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

While Myra is Rediscovering Toad Town

BGM: Our Paradise - Monstro Town (Super Mario RPG 2023)

"Any reason why you decided to come here, Carmen?" Gilgamesh asked.

"For the past while, I've been feeling some great power… I don't know what it is, but it's intense."

"How long have you been feeling it?"

"I've felt this power ever since we fell the Death Egg. I didn't think of it much after we bested it, but then, around the time when Futaba showed off her new friend, I began to sense a dark power."

"Fascinating…"

"Indeed." Carmen nodded. "I must be honest-" She pulled out a stone. "All of those coins to buy fireworks all for this thing? It's incredible."

"How much did that mole say those fireworks cost again?"

"Five hundred coins. Though, he didn't say no to five hundred Gil." Carmen chuckled. "Still, ever since that little mole girl gave me this stone, it's been beckoning me to this town."

"A white rock?"

"She called it a Shiny Stone."

At that moment, it started to shine brightly as she got closer to a darker door. "This is it… the dark power that I've been feeling is right behind this door."

She turned to Gilgamesh. "Are you ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be." Gilgamesh said as they both walked into the door.

End BGM

The duo walked into a dark void, both of them on high alert.

"Who… are you?"

"I am Carmen, heroine of my world."

"And I'm Gilgamesh, Carmen's best friend!"

That's a stretch… Carmen thought, rolling her eyes with a playful smile.

"You are not the one I was expecting to visit. I had come back to see if that mustachioed hero was willing to put up his dukes once more, only to find out that this world has merged with another and is connected to many other worlds."

"Mustachioed hero? I've come across him at one point… though I don't think I ever interacted with him."

"Fascinating… and to think I have come back with all new power. It would be a waste to not use it on someone… perhaps I should toy with you for a little bit as an appetizer."

"Bring it on." Carmen said. "Just one question… are you going to reveal yourself?"

The being chuckled. "If you insist."

A dark wave rushed through Carmen and Gilgamesh, nearly knocking them off their feet as they would see a large being in front of them.

BGM: Troia Boss Theme (Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker)

"I am Culex, Dark Knight of Vanda! I return to this world anew. I am matter and antimatter. I am past, present and future. I will consume all of time and space! My evil power is in harmony with this newly forged world. And it will crush you!"

Carmen smirked. "Oh, this is gonna be fun!" She said, closing her eyes as she switched to her Summoner class while Gilgamesh took out his swords.

"En garde!"

The Dark Knight of Vanda - Culex

At that moment, four crystals appeared between them. "I'll take care of the crystals. You deal with the big man." Gilgamesh said.

"Roger that!" Carmen nodded as she ran through and slid underneath the crystals. The four of them started to charge up attacks but Gilgamesh slashed at the four.

"Hey, you colorful rocks! You're dealing with the best swordsman of all time!" Gilgamesh said.

Carmen clapped her hands as she waved them up shortly after as a fountain of fire struck Culex. Culex simply brushed it off and used Meteor Storm, striking Carmen. "Rrrgh!" She grunted, feeling herself fall on one knee.

"Do you feel weak?" Culex taunted.

Carmen pulled out a Mega Potion, feeling herself perk up as she got back up. "Nah, I feel great!"

"Good. I'd hate to be disappointed!" He conjured up diamond glass before morphing it into a spear and threw it, but Carmen rolled out of the way and unleashed Brand of Purgatory at him.

The Water Crystal unleashed Diamond Saw at Gilgamesh, but he swiftly slashed through the blades as he quickly slashed at the Crystals where the Fire Crystal responded by throwing out a Flare at him. "Harumph!" Gilgamesh dusted himself off after the Flare struck him. "It will take more than a measly fireball to strike me down!"

Culex snapped his fingers as a massive lightning bolt dropped down on Carmen, but she backflipped to avoid it as she unleashed Searing Light on herself before throwing down an Astral Impulse. Culex responded by throwing down a Meteor to counteract it, both exploding in midair, then Carmen threw Ruby Ruin III at him.

