a subtle light, beating faster and faster almost with a sense of urgency.
"What is it, Matthew?" Madame Flurrie asked.
Matthew followed the dots. It looked like they were making their way toward the pier. "I think the Map wants us to find them."
Goombella shook her head. "Now wait a minute, I thought we all agreed that turning them over to that Don Pianta guy goes against our moral... HEY!"
Matthew took off as the Map pulsed faster and faster, almost humming. It almost felt like it was pulling him forward and whispering to him, "Hurry, hurry, hurry!" He weaved around the crooks and thieves as they made their shady transactions or hurried to their safehouses. They all gave his glowing Map a look, their eyes glinting greedily as they wondered how easy it would be to swindle or steal it off of him and how much they could sell it for, but he ignored them as he ran faster and faster for the port.
The cawing of seagulls welcomed him to the port, and when he looked up, he immediately saw two suspicious characters: large characters hunched in plain brown cloaks and hustling toward the docks where a boat was waiting. It was obvious who they were.
"Hey, Francesca and Frankie!" he called.
Francesca squealed in fright and gasped, "They've found us, Frankie! Hurry!"
"Hold on tight, my little puddin' pop," said Frankie, taking her hand, and together they ran.
"Wha-HEY! Wait!" Matthew took off after them. Being as lean and wiry as he was and considering how bulky they were, it didn't take him long to catch up to them. He dodged in front of them and then turned and spread his arms out, blocking their way.
Francesca stomped her foot. "Listen. I don't care how much Daddy is paying you! I'm not going back! We've fallen in love and nothing anyone says will change that. We're running away... running away to a place that will accept our love! You tell Daddy that and if he doesn't like it..." She was hyperventilating at this point and red in the face.
Then my head goes on a platter and the Princess doesn't get rescued, Matthew finished in his head. Then he shook it. Wait, what was he doing again? The Map made it seem like he needed to catch these two, but if a mob boss was trying to catch them, didn't that make him an accessory to a crime?
"It's your fault," he grumbled as he shook the Map.
Frankie stepped forward. "L-Listen, bub, you'd better let us on dat boat or I'm gonna have to... terminate you wid extreme prejudice." He cracked his knuckles threateningly. It might have worked, too, if Matthew hadn't seen him swallow the lump in his throat and the trickle of sweat on his brow.
Francesca giggled, "Oh, Frankie, my darling, you'd do that for me? You're so brave!"
"Not now, my little butter biscuit," Frankie hissed at her.
From behind them, Goombella, Koops, and Madame Flurrie came running up. Goombella nodded to Matthew. "Great. You found them. So now what? We give that Don Pianta what he wants and walk away whistling?"
Frankie wheeled around, shepherding his girlfriend behind him as he did so in a protective gesture. "Looks...Looks like we're surrounded, sugar cake. It... it might be time to face the music."
"No, Frankie!" Francesca cried. "We have to get away! We have to! I'll... I'll push that bully into the harbor if I have to!" She turned to Matthew, her eyes burning with an insanity born of desperation. She screeched, "YOU!" and ran at him.
"GAH!" Caught completely off guard, Matthew was tackled by the living hill. Madame Flurrie cried, "Oh, Matthew!" and hurried to get the inflamed woman off of him.
Then they heard, "Dere you two are!" They turned and all of them felt the blood drain from their faces. Standing behind them were two Piantas in black business suits and dark sunglasses.
Frankie swallowed loudly. "Oh... hey, Tony... Vinnie. Long time no see..."
The first mobster cut him off abruptly. "Da boss has been lookin' everywhere for da two a' youse. Now dat we found you, I'm afraid we can't let you go."
Frankie swallowed again. "I... I understand... just... make sure da boss goes easy on Francesca for me, will ya? His own daughter?"
"No, Frankie!" Francesca was now flailing in the arms of Madame Flurrie like an angry cat, still trying to beat up Matthew, who was nursing a few scratches though how he got them from a woman whose hands were like mitts was a mystery.
The Pianta shrugged. "Dat will be up to da boss. An' you know better dan anyone Frankie: you don't cross da boss." He and his partner took up positions on either side of Frankie, gripping him firmly by the arms. Then he turned to Madame Flurrie and barked, "You! You're bringing her wid us!"
"What are you planning to do to these poor lovestruck doves?" the overly dramatic woman demanded.
"Dat's none o' your concern, miss. Da boss just wants ta have a nice, long conversation wid da two o' dese turncoats." He and his cohort began marching Frankie along.
"Frankie!" Francesca cried, still flailing in Madame Flurrie's arms. "Let me go! Let me go! Frankie!"
