TW: The Sandy Hook tragedy is discussed near the end of this chapter. Reader discretion is advised.
26 January 2012
MK
Dear Diary,
Where to begin?
That infernal turtle is at it again, snatching Peach every Tuesday and Friday. I think he's pretty upset that she tried to escape the last time he had her. Surprisingly, he hasn't increased his security measures because of it. It's like he wants her to try and escape. Like he wants us to infiltrate his castle and fight him. There's no doubt about it—he wants the MK under his control and Peach as his queen, but he also likes p—ing me and Mario off.
And when we make our triumphant return, it's Mario, Mario and more Mario. I try not to let it bother me the way it used to, knowing what happened nearly five years ago, but it still hurts. And I guess that Mario is so swept up in the hoopla that he forgets I'm there, too. He vouches for me later, of course, but it does little to lessen the impact.
We've grown, in a spiritual sense, in the two-and-a-half decades we've spent protecting the MK and its ruler. But Mario's shadow has also grown, covering me entirely. Just when I think I've stepped out, I'm pulled back in. That's why I linger outside after the rescue missions, enjoying the cool breeze and the feel of the soft grass beneath me as I lay on my back, gazing at the sky. If it's nighttime when we get back, I study the stars and watch the fireflies come out and dance. My frustration simmers down when I see them, reminding myself to remember those little lights in my life and to play the grateful game. And once I've completely calmed down, I head inside the castle for some cake and other goodies.
Josh has remodeled his gym. The cardio machines now have audio ports for Android and iPhones and sleeker displays. He's not trying to compete with the gym in the MK; he just wants to keep up with the changing times. I'm in that gym almost every day of the week, sweating out this thing and that thing that's bugging me. Sometimes, I'm on that spin bike for so long that Josh has to tap me on the shoulder and let me know that he's locking up for the day. Luckily, Julian and Jackie's gym is now open 24/7, with the employees working in rotating shifts.
Good thing, too. Because Roland Butter is really getting on my nerves. He's not letting this go, continuing to insist that I have a romantic interest in his wife. Several times a day, he's ranting at me over the phone, telling me to stay away from Grace. He's tried to confront me in public, and when I refuse to take the bait, he persists. He's even spread rumors about me on social media. And all the while, Super Princess Grace, bless her heart, keeps forgiving and forgiving and forgiving, shouldering the burden and trudging on, gently but firmly telling her hubby to calm the [bleep] down and back the [bleep] off. But a day will come when Roland will push things to far, and his wife will have to put her foot down—that's definitely certain.
I vent about Roland to my friends, and Grace vents about her spouse to her friends, too. When we can, we vent to each other. There's a flash in her violet eyes whenever I see her, a sure sign that Roland is touching a nerve that shouldn't be touched. He's supposed to love his son, but lately, he's put poor Gavin on the back burner. Family outings and trips to the amusement park? It was a miracle if they lasted an hour without a kerfuffle. If that man sees the slightest thing pertaining to me, like something green, nothing else matters to him anymore. Grace has threatened to banish him to the couch numerous times, and she tells me that next time, she's actually going to do it.
"That should shape him up," she said.
"And if it doesn't?" I asked.
"As long as he acts this way, Roland and I won't have our—fun—at night," said Grace. "He just wants to believe I'm cheating on him with you, even when evidence to the contrary is staring him in the face. I just—I…"
"What else has he done?" I asked. "He's really starting to harass me, but…"
"Oh, no—he wouldn't dare take it that far," said Grace. "He knows I can hold my own in a fight. If he lays hands on me, then he'll wish he hadn't."
At least I don't have that problem with Daisy. She knows those rumors are false. Despite her duties in running a kingdom, we squeeze in time for each other. And there's that thing we like to do over the phone, which is just as pleasing as the actual act itself. So, infidelity isn't an issue with me and my Daisy. I really wish Roland would be more like her.
But still, I chill. I help Mario tend to both of our plumbing businesses. I work out in Josh's gym and Julian's gym. I dance. And I write in you. Anything to keep my mind off of Roland Butter and the Koopa King.
Luigi
16 March 2012
MK
Dear Diary,
Peach must've surmised that this would be a rough year, especially for me, so as temperatures began to warm up, she organized the first Mario Party of the 2010s! Originally, she planned to throw it on the 11th, but she postponed it until today so it could coincide with Jasmine's 15th birthday. Not every birthday party is a Mario Party, so for Jas, this must be a special treat! Yes, the Mario Party we held in 2003 was a bit of a belated birthday party for her, but still.