The Earth Crystal charged up Water Blast, where Gilgamesh looked down to see a watery circle underneath him. He swiftly jumped out of the way to avoid the Water Blast as the Wind Crystal unleashed Petal Blast. Gilgamesh brought his sword close to his face and gracefully slashed through the petals and through the Wind Crystal, severely damaging it in the process.

Culex snapped his fingers again as Carmen was caught in a massive explosion, to which she responded with Ruby Rite, hitting Culex with a powerful fire blast and then put her hand on the ground, summoning Titan as he unleashed Earthen Fury.

The Earth Crystal proceeded to drop down a massive boulder on top of Gilgamesh, but he simply replaced himself by grabbing the Fire Crystal and having the boulder drop on it. The Fire Crystal angrily used Flame Wall on him shortly after, engulfing Gilgamesh… only he walked through the flames and quickly slashed the Fire Crystal with all four swords.

"Come to me, Ifrit!" Carmen declared, summoning him as he charged right in and punched Culex in the gut before unleashing a fire storm upon him with Carmen unleashed Ruby Outburst on him.

"Ifrit? Now this is getting interesting." Culex mused as he threw diamonds at Ifrit and Carmen, the latter getting out of the way while the former tanked it before breathing fire at the dark knight, where Carmen then used Emerald Ruin.

The Water Crystal threw down a couple of Ice Rocks, but Gilgamesh slashed through the ice rocks and then had Enkidu come out of him as the green Awoofy fired a rocket launcher, where the resounding explosion also engulfed the Wind and Earth Crystals while the Fire Crystal simply resisted it and shot out a fireball once more.

Ifrit and Culex both clutched each other, seemingly wrestling to push the other back, but Culex smirked and used Meteor Swarm once more, striking both of them and backhanded Ifrit away, but Carmen used Everlasting Flight to gradually recover while hitting him with a Fountain of Fire once more, with Ifrit joining her before she had him disappear and replaced him with the Phoenix, where it let out a majestic cry.

"Alright, hit him where it hurts!" Carmen ordered as the Phoenix cried before unleashing Revelation, burning Culex and the Crystals that were nearby, though the Fire Crystal resisted. However, the Wind Crystal started to crack, which Gilgamesh took notice and slashed at the Wind Crystal, which shattered after Gilgamesh sheathed his sword, though before the Wind Crystal shattered, it let out some energy to give its allies a boost before it broke.

The Water Crystal proceeded to quickly use Diamond Saw on Gilgamesh, who took a step back upon impact. "Hmph! So you're a bit faster. Should I be impressed!" He said as he took a stance and slashed through all three.

Culex raised his arm and threw down a Fire Stone at Carmen, but the Phoenix got in the way and took the blow, seemingly absorbing the fire and sent it back at Culex as Carmen used Ruby Catastrophe on him, then she rushed forward and used Crimson Cyclone, engulfing Culex in flames with the Phoenix slamming into him.

Culex created more diamonds and then threw a flurry at them, which Carmen crossed her arms to block, some of them nicking her while the Phoenix took most of the blast as Carmen unleashed Slipstream, and then slammed her foot on the ground, using Mountain Buster on him. "Hmph!" Culex smirked, summoning a Dark Star and crushing the Phoenix with it, only for Carmen to use Rekindle, causing the Phoenix to gain its second wind and used Revelation once more with Carmen backing it up with Scarlet Flame.

The Earth Crystal used Sand Storm to blind Gilgamesh, and then the Fire Crystal used Flare, but Gilgamesh popped open a Mega Potion and drank it up, then he grabbed the Fire Crystal and shoved it into the ground before impaling the Water Crystal, where it was stuck through the sword as Gilgamesh proceeded to use the Water Crystal as a battering ram and struck the Earth and Fire Crystal until the Water Crystal shattered, while also the Earth and Fire Crystals cracked, though the Water Crystal gave its allies a magical boost before getting destroyed.

Culex raised his hand as dark energy came out as he swiped down, unleashing Final Claw on Carmen but the Phoenix took the hit instead, falling to the ground and disappearing in ash. Carmen knelt down and petted the ash. "You take a rest." She said before standing up, throwing her hand down. "Come on out and play!"