"He'll be all right, love," Madame Flurrie reassured her as she began following the mobsters. Matthew fell into step behind her, soon joined by Goombella and Koops. "I'll make sure of it, you wait and see."
...
The Piantas led them to the west side of town, which was in stark contrast to the rest of Rogueport. The ramshackle buildings and smell of the sea gave way to swanky homes and flashy businesses, which included a casino guarded by a Pianta bouncer. Vinny and Tony marched past all of these to a shop that was at the corner of a large walled-off area near the shore and went inside. Madame Flurrie with Francesca in her arms followed them inside as did Matthew, Goombella, and Koops.
"Good morning, and how may I help you today?" bubbled a Boo wearing cat ears and a pink bowtie. Then she saw the two mobsters and flushed.
Vinny told her, "We found dem. Da boss is expecting us."
"O-Of course," she said, sounding unhappy. Her gaze shifted to Madame Flurrie who held the still flailing Francesca and stage whispered, "Um... do you want the outsiders... in?"
Vinny glanced at Francesca and then at the woman holding her and said, "Let her through. The rest o' dem can wait here. Put on your charm. See if you can't get 'em ta buy a couple o' tings."
The Boo bowed. "Yes, sir." She hesitated and then hurried to the backdoor and opened it for them. "Uh, right this way, sir. Ma'am." She bowed quickly at Madame Flurrie as she passed.
"Thank you, darling," Madame Flurrie told her, and the young Boo flushed.
She turned to the others. "C-can I interest you in... hey! You... you can't go there! Hey!" she cried but to no avail. The others marched past her as obliviously as Bowser's old footsoldiers. The backdoor led to a rather ritzy courtyard, complete with a fountain and topiaries, that much of the public never got to see, owing to the eight-foot-high wall surrounding the place. A meek but still opulent building abutted the wall close to the sea, which was where all our heroes, plus Vinny, Tony, and the two prisoners, were going. This was where they were going to meet Don Pianta.
Another Pianta mobster stood guarding the door. Seeing Vinny and Tony, he opened the door and stepped to the side. He raised an eyebrow seeing Madame Flurrie holding Francesca's arms behind her, but Vinny nodded to let him know she could pass. He raised his eyebrow higher still seeing the three other outsiders trooping along behind her but neither Vinny nor Tony noticed it as they marched into the boss's office, so they all passed by him without a challenge.
At last, they faced Don Pianta, an older Pianta with a salt and pepper mustache, wearing a dark suit and fedora, and sitting behind a large desk that separated him from everyone else. His voice was surprisingly warm for a notorious mob boss, "Vinny! Tony! You're back! Dat means you've got good news for me, right?"
Vinny and Tony's demeanor dropped from intimidating to intimidated. Clearly, the boss was not as nice as he seemed at first glance. Vinny spoke, "We, ah, we got dem, boss. Frankie and your daughter. Found 'em down by da docks."
"So I see, so I see," said Don Pianta, beaming. He stood up and moved around to the front of his desk. "See what a little motivation can do, huh?" He chuckled. Then with a great sniff, he leaned down toward Frankie, "I've been lookin' everywhere for da two o' youse, you know. I was real worried I'd never see you again."
Frankie swallowed loudly. Francesca wriggled in Madame Flurrie's arms with renewed fervor and cried, "Don't hurt him, Daddy!"
Don Pianta ignored her. He straightened suddenly. "Now den. To who do I owe dis favor?"
Vinny shook his head. "It was nothing, boss. Just doin' our job."
Don Pianta gave him a sharp look. "What do you take me for, ya knucklehead? I know you didn't find dese two on your own. Why else do ya think I dipped into my own stash to ensure their return? And if it was really you, den who are dese clowns?"
The two mobsters turned and gasped aloud. Matthew waved with a sheepish grin, Koops kept his head low and his arms behind him as he dug into the carpet with his toe, and Goombella bobbed her head to Matthew to let them know it was all his idea. Madame Flurrie bobbed her head as a show of respect. "Mr. Don Pianta, sir, I would like to know what it is you plan to do with these two."
The Don waved his hand dismissively. "You don't need to worry about dat. Dat is a family matter. Now den, how much did I offer for their return? Ten thousand. A hundred thousand? I forget."
Matthew was about to answer but Vinny beat him to the punch, "Ten thousand, sir."
Don Pianta gave him a withering glare that shut him up and set him trembling. Then he forced a grin and said lightly, "Are you sure? I may have offered a hundred..."
"If it's all right, sir," Matthew spoke up, "We only really need thirty-two hundred... well, actually, we just need four tickets to Glitzville."