This Mario Party's "storyline" involved the guests endeavoring to stop Koopa and his eldest son, B.J., from stealing Mini-Stars. Unlike previous parties, we navigated through the boards by riding on a vehicle befitting each board's theme. The boards were: Toad Road, Bob-omb Factory, Boo's Horror Castle, Blooper Beach, Magma Mine and Koopa Station. Miniboss battles against B.J. were sprinkled intermittently throughout our adventure, and a Shy Guy and a Magikoopa bothered us a few times. However, after one last confrontation with B.J., we battled his dear old King Dad and retrieved the Mini Stars, returning them to their rightful place in the sky. We each took turns gazing at them through a telescope.
Along with the birthday girl, her parents and her grandparents, Jake participated alongside his parents, and I glimpsed him and Jas holding hands as our vehicle rode us around the boards. Waluigi also came along for the ride, but he didn't cause any trouble. He rolled his eyes and grumbled a bit when I won a minigame by doing absolutely nothing, though.
After we recovered all of the Mini-Stars, we played through a bonus board, DK's Jungle Ruins. After that, we went back to the castle, where it was time for cake and ice cream. Jas made a wish and blew out her candles, and then she opened her presents while we enjoyed the dessert.
"Aren't you glad we decided to set up shop here?" asked Jules.
"I am now," Jas replied.
After the party wound down, Mario and I helped Peach and the Toads clean up before heading home.
Surely, Jas is one lucky teenager!
Luigi
12 April 2012
MK
Dear Diary,
Jas gave me a call today, and she sounded excited and committed.
"I'm gonna do it!" she cried.
"Do what?"
"I'm gonna tell Jake how I really feel about him!"
"Wha—Jake? I…"
"It took me a while, but I finally figured it out! I finally figured out what a 'special friend' is! We've known each other since preschool. He's been in my corner, and I've been in his. Luigi—I'm in love with him!"
"What if he doesn't feel the same way?"
"If he doesn't—then I can handle it! At least I took initiative! That's what my parents and my teachers have always talked about—taking initiative, making the first move, not letting opportunities slip in your grasp. What if I hold this inside me until it's too late? Then I'll spend the rest of my days moping about 'the one that got away'! I have to do this, Luigi! I have to!"
"There's still your dad to consider," I said.
"Yeah, but—I'm not a little girl anymore," said Jas. "He's known Jake and his family. He won't kill him, at least."
"But it'll take him a while to warm up to Jake as a prospective in-law."
"I never said anything about marrying him, Luigi. I just want to confess my feelings to him." Jas cleared her throat. "Any tips?"
"Well…" I began. "Don't be overly dramatic. You can add in some romance, but overall, speak from the heart. And most importantly, don't overthink it. I mean, I told Daisy I loved her after playing eighteen rounds of golf. But however you wish to do it, just act natural."
"Act natural," repeated Jas. "I think I can do that."
"Good luck, Jas," I said.
"Thanks," replied Jas before hanging up.
I just hope she gives Jules and Jackie fair warning first.
Luigi
13 April 2012
MK
Dear Diary,
When Grace phoned me, it was in her voice before she spoke the words. She had been minding her own business when her dearly beloved had barged in, spewing his nonsense. An exchange of heated words ensued, during which Roland said some things that I'm not going to repeat, out of respect for Grace's privacy. She didn't even bat an eye when he was finished. Instead, she coolly told him to pack his things and get the [bleep] out of her house. Immediately, Roland's attitude had done a 180, and he turned on the waterworks and the "I love you"s and the "I'm sorry"s and tried to blame everything on his terrible upbringing (eyeroll), but Super Princess Grace would have none of it, shoveling all of this things into a suitcase and thrusting it into his hands. Eventually, he got the message and left.
"Did he…?"
"No, it didn't get physical, thank God."
"That doesn't make any difference. You did the right thing, Grace. And Gavin…"
"He was in school when it happened. I explained the situation when the school bus dropped him off."
"What's the plan for now?"
"Once Roland is ready to act his age, we'll discuss that. Right now, I want him out of my house and out of my life."
"I'm sorry," I said.
"Don't blame yourself," she said. "That's exactly what he wants. If push comes to shove, then I'll stay at Gadd's and visit my parents."
"You know what, forget him," I said. "What about that Greg guy? From what you told me, he seemed nice."
"Rollie and I are taking a break, and nothing else," said Grace, "and Greg started a family of his own. I'm not gonna ruin that because my own spouse is a…"
"I get you. Grace, if there's anything you need, don't hesitate. I don't care what that S.O.B. says."
Grace let out