Disclaimer: I do not own any of the material appearing in this story. The OC's belong to their respective owners.

While ATMC and Friends Went Camping

Mario lay on his back, looking at the ceiling while on the couch, deep in thought. "Hmm…"

"Maybe have a chat with Byleth after this? She might help you out too."

Ha… easier said than done.

As much as Mario wanted to go have a chat with Byleth over his insecurities, his body has been… quite resistant over actually going to Garreg Mach and having a little therapy session with Byleth.

He's Super Mario, he doesn't need therapy!

…Alas, that was the pride talking. And Mario knew he had to go over there eventually. Rip the bandaid off, just go and talk to the woman who helped out Ruby overcome her fears. Helping out Marnie with her nightmares she tends to get. She even helped out Blake over the X-Parasite situation. Even Weiss had some help.

…So why the devil is he not going over there?

"I can't keep delaying it…" He mumbled to himself and with a deep breath, he jumped up and put his shoes on, then walked toward the door, determined to talk to the master of therapy herself. It's time for therapy!

…Is what he would be doing if he didn't freeze the moment his hand was on the doorknob. Like all the other times he talked himself into trying to get out the door and head for Garreg Mach.

Mama mia, what's a plumber to do? Even Luigi's braver than this!

No, this time, it'd be different. He took a deep breath and opened the door. He hesitated but he took the first step out the door, then closed it and walked off.

He couldn't believe it. The man everyone idolized and put on a high pedestal, the man who courageously braves the perils that Bowser throws at him, the man who is the hero of the Mushroom Kingdom… is going to therapy.

…Maybe he should leave a note first. No. He made this much progress, he might as well see it through and not backtrack.

At Garreg Mach…

"Rrrgh!" Caspar winced, wincing as he looked up at Byleth. "Hell of a punch… but I'm not through yet!" He exclaimed, jumping up and delivering swift punches to her, but she weaved her head through the swings and then delivered a swift uppercut to Caspar's stomach.

"Mmmph!" He grunted as he fell to the ground.

"Ooooh." The rest of the Black Eagles winced at this. Even Hubert had to hold back a grimace… though Petra looked enamored by this.

"And that class, is how you should dodge a punch and follow through with a counterpunch." Byleth pointed out.

"Cooool." Petra said as Byleth helped Caspar up.

"Didn't hurt you too badly, did I?"

"Nah… I'm not hurt. Just my pride…"

Byleth chuckled, patting him on the shoulder. "You'll be fine." She said. "Now, blocking and tanking a punch is also par for the course for brawlers, but you shouldn't tank too much, otherwise your stamina will take a hit."

"That's… very good to know…" Caspar rubbed his head.

"Sheesh, even I knew that." Sylvain said.

This coming from the guy who's on a horse… Caspar thought.

"Alright, that will be all for today." Byleth said as her class dispersed. "Okay… what do I want to do today…" She mused. "Dorothea's gonna be in choir practice for a while… my Smash match with Lyn doesn't start until a few hours… I could put some training in." She folded her arms.

She had to admit, Lyn's a pretty tough opponent, especially when she mixes things up by firing arrows at anyone who dared to even think about zoning her.

Byleth rubbed her chin in thought. "Hmm… even if I do put some training in, I don't really train for that long."

"Excuse-a me!"

Byleth turned around, seeing Mario in front of her. "Oh! Mario!" She exclaimed. "This is a surprise. Usually you don't visit Garreg Mach…"

"I wanted to talk to you about something."

"Hmm? …Oh! How about we discuss this over tea?"

Mario nodded. "That sounds lovely."

Byleth escorted Mario to where she normally drinks her tea. On their way over, a few students spotted Mario.

"Cool mustache…"

"He's… short. Who is that?"

"M? M for what… May?"

"Nice overralls…"

Byleth sat down and poured the tea for the both of them. "So, what do you want to talk about?"

"Well… it's kinda embarrassing…"

"Oh, I'm sure it's not that bad." Byleth said, starting to take a sip of her tea.

"Well… I need some advice about my… insecurities."

"Mmph?!" Byleth nearly choked on her own tea, coughing a few times as she put her tea cup down. "Mmm… forgive me, I was just caught off guard."

Mario let out a laugh. "No worries. I'm-a sure anyone would be caught off guard when someone like me has… issues."

"Of course. I mean, everyone has insecurities… I just haven't thought of the chillest plumber in the Mushroom Kingdom having them." She explained sheepishly.