Now Don Pianta looked at him straight on shrewdly. Matthew figured he was trying to see if he was being honest and so kept his gaze level to show him that was exactly the case. His palms were also getting clammy and his knees were starting to shake, but he concentrated on keeping a level eye with the mob boss, hoping that was all Don Pianta would look at.
"What's your name, kid?" the mob boss asked suddenly.
"Oh! I'm... I'm Matthew." If the Pianta had been trying to catch him off guard, it worked.
"I see, I see. And why do ya need tickets to Glitzville? Don't tell me it's your little brudda who always wanted to see da fights and dis might be the last chance he'll ever get?"
Matthew was perplexed, wondering where this was coming from. "Er... no, nothing like that... we're just trying to find the next Crystal Star..." Then realizing what he had just said, he gasped, "Uh, I mean..."
Don Pianta gave him a searching look. Then suddenly he burst out laughing and said, "Well, dat's a new story! Most weasels try to sell me a sob story to curry favors wid me. But you're just tryin' to make a profit. I like dat. It's refreshin', that's what it is. No bones about it." He walked around to his desk and reached into the drawer. "Here. Four tickets to Glitzville, just like ya want." Then he snapped his fingers. "And you know what. I'ma gonna give ya da ten thousand. Just 'cause I like ya, kid. And I'm a man o' my word." He turned to his subordinate. "Vinny. Da reward money, if ya please."
Vinny hastily bowed. "Yes, boss." He turned to Matthew and his companions. "Dis way, please." He moved toward the door.
Matthew didn't move. He was watching Frankie, whose skin had slowly faded from sky blue to an ashen gray. He looked to Francesca, who was glaring daggers into him. She hissed, "Well, I hope you're happy! Now my daddy's gonna... he's gonna..." She began sniffling hard, unable to wipe her eyes dry with Madame Flurrie still hanging on to her arms. "And I can't live without him!" She began sobbing, "Why did you have to come along and ruin everything!" She broke down, her whole body shaking with the force of her misery. Matthew stood there indecisively, feeling guilty. He did feel sorry for the two of them. But while he knew that Don Pianta had just said he had liked him, he felt he might be pushing his luck trying to convince him to let these two go.
Still, what he had told Punio back in the Great Tree came back to him. You can't let fear stop you from helping people. If he let fear stop him now, he'd be a hypocrite. And if there was one thing he hated more than anything else in the world, it was a hypocrite. Big boy pants activate. he thought, took a deep breath, and squeaked, "Mr. Don Pianta... sir?"
Mr. Don Pianta Sir spun to him so fast that Matthew reactively took a step back. He growled, "Sometin' ya need, Mr. Matthew?" There was a warning tone in his voice, confirming for Matthew that he was definitely pushing his luck here.
He pushed on anyway, his heart beating out the words, "You fool" over and over on his ribs, "I was wondering, sir, what you planned to do with Frankie and Francesca?"
"Like I said, it's a family matter, meanin' it's none o' your business. And if you keep sticking your nose in my business, you aint gonna have a nose no more... or a beatin' heart for dat matter. Do I make myself clear?"
Matthew gulped. Goombella tugged on his sleeve somehow and hissed, "Let's just get out of here, Matthew. Don't make it worse for us!" Swallowing the lump in his throat, he said, "You're not going to hurt them, are you?"
"You really don't get it, do you?" Don Pianta stalked over to Matthew and loomed over him like a living volcano with a rather dapper mustache. "Why are you so interested in dese two, anyway? You owe 'em a favor or sometin'?"
Matthew's throat was dry. Goombella had given up on trying to get him to shut his mouth and was now tiptoeing toward the door. He said, "I just want to make sure, is all. I don't like people getting hurt if I can help it. And from the sounds of it, they didn't do anything to deserve it other than falling in love..."
"IN LOVE?! IN LOVE?!" The don of the Pianta Syndicate's voice broke over them like an avalanche. "WHAT DO DEY KNOW ABOUT LOVE, HUH? CHILDREN'S STORIES! Dey tink dey're in love, right? But when life gets hard, what do dey do, huh? Dey argue! Dey fight! And den dey think dey hate each udder and so dey think dey oughta separate and den dey find dey're even more miserable dan before!"
"You don't know that, Daddy!" Francesca cried, so shocked that her tears were frozen on her face. "Our love is true! It's pure! We'd never hate each other, Daddy. Maybe we'll fight every now and then, but we'll work it out! I know we will."
"Oh, you do, do you?" Her father whirled on her. "You tink you know what it's like for life to get rough? You think you'd be strong when tings get bad? Do you know dat he'd be strong for you?" He thrust a thick finger at Frankie.
"He doesn't need to be!" she cried. "I'll be strong for the both of us! I can!"
"No, dumpling," said Frankie in a solemn voice. "He's right."
