(Flashback, two days after departure from Coni Island)
"So what do you wish to know?" Mario asked Usopp.
He and Usopp were outside, sitting in chairs while the sniper had in hand a notebook and pencil. The others close by doing their thing.
"Oh, I wanted to know about you." Usopp explained. "We are going to be crew for a long time, so I thought that it would be good if we get to know you! Your ambitions, your adventures and so on!"
"Oh! That's true." Mario hummed in realization, "I don't actually know about you all, aside from what Nojiko told me about Nami."
"...What exactly did she tell you?" Nami asked, feeling a bit uncomfortable with him knowing through her.
"Aside from your deal with Alrong? Only that you and her were adopted by your mother." Mario said. "I didn't ask much as I didn't want to open sad memories for her. That would have been very ungentleman of me."
"Well said." Sanji, was coming out with a plate full of sandwiches. "A man who makes a woman cry without consent is nothing but an asshole." He placed the plate on the table. "Here you go."
"Oh! Thank you." Mario took a slice and bit on it, his eyes widened in amazement. "... Delicious! I never ate a sandwich this good! Even in my world!"
"Heh. Thanks." Sanji took the compliment with pride.
"Alright. So, tell us a bit about yourself, Mario." Usopp quickly asked.
The plumber gulped the piece in his mouth. "Well, my full name is Mario Mario-Yes, my parents name me like that." He began saying before rolling his eyes at everyone looking at him in confusion. "I was born in a city called New Donk City; very beautiful and full of life. Since I was little, I always wanted to be a plumber, helping people with their plumbing problems, so my brother Luigi and I started a business." Mario took out a business card and placed it on the table so that Usopp could see it.
Super Mario Bros.
*You call us, we clean them!*
"...So you weren't kidding when you said you were a plumber." Nami was trying so hard to deny that reality.
"That's so cool!" Luffy said as he hung from his special seat. "Using pipes…that sure brings a lot of memories."
"You used to handle pipes?" Everyone asked him, surprised by that info, to which he nodded.
"Anyways," Mario brought their attention to him. "Me and my brother came back after a long day, ate with the family…before I lost my appetite after another discussion with Papa." He sighs in sadness.
"Did…you not get along?" Usopp asked in concern.
"It's-a not that we didn't get along. Rather, he wanted me to continue working as a constructor since it paid better, and it did." Mario looked up into the sky. "He couldn't see why I would leave a steady job to start my own business."
"So he got mad at you for following your dream?" Luffy asked, a bit angry. "That's stupid."
"Yeah, a bit. But I understood why." Mario looked at them once again, "I inherited my father's stature before marrying Mama. He told me and my brother how many people would mock and make fun of him for being short, having minimal support in his life. So, he decided to make himself a working man that could not be mocked. Years of hard work, nobody could say anything bad about him."
"So it wasn't out of malice he was against your dream, rather, it was concerned that you and your brother would be treated like he was with a weak profession." Zoro, who was resting against the railing, deduced.
"That's correct." Mario nodded. "And…well, he and I are very stubborn when it comes to being recognized as more than just a shorty. But more importantly, I just wanted his acknowledgement."
Sanji was breathing through his cigar as he looked up. A memory he despised so much resurfaced. ('At least his father actually cared.') A man with a helmet and pointy mustache appears momentarily in his smoke before he blows it away.
"So! Back to it, that night, an opportunity to prove him and the world showed itself to me and Luigi. At night, a giant pipe blew from beneath the street, and panic began to form." He said, lights appeared above him. "The other plumbers and constructors were in panic. Me and Luigi? No, we knew what happened and how to turn it off! So we dive underground and make our way to the high pressure valve."
"Woah!" Luffy and Usopp were now interested in the story.
"I still remember that day, how I was close to it…before it exploded and the high pressure water sent me and Luigi right through a wall."
"...A-And did you both live?"
…
…
…
Usopp stops writing and smacks the back of Luffy's head. "Of course they did, you moron! How would he be here if he had died!?"
"Ah! That's right! Shishishishi!" Everyone else just shook their heads at their captain's stupidity. "So?! What happened next?! Did you both get sent into a hidden room where a mystery pipe sends you both to another world?!"
"Luffy! Stop asking stupid questions like that! That didn't-"
Nami was scolding him when Mario spoke up, "As a matter of fact, that's exactly what happened!"
"WHAT?!"
"Awesome!"
"Yep! When we crashed through the wall, we were in a room that I didn't even know existed." Mario said he took a cup of water from somewhere. "That's where we found a big green pipe. Before I knew it, some sort of power suction pulled us in as we got sent through a colorful milky way."
"Milky way?" Zoro raised an eyebrow, something
"Imagine it as a Giant whirlpool that has over a million entrances to different worlds and possibilities." Mario simplified, shocking them all.