"I don't blame-a you."

"So… what's troubling you?"

"Well, I've been having these… issues lately."

"When did this start happening?"

"It happened a few minutes after Luigi moved out. These thoughts started creeping in my head. At first I was lonely and I thought nothing of it, but then… came these thoughts that no one would want me around anymore. Everyone will be fine without me… everyone'll leave me."

"Oh…"

"Not only that, but I thought Luigi might need some help unpacking, but he had Marnie and Neo helping him out… I didn't want to intrude. Then, Peach texted me and I find out from her that Weiss had been kidnapped by the Wario Bros, and her team, MAJC, Futaba and Nyx went after them to Atlas. I figured "Hey, they might need some help", but Peach told me "They're fine on their own. I should stay where I am and let them handle it." I knew she meant well… we just got back from the Beanbean Kingdom and thought I should just take it easy for a bit so I don't wear myself out the next time she gets kidnapped by Bowser."

"Good advice…" Byleth nodded. "So, you basically feel unwanted?"

"Yes. I'm not sure where these thoughts came from, but they've been eatin' at me for a while. The moment my bro left, they started-a comin'. It doesn't help that we've been inseperable for a long time."

"Hmm, that'll do it." Byleth nodded again. "Our minds are devilish that way. A bad or intrusive thought comes along and, well, you unwittingly dwell on it. You've been dwelling on this for a while and you can't shake it off, right?"

"Mhm."

"Have you talked to anyone about this?"

"Well… when we were in this Phazon War, I've-a told a few. My bro, Peach, Daisy, RWBY, JNPR, Pit and Yoshi."

"Okay, well, at least you've told them. Glad you didn't tell someone like Bowser. Gods above, he won't let you hear the end of that." She said. "What I suggest is-"

"There's more-a."

"Oh?"

"You see, the townsfolk look up to me since I'm their hero and I put a stop to Bowser numerous times. They've put me up on such a high pedestal that, nowadays, I put on this tough guy act to give everyone confidence. I'm always in a "Let's-a go!" attitude that everyone knows that Peach will be safe."

Byleth's eyes widened. "Oh… oh my. So you do this to make everyone feel calmer about Bowser's invasions. If you don't put up this act, then everyone will start to panic. I've a feeling you don't want to jeopardize that."

"Yes… and I also told them about it too. The same ones I told about my insecurities, I mean."

"Hmm… that's serious." Byleth nodded.

"So it's like… what the heck should I do? Peach thought it'd be best if I came to you for advice and… honestly, it took me a little while for me to actually follow through." He chuckled a bit.

"I do not blame you. It's the pride of the hero. You put up a tough guy act and you don't want anyone to see your vulnerable side. That's understandable, especially considering how Bowser might use that to his advantage."

"Mhm."

"However, if I might suggest: Perhaps open up more. As we all know, bottling things up isn't really good for your health. Sure, let the folks in the Mushroom Kingdom still idolize you, but perhaps you ought to open up and show your softer, more vulnerable side. Preferably when Bowser isn't about to unleash another attack on the Kingdom."

"So you're saying… be true to myself?"

"Precisely. You're always confident and carefree, so hey, why not go and explore that around the townsfolk? Be more vulnerable and show a side they haven't even realized. Show them that you're human and you, too, can show emotion instead of being stoic. And if some people don't like this side of yours, don't give 'em the time of day. Ignore them. You have a lot of support and you do so much for everyone. Perhaps they ought to do something for you for a change."

"I see…"

"Now I wouldn't go and announce to the whole town: "Hey, everybody! I'm not this type of guy you think I am!", because… chances are, even I believe there might be a few spies in town and will report to Bowser. Hell, I'd be careful around Marnie." She giggled. "Though, I doubt she'd go that far."

"True." Mario chuckled.

"You just gotta be true to yourself, and, here's the thing. We like you. We love having you around. You're friendly, you're a fun guy to be around… none of us are going to leave you at all. Pardon me if this sounds a bit rude, but where did you even get this idea? It sounds like… someone manipulated you or something."

"Have you heard of this person called Dimentio?"

"Hmm… Ruby did mention that name on our way back from K2L. Something about a… paper universe and how he tormented that version of Ruby and turned her into Chaos Ruby… I don't know who he is, but he sounds pretty bad."

"He kidnapped me and found out about my insecurities so he manipulated those emotions and made me think no one wanted me. He turned me evil for a time."