Francesca's mouth dropped open. The head Pianta turned to him, his eyes narrowed shrewdly.
"If I can't be strong for you, den... it's not going to work."
"Don't say that, Frankie! You can't mean that! Daddy's just..."
"He's just looking out for you, dumpling. He's your father. He's always been looking out for you. And... I'd like to be as strong as he is, so dat when da time comes... I can look out for you just the way your dad would. And if it can't be me... well, I just want you to be happy and healthy... dat's all I want for you." He looked her straight in the eye.
Francesca's lip trembled and her voice came out breathlessly, "Oh, Frankie..."
Frankie nodded once and then turned to her father. "Sir. I'll accept any punishment you tink I deserve. All I ask from you is dat you forgive your daughter. And I know someday dat she'll find someone who will protect her and love her da way you do. Who'll treat her just right. She's a special girl, after all... I just wish..."
Don Pianta threw his hands into the air. "All right, all right! Quit with all dat mush already! Geesh, it's become a regular soap opera in here!" He stomped to his chair and sat in it with a heavy flump. "All dis self-sacrificin' and goodwill is giving me an ulcer. Since when did everybody become a hero? Feh! You just can't find a single selfish, greedy punk dese days." He rubbed his forehead and sighed. The rest of them watched him, on edge, wondering what he would do next.
He collected himself after a few breathless moments and leaned forward on the desks with his hands folded. He addressed Frankie, "You say you only want da best for my daughter? Someone who would love her like I do? If I thought you had a single lying bone in your body, I'd say you was just trying to butter me up." He chuckled. "What did I do to deserve dis?"
"Sir?" Frankie said uncertainly.
Don Pianta sat back in his chair and took a deep breath. "Congratulations, Frankie. You pass."
Frankie jumped to his feet. "Sir?"
"I can't think of anyone more qualified to look after my daughter dan you. Anyone who's willing to sacrifice themselves for my daughter's happiness is worthy in my book. Knowing, of course, dat I wouldn't hurt a single hair on her precious head. Bah!" He shook his head. "An' you know your flaws an' own up to dem. Not many people do dat. I respect dat about you."
"Sir, you're saying...?" Frankie's eyes were wide with disbelief.
"Yes, Frankie, dat is exactly what I'm saying, you big lug! Don't make me spell it out for you!"
"Oh, Frankie!" Francesca ripped herself out of Madame Flurrie's arms and tackled Frankie. He staggered but managed to regain his footing, turn around, and hug her back. "Oh, my creme de la creme," he said in a rather stupified voice.
Madame Flurrie sniffed. "Oh my... it's so... romantic!" She dabbed at her eyes with an imaginary handkerchief.
Koops was grinning widely. "G-Glad that worked out."
"Yeah," Matthew agreed, trying to keep the tears from leaking out of his eyes. "It did, didn't it."
Goombella shook her head, her ponytail thrashing. "Yeesh! My romance story better not be that sappy; otherwise, I'm gonna puke."
"You have someone in mind, dear?" Flurrie turned to her with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
"No!" Goombella protested quickly. "Not anyone specific..." She dug her teeth into her lip but was unable to keep the blush from her cheeks.
Madame Flurrie chuckled and said, "If you say so."
Frankie and Francesca were still hugging and laughing happily while everyone looked on, all feeling various degrees of joy themselves. They were shocked out of it when Don Pianta slammed his fist into the table. He spoke, "Now den. If everyone's happy, I'd like you all to scram."
Everyone exchanged glances. Tony raised his hand and spoke timidly, "Does dat include..."
"EVERYONE!" the Pianta boss confirmed. "ALL OF YOU! OUT! NOW! Before I personally make you all disappear..."
They got the message. In five seconds flat, the door shut, leaving no one in the room except for the mob boss. With a sigh, he got out of the chair and casually began drawing down the blinds in the room, leaving it in semidarkness. When he was done, he returned to his chair and sat down.
"Well," he said, "it's finally happened. Our little girl found herself a man." He reached beneath his desk lamp for the picture there in which was framed three Piantas: himself when his mustache had less gray, his daughter when she was but a little molehill, and his lovely wife, who in the photo wore a wreath of hibiscus around her head.
"Frankie's a good man," he continued. "Not too bright or ambitious, but he has a good heart and he cares very much for our little flower.
"An' maybe I'm just getting a little soft in my old age, but I don't think she can do any better dan him. I'm sure you woulda loved him. After all, you fell for a rough brute like me."
His wife seemed to smile out at him from the photo. He smiled back at her. He sniffed and wiped a tear. Then he coughed and grumbled, "Darn allergies gettin' to me again." At that, he could almost hear his wife laugh.