"H-How big are we talking about?" Usopp asked, scared and amazed.
"From my point of view, I say enough to swallow an entire island. But it could have been bigger."
*Gulp*
"Yeah, so. We got sent through it…and it was the first time in my life I got separated from Luigi."
"Wait. You've been together? Not once have you both been separated?"
"Nope. Thankfully, we got separated in the same place we were heading to. And let me tell you…that day was when we became something I never thought we would be."
"And that would be?"
"...A Hero."
(Meanwhile)
On an island in the East Blue, a small village found itself in a state of joy as the population was inside a bar.
"Three cheers for the second biggest bounty in the East Blue and our resident trouble maker!"
"To Luffy!"
The crowd yelled as they all chugged their drinks, toasting for the straw hat boy who always ran around screaming that he was going to be King of the Pirates.
Of course, now his words weigh something.
"Quiet you all!" Mayor Wood Slap yelled at the drunk idiots. "What is so good about our village being home to a criminal?!" He grumbled when nobody seemed to pay attention to him.
"Oh cheer up, Mayor." Makino, the resident barmaid and former caretaker of Luffy, said as he placed a drink for the old man on the table.
"How can I cheer up!? That idiot went and became a pirate!" The mayor shouted as he accepted the cup.
"But everyone knew how much he wanted to be one. We were there when he promised Shanks." Makino reminded.
"Still doesn't help!"
The woman chuckled as she knew the old man was concerned. "Are you worried that Luffy went to fulfill his dream?"
He simply looks at his drink. "His dream…or his destiny…"
"Well, I wouldn't worry so much." Makino said in confidence as she looked at the other wanted poster. "It seems that he already has a friend helping him."
"But man! To think there was someone out there who could be far more dangerous than Luffy!" A random guest said as he looked at the other wanted poster. "He sure doesn't look that dangerous, especially with that large comical nose!"
"I'm still trying to believe that one guy managed to take down someone like Arlong!"
"It also says that he's probably traveling with Luffy! It's been a few weeks and he already has a powerful member in his crew!"
"What kind of product did he do to have that mustache? It's so fancy!"
"You know what! I'm growing my mustache like him!"
"Here! Here!"
"STOP IT YOU FOOLS! DON'T COPY A PIRATE LIKE IS A GOOD THING!" Everyone laughs at the mayor's outburst.
On another part of the East Blue, we see a marine base. We focus inside where a young pink-haired boy in a chore boy marine outfit stares in joy at the wall, where the wanted poster lies. "He did it! He finally did it!"
It's only been a few weeks since he departed from his friend, and he has finally achieved the job of becoming a wanted man.
He could still remember that day; when he was still a slave chore boy of the ugliest pirate in the world and he just followed through out of fear.
He had given up everything so that he wouldn't die…and then, that boy came out from inside the barrel he found.
He showed him that he needed to fight for his dreams if he wanted to make them real. To drop sweat, tears, and blood.
So that speech was the only determination he needed to tell Alvida that she could go suck on a cow's tits!
Of course, that almost cost his life and he was crying at the fact he was going to die, but he didn't care. He said what he wanted and stood strong.
Luckily, the pirate(yes, he admitted to wanting to be a pirate)saved him and punched the fat whale of a pirate out into the sky.
Next thing he knew, they were sailing towards Shell Town, where the young man decided that he wanted a bounty hunter to join him as a crew member.
Idiotic and unbelievable.
Yet, he somehow managed to achieve it after finding out how corrupt Captain Morgan-
Ehem! Excuse me; Former Captain Morgan was in his station.
And as a final act of helplessness, his pirate friend made him mad on purpose so that he may enter the Marines.
"But now that he is wanted…that means we will be enemies." He said with a bit of sadness but a fiery determination. "That means I have to get better so I may reach his level!"
"Hey, shorty! Shut up and get back to cleaning!"
Coby yelped before quickly going back to mop the floor. As he cleaned, he looked at the wanted poster next to Luffy, seeing a man with a chubby look, fancy mustache, red hat with an M, and blue eyes. "Still, how did you get an ally so strong?" He muttered as he read the description of 'Red Cap'.
(Back in Coni Island)
"That little rat!" Genzo screamed bloody murder at seeing Mario's wanted poster. "I should have known someone like him would go this far!"
"What did you expect?" Nojiko sighs, having seen this coming. "He said he was getting revenge."
"That just means that the Marines will come here and search for information about what happened here." Genzo said.
"And if they come, we'll just give them the present Mario left for us." Nojiko remembered with a smirk.
That made Genzo hummed, "That's true. I just hope that at least will clean his name a bit."
"You know, if Mario was here, he would say that you shouldn't bother clearing his name and focus on making everyone here be safe. That's why he left it with you." Nojiko said.
The old officer sighs, "Even when afar, he still acts like a hero."