At that moment, Bahamut emerged from the ground and let out a roar.

"Bahamut? You and the God of Death are close? My my, will the surprises never end…" Culex smirked as Carmen used Searing Light on herself and Bahamut where the former used Wyrmwave and then Bahamut unleashed Akh Morn.

Gilgamesh grabbed the Earth Crystal and threw it at the Fire Crystal, both of them slamming into each other as Enkidu casually tossed out an ice grenade, where it exploded underneath and proceeded to turn the Fire Crystal into ice before it dropped to the ground and shattered, though it gave everyone better attack power before doing so.

The Earth Crystal turned both ways, seeing that it was the only crystal left as it started to sweat nervously against Gilgamesh and Enkidu, where they proceeded to lunge at the Earth Crystal, the latter desperately trying to hit them with Blasts and Boulders.

Bahamut swiped down at Culex, but he grabbed his arm and then used his other hand to forcibly close Bahamut's jaw. However, Bahamut swung his tail to knock Culex back a bit as Bahamut then breathed fire as Carmen used Deathflare.

"Hiyaaaaah!" Gilgamesh slashed through the Earth Crystal to shatter it, which it used its last power to bring Culex's defenses up before it was destroyed. Enkidu then pointed to the pile of ashes as Gilgamesh pulled out a Phoenix Down and tossed it into the ashes.

The ashes proceeded to catch ablaze before the Phoenix rose up and let out a loud screech.

Culex shifted his eyes, staring at both summons, Carmen, Gilgamesh and Enkidu as Carmen unleashed Death Flare, Gilgamesh charged at him with four swords, Enkidu fired his rocket launcher while Bahamut unleashed Akh Morn and the Phoenix unleashed Revelation.

He simply closed his eyes with a smirk. "Hmm… it seems I have underestimated you." He said as he was bombarded with all attacks.

End BGM

Once the smoke cleared, Culex dusted himself off and chuckled. "I have seen enough… you have bested me in a flashier way than the mustachioed fellow. You, like the red one, have earned my respect."

"Well, how about that." Carmen said, casually putting her hands behind her head. "So, you've faced Mario before, eh?"

"Indeed, I have. Back then, it was when Smithy and his army threatened the world. Mario, alongside his brother, a princess, a star spirit, a cloud and a big green idiot stumbled across this dimension. We fought and to my surprise, Mario had never given up, even when I had him on his knees. He had earned my respect and I consider him a brother in arms, in a way. I had hoped than when I came back, I would have a friendly rematch with him… though to my surprise, who stood before me was none other than you and a four armed buffoon… and his little green fox."

"Sorry to disappoint you?"

"Don't be. It just confirms that there are strong folks out there that I would be bold enough to call a comrade."

Carmen smiled. "That's good to hear."

"Should you ever run into Mario, tell him I said hello… and that I'm requesting a rematch."

"Understood."

Carmen turned around with Gilgamesh. "Alright, we're done here. I've had my fill!" Carmen said as she walked out with the duo. "Take care, big guy!" She disappeared along with them.

Culex chuckled, waving goodbye as he rubbed his chin in thought. "I wonder what it'd be like if I fought alongside Mario… hmmhmm… something to consider when we cross paths yet again…"

Back with the duo…

"So, you had your fill with Culex. What next?" Gilgamesh asked.

"Honestly? On our way here, I've noticed a particular shipwreck near the coast. I want to see what's in there."

Gilgamesh laughed. "And if we come across a shark living in the shipwreck?"

"We engage it in battle, of course."

This Gaiden idea was inspired by Cody! ...I think we're slowly being influenced by the SMRPG remake.

Ibuki: Not a bad thing~!

Deadpool: What she said!

Mhm! Though, I will admit, I'm not a fan of Culex's theme in the remake. The theme sounds too... Kingdom Hearts-y. Which that's not necessarily a bad thing, I feel it doesn't have the same "ooomph" compared to the original, y'know?