"Oh my… are you bothered that this Dimentio turned you evil?"

"For some reason… no."

"Hmm, guess you don't dwell on it as much as with these intrusive thoughts and this high pedestal everyone put you on." Byleth mused. "That said, if I may suggest another thing: If you feel left out, why not go with some of your friends? Join your brother. I'm pretty sure he'll let you hang out with him when he's hanging with Neo and Marnie, and those other guys that Sora is friends with."

"Ah, I don't wanna intrude…"

Byleth nodded. "That's completely understandable, but, as I said, go out with them. After all, you're very sociable, so you shouldn't have too much trouble joining them. Don't worry about being invited, just invite yourself! …But don't like, ya know, crash any social group. It might make things awkward, you know?"

Mario nodded. "Of course."

"And if these intrusive thoughts pop up again… why not just listen to some easy listening music or go for a walk or… anything that gets your mind off things. It should go away by doing any of those things."

"Ah, of course…" Mario nodded. Easy listening music? Why didn't I think of that…

Byleth smiled. "One other thing." She then stood up and before Mario knew it, she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "Just so you know, we all appreciate and love you… so please, don't destroy yourself with these things, alright? You do so much but… you need to take care of yourself every now and then…"

Mario smiled back, and then hugged her back. "Thank-a you…"

"Anytime." Byleth smiled as the two parted right after.

"I think I needed to hear-a all of that." He said as he got up, finished his tea and then tipped his cap to her. "Grazie."

Byleth's smile never faded. "You're welcome." She said as Mario walked away, both of them waving goodbye. "Hmm, it's not every day I give advice to him, of all people." She said before chuckling. "How about that…"

Later, back at Mario's house…

"Aaah… that felt good to get off my chest." He said as he sat down on the couch, but just as he sat down… the doorbell rang as he turned his head and then walked over the door, opening it up and seeing Peach. "Oh! Peach!"

"Hi. How are you feeling? You look… a lot chipper."

"Oh, I finally got around to talking to Byleth."

Peach's eyes widened. "Oh! What'd she say? Tell me everything!" She requested, sitting down on his couch and listening intently on what Byleth said to him. She even giggled when Byleth hugged him. "That's some good advice."

"Yup."

Peach smiled. "Like Byleth said… we love and appreciate you." She said, wrapping her arms around him before getting an idea. She got up and walked toward the kitchen. "Do you have any cake mix?"

"I think I have some in the basement."

Peach nodded. "Got ya!" She nodded and headed downstairs, and as she did, the door knocked and then Mario answered the door to see RWBY.

"Hey, mind if we come crash for a while?" Yang grinned.

Mario laughed. "Sure!" He said as they walked in, and then JNPR and Yoshi walked in next, then Pit descended from a heavenly light.

"Yo!" Pit waved, high fiving Mario as he walked in too, then Mario turned around and closed the door.

"Hey!" A voice exclaimed as Mario blinked and reopened the door, seeing Luigi and Daisy.

"I see, you invite everyone in and you close the door on us. I see how you are!" Daisy teased as they walked in, while the brothers hugged.

"See? Told ya I'd come visit." Luigi smiled.

"It was actually his idea that we all come over to check up on ya!" Nora said, and then there was another knock on the door as Mario looked over to see Marnie and Neo.

"So, is this where the party is being held?" Marnie asked with a smile.

"Okay, so I miiiight have told the girls about your predicament…" Luigi sheepishly rubbed his head.

Marnie chuckled. "Relax, I'm taking this secret to my grave. I'm not gonna confide this with Lord Bowser." She said and then teasingly pointed her thumb to Neo. "It's this girl you have to watch out for. You never know with this one."

Neo snickered, playfully elbowing Marnie as she let out a giggle. ["I'd say the same about you, you doofus."] She signed, playfully winking at her.

Mario chuckled. "Thank you all so much."

"See, bud? We all care about ya! None of that nonsense that Dimentio filled your head with is gonna change any of that." Daisy smiled.

"Oh my!" A voice exclaimed as they would see Peach emerging from the basement. "I'm going to need more cake mix."

Mario felt a bit misty eyed over all of this and wiped his eyes, smiling at all of this. "So, big guy, what are we doing?" Yang asked.

Mario smiled. "How about a little Mario Party?"

And now for something that's not a joke!

Ibuki: Hope they don't get too wild with that Mario Party...