Mario and Blaze

Mario and Blaze continue their march towards the summit, which is not far off. Mario consults the map to check the route.

- Blaze: Well? Which way do we go?

- Mario: Very simple. We go straight on and we should be able to see it before long.

- Blaze: Let's keep our eyes open, then.

Mario and Blaze gather their strength to climb a large, slippery slope. After much effort, they finally reach the top. Mario looks at the map again with incomprehension.

- Blaze: Well, Mario? Where's the chalet?

- Mario: I don't understand...according to the map, it should be here!

Suddenly, footsteps can be heard. Mario and Blaze look around.

- Blaze: Mario! Look! It's Peach and Amy!

Mario, Blaze, Peach, Amy

Peach and Amy have just reached the top, almost at the same time as Mario and Blaze. The two teams get closer.

- Mario: Here you go, girls! You're here too! How's it going?

- Amy: Fine! We landed near a lake, it was beautiful!

- Peach: Yes, it was, splendid! But...there was this earth-quake...did you feel it too?

Mario and Blaze look at each other worriedly.

- Blaze: Yes, we felt it. It was pretty violent. I wonder what it could have been.

- Mario: We'll see about that later, girls. Right now, we've got another problem...

Mario examines the map in all directions, but something seems to be bothering him.

- Mario: The chalet should be here! I'm sure of it!

The girls form a circle around Mario to observe the map. They're as surprised as he is.

- Peach: You're right, this is the right place! So where's the chalet?

The two teams look at each other, totally lost. Amy thinks before saying:

- Amy: Maybe Omochao and Toad made a mistake when preparing the map and the chalet is somewhere else? Or maybe they did it on purpose to complicate the trek?

- Mario: In any case, I can't see any other possibility. Whether it's a mistake or not, the chalet has to be somewhere else, because it's not here.

- Blaze: What do we do, Mario?

- Mario: Well, we keep looking. We're going to find it eventually!

- Amy: Uh...so we split up? It's supposed to be a competition...

- Peach: What are you talking about? We might as well stay together! The more the merrier!

- Mario: I agree with you, Peach. It's better if we stick together. And in the ranking, if anyone asks us who came first, we'll just say we came at the same time. Right, girls?

Peach, Amy and Blaze nod in agreement.

- Mario: Let's get going! In any case, I'm well surrounded! I'm lucky to be accompanied by all these lovely ladies!

- Amy: Oh, we're touched by such courtesy, dear sir!

Immediately, the two teams set off, laughing, in search of the cottage. What they don't know is that it was right under their feet, buried in the snow, with Shadow and Luigi trapped inside.

Wario and Knuckles

Wario and Knuckles, still in the underground, have been walking for a long time now. Yet there's still no sign of an exit. Knuckles looks annoyed and exhausted.

- Knuckles: You've got to be kidding me! It never ends, does it? Do you think we'll find the exit soon?

Knuckles looks around and sees that Wario is far behind. He examines every nook and cranny of the cave, without hurrying.

- Knuckles: Hey! Hurry up!

Wario returns to Knuckles, grumbling.

- Knuckles: What are you doing? You've been looking all over the cave! If it goes on like this, we'll finish last!

Wario looks furious. He tries to contain himself, but I can't help yelling:

- Wario: I don't care about finishing last! I don't care about this treck! All I want is my gold! MY GOLD!

The word "gold" forms an echo that reverberates throughout the cave. Knuckles seems shocked by this revelation.

- Knuckles: Huh? What's that supposed to mean?

- Wario: Well, buddy, I'll be honest with you. The only reason I agreed to go on this trek was to find the gold hidden in those caves! Nothing else!

- Knuckles: Again with your money! You're obsessed! You're even worse than a certain bat I know!

- Wario: Sorry, pal, but money comes first with me! And I'm not leaving here until I find my gold! And as soon as I do, I'm getting the hell off this mountain!

- Knuckles: You're a selfish jerk! It's pathetic!

- Wario: Think what you like! I'm finding my gold and I'm getting out of here!

Wario is about to continue on his way when he's surprised by a punch in the face from Knuckles, who looks mad with rage.

- Knuckles: No, I won't let you get away! Because if I get to the chalet on my own, it won't count and I'll be disqualified! We've got to stick together!

- Wario: Don't you understand that I don't care?! Get lost, porcupine! Go play somewhere else!

Wario also throws a punch. Knuckles barely avoids it. Wario hits the wall, which immediately shatters, forming a large hole.

- Wario: But that's...

Wario looks into the hole. Inside, hundreds of nuggets shine brightly. Gold.

- Wario: That's it! I've found it! I FOUND MY GOLD!

Luigi and Shadow

Meanwhile, Luigi and Shadow, still stuck in the chalet, check their bag to see what could be useful to them. The temperature drops dangerously, and the cold is seriously felt, especially by Luigi.

- Luigi: Holy cow...how cold it is...

- Shadow: Think of something else and it will pass. Well, in my bag I have a little water, an apple, a blanket and a lamp. What about you ?

- Luigi: I only have water, I already ate my snack on the way. I have a lamp, too. On the other hand, I completely forgot my blanket...

Shadow fixes his blanket before giving it to Luigi, visibly surprised by this gesture.

- Luigi: But...what are you doing? And you ?

- Shadow: Don't worry about me. I'm much more resilient than you. It's better if you take the cover.

- Luigi: Why do you say that? Do you think I'm not capable of surviving? I'm Mario's brother, I remind you, that's not nothing!

- Shadow: That didn't stop you from whining like a baby as soon as you realized we were stuck here.

Luigi doesn't know how to respond to this remark. He has to admit that Shadow is right. He takes the blanket and wraps himself inside.

- Luigi: Me...thanks for the blanket.

Luigi sits against the wall, clutching his blanket tightly. He looks around the chalet before letting out a sigh.

- Luigi: Well, what do we do while we wait for the others to get us out of there? It can take hours!

Shadow searches every corner of the chalet. He notices a cabinet and opens it. It is empty. He looks desperate.

- Shadow: Pfff...no books, no board games, no radio...oh look, a joke on a candy wrapper!

Shadow takes the paper that was on the cabinet. Upon reading the joke, Shadow looks very surprised.

- Shadow: No wait..., are you serious, guys?!

- Luigi: What? What's the matter ?

- Shadow: You're not going to believe me, but I read this joke on the Ark over fifty years ago.

- Luigi: Seriously? Gosh ! Read it!

- Shadow: Why do beets always win?

Luigi thought before shrugging his shoulders. Shadow responds in a monotone voice:

- Shadow: They are un-beet-able.

Neither Luigi nor Shadow laughed at the joke. Shadow throws the paper away before sitting down next to Luigi.

- Shadow: I didn't even want to take part in this stupid trek! And now I'm stuck here with you!

- Luigi: Well then, why did you participate?

Shadow stares at Luigi in amazement, as if the answer is obvious.

- Shadow: To beat Sonic, obviously! I bet him that I would arrive before him! The worst part of the story is that this is why I'm stuck here!

- Luigi: Why do you want to beat him so much?

- Shadow: To prove to everyone that I am much stronger than him! We've always competed to see who was the fastest and strongest, and there's still no answer! So I will continue to fight him until I win! It might sound stupid, but that's how it is!

This sudden fury from Shadow seems to frighten Luigi. Nevertheless, a certain understanding can be seen on his face.

- Luigi: You know Shadow, I don't find it stupid. On the contrary. I completely understand how you feel. In fact, we are the same, you and me.

- Shadow: Again ? Why are you saying that?

Luigi lowers his head before saying:

- Luigi: Because I'm experiencing the same thing with Mario. It's my daily life.