Nojiko chuckled at his response. "Besides, he's with Nami and his friends. I'm positive he'll keep her safe and sound during his time here."
"I don't question that." Genzo narrowed his eyes. "But those brats are another story; they are trouble makers, that straw hat boy especially."
"Ah! Just calm down already, you old fart!"
(Meanwhile)
On an island, somewhere in the world, a man with a musketeer-looking outfit with a huge sword behind him stood in front of a red-haired man with three scars.
"Well, well, well. To what do I own the visit, mighty Warlord of the Sea? Came for a spar? Sorry, I'm currently having a hangover." The red-haired man said, massaging his forehead.
"Still acting like a buffoon, I see." The swordsman said, unimpressed. "And I have no interest in fighting a handicap man."
"...I can still kick your ass." The red-haired spoke in a serious tone…before flopping the left long sleeve on his back, "And with one arm behind my back!"
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Around him, his men laugh at the joke he made.
The swordsman simply moved his jacket and took out a wanted poster, "I remember you speaking of a child. One that reminded you of your captain…I thought you would like to know that I met him and show you this." He opened the picture.
Everyone shut up when they saw the face of their friend, that child had caused a lot of trouble for them for almost a year.
"No way!"
"Is Luffy!"
"He did it!"
The red-haired man smiled. "So…you finally did it, Luffy." He took the poster from the swordsman and raised it to the sky, where everyone could see it. "Boys! Break the booze!" His men cheered.
"I thought you said you were having a hangover, Shanks." The swordsman deadpanned.
"Ah, lighten up you son of a gun! How can I not drink at this moment!?" The red-haired man laughed. "Come on, Mihawk! Join us!"
"...I suppose a drink won't kill anyone." Mihawk accepted the barrel cup that was being handed. "Should also know that the boy's bounty is now the second highest in the East Blue."
"Eh?!" Shanks looked surprised. "Someone else have a bigger bounty than Luffy?!" The Greatest Swordsman simply took another wanted poster and he…burst out laughing. "Pffffhahahahahaha! Look at his nose! He's so fat-"
"Eyo!" A fat man appeared next to him and bumped his belly away, sending his friend to the ground. "Don't underestimate chubby people! Look at his stache! Now that's a Man Stache!"
"Fifty million berries." A tanned-skinned man whistles at the number. "And apparently, this guy simply took down one of the biggest names there…without breaking a sweat." He passed it to a mature man with a musket and a wisdom aura coming out of him.
"Not bad. And look at that smile," The man said with a smirk. "Is not arrogance or fear, just a straight smile of confidence in himself. Kind of like Luffy."
"Mutiny!" Shanks stood up, quite dazed as he drunkenly pointed at the three men. "Lucky! Yasopp! Ben! I declared you three guilty of treason!"
That caused a chain of laughter.
(Back with the Straw Hats)
"...As we zoomed through the entire army of Bowser, but they couldn't stop us the invincible force of the Star was protecting us. In mere minutes we were in front of the King, and he fought back, but while he was strong, we were faster. Once we got him down, we delivered a double kick, piercing through his fire breath, which was strong enough to melt blue ice."
"Damn…That's, like, the hardest type of ice." Sanji whistle.
"Yep. So anyways-"
"HOLD IT, PIRATES!"
The story came to a short stop as everyone turned to the side to see a marine ship in bad shape. From the railing, a pink-haired man in a white tuxedo slams his feet on the railing. "I finally found you!"
"...Does anyone know him?" Mario asked.
"Meh."
"Nope."
"Mmm-nope."
"Don't ring the bell."
"...Tch."
"How dare you not remember me?! I'm Former Lieutenant Fullbody!"
"...Still doesn't ring any bells." Everyone said, making the poor man fall in horror.
"Grrr! It doesn't matter! Because of you a lot, I was demoted from my position and sent to this shabby post!" Fullbody creamed before ordering. "Fire the cannon!"
The marines loaded the cannon, aimed, and lit the fuse…only for the cannon to blow up in their faces.
"...Did they not maintain their weapons?" Mario asked as he and everyone sweatdrop.
"F-Fine! We are doing this in close combat!" The marine shouted as he motioned the ship to get close.
"Welp. Guess the storytelling is for later."
"Ah~ But I was liking the story!" Luffy and Usopp whined.
"We can continue later."
"Yay!
And done! Man, making this small chapter was hard.
Now, let's talk sometime serious and important...Super Mario Bros Wonder.
It's wonderful! The game is colorful! The design of the characters, I love them! The challenges are entertaining as they are frustrating. The power-ups and badges are awesome.
In short, I love it and I will be busy playing and recording that game on my channel on YouTube...After I finished the next chapter.
So yeah, thank you all for reading and see you next time!
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I'm just going to leave this here for anyone curious; /@eddie4gamer
