She walked along the countryside road, in the hour of twilight.

Her mind was at peace, and it had been a long time since her last fight with the one who'd taken her friend. Desti wasn't alone in the world, as Mario was with her. After defeating the warrior known as Sephiroth, the one who'd slain her friend Meggy, she'd resolved to continue onward and moved past the trauma of the day Desti's old friend fell to the blade.

In the fallen former Inkling's honor, the Octoling spent more time with the fat Italian and rest of the gang, like she and Meggy had, before the fateful day. Today, she and Mario had another adventure, dealing with a wild beanie-stealing bandit.

Now, as the day ended, they were making their journey home. An early night air swept through the Mushroom Kingdom and the sky was slowly darkening as the last light of the sun vanished behind the hills.

She looked to the sky, spotting the first stars before Mario did. Desti let the air flow into her nostrils, filling her lungs with life.

Soon, the twilight faded, replaced by the dark of night, and a wolf howled in the distance. A great celestial light slowly filled the sky, and the moon rose over the land. Tonight was a crescent moon, it would be days before the full moon rose.

Desti gazed to the sky, her eyes fixed on the stars. She believed in the likes of wishing stars and a shooting star would often fly across the dark sky, then they'd vanish from sight.

A breeze howled across the Mushroom Kingdom countryside, and Desti felt her tentacles shake a little. Mario removed his hat, and smiled, stroking his mustache while feeling the wind in his hair. The two friends stopped, and gazed upon the lush green countryside. It was so quiet tonight, not a creature was stirring, not even a rabbit.

However, the wolves seemed to be the most active. Desti and Mario listened to the sounds of howling, and it didn't sound like they were howling at the moon. Somewhere far away, the wolves were on the move, hunting for something.

But, as long as the wolves didn't come sniffing for them, they were in the clear.

An owl hooted in the trees, then another owl hooted again, and dark clouds rolled in, covering the stars and blocking the moon. A cold wind blew, and Desti shivered, so did Mario. It was getting late and it was time to head home, wandering at night was dangerous, even if the air was fresh, as roaming the darkness in the late hours of the evening didn't do one any good.

Just then, she heard it; An eerie whistle, an eight-note tune, carrying across the air. And she felt her ink run cold. Mario gulped. The whistle was behind them. Both friends turned, hearing the whistle get louder, as a dark figure slowly approached.

Closer, the figure came, and Desti could see their appearance in the moonlight. No, HIS appearance. A tall bipedal wolf walked towards Mario and Desti, wearing a dark cloak, barefoot, with a hood over his head even as his snout protruded and his eyes glowed a shade of red. The wolf whistled his tune, until he had approached Mario and Desti.

"Nice evening, isn't it?" The wolf asked, "A nice evening for a walk."

"Oh yeah." Desti remarked, "Would you say it's a nice night to stalk us?"

"I stalk everyone." The wolf said, staring at Desti, "...and I've been following you for a very long time."

"And you decided to show yourself tonight."

The wolf chuckled. "Usually, I never do, but this is one of those special occasions, Desti..."

Mario yelped. "Mama mia!" He cried, "How did you know her name?"

Desti clenched her fist. "I can tell you're trouble, those red eyes are a giveaway." She said, "People in dressed in black cloaks are never good news."

"So many people fear me, and they think they can escape me, but they never escape for long. I always catch up to them..." The wolf said, "...especially those who weren't supposed to survive the event where they were supposed to meet their death, people such as you. I was there on that island, and I can't believe you survived..."

And her heart pounded with great dread. The way the wolf was talking, speaking about the end of people's lives, and how people feared "him", believing they could escape "him". Desti's eyes widened, her pupils shaking with dread.

"Figuring it out yet?" The wolf drew a sword with a curved blade from his belt, followed by another, staring at Desti with an ominous smile.

"You're... You're..." Desti stammered, "The Grim Reaper?"

"That's right... Death!" Death chuckled, and advanced on Desti, with Mario cowering in fear. "And I don't mean it metaphorically, or rhetorically, or poetically, or ironically, or any other fancy way. I'm Death. Straight. Up. And I've come for you, Desti..."

"...And why does the Grim Reaper want me?"

"Remember Anime Island? You weren't supposed to survive. Destiny is something no one should toy with, but the idea that there is a world where you didn't fall there is absurd. Alternate universes where anything is possible; where you don't perish and its someone else who does later. I find it RIDICULOUS. So, how about I rectify that NOW?!"

Death moved towards Desti, with his blade glinting in the moonlight, moving fast as lightning. Desti ducked, avoiding the blade before it made contact with her face. She whipped out her Splattershot, and fired, but the wolf avoided the shot as if it was nothing.

"You're not even trying..." He said smugly.

Another sword slice, and Desti leaped over her foe's head. The pink-haired Octoling snarled, and swung her leg, kicking at Death's head. Death dodged again, and raised his weapon high, aiming to cut her down again. Every attack that came at her, Desti swiftly evaded. She morphed into her octopus form and leaped over Death's head, then she changed back into humanoid form.

PYEW-PYEW! She fired her weapon again, aiming at Death's head. The wolf avoided all the shots of ink, and raised his two swords. As Desti watched, the hilts connected, making Death's weapon a double-sided sword. He twirled the weapon, smirking and glaring at the golden-eyed Octoling.

Desti ran towards Death, ducked his blades, and slid under his legs. She spun around, and kicked the wolf before he could act, knocking Death over.

"That had nothing to do with luck." Death sneered as he looked up at Desti.

POW! Mario leaped in, kicking Death in the head, and surprising him. The plumber landed on his feet, and glared at the wolf. "You're not taking her, you mamaf***er." Mario quipped.

And the wolf glared at the fat Italian. "You aren't very important to me..." Death growled, "...not when you have your own destiny to fulfill, Mario. Perhaps you should stay out of this, for both of our sakes."

Desti leaped towards the wolf, and threw her arms around his neck. Death gasped, and Desti tightened her grasp on the wolf's throat. Death gasped, trying to breathe, and he ducked, throwing the Octoling off of him. Desti landed on her back and rolled over, getting back to her feet swiftly. She glared at the wolf, ready to keep fighting.

"Why not give up?" Death asked, "Do you wonder what the point is, living a life that won't last forever? The Inklings and your kind compete in 'Turf Wars', you're splatted, and you have machines that 'revive you'. Are you truly living your life to the fullest, competing in games where you can bite the ink...?"

"Every being in this world knows the value of life, but we know that it doesn't last forever." Desti said, "Life is still worth fighting for, hence why we strive to live to the fullest in the time that we have. You said I wasn't meant to survive the island, but I'm still alive, and all that matters is what I've been given. But you have a point, we can't fight forever..."

She dropped her weapon, and stepped forward, looking into the eyes of Death. The wolf stared at her, and raised his blades. Desti prepared herself, preparing for the stroke.

And then, he sheathed his weapons.

"Perhaps I'm being too harsh..." Death remarked, "...and perhaps it is best I let you live. Live your life well, Desti, live it well."

He walked away into the night, whistling his eerie tune, and vanished into the darkness, leaving Mario and Desti alone in the countryside. Desti felt relief, gratitude even, that the wolf was letting her live. But her heart told her one thing, they would meet again one day, when Desti's time in the world was almost over...

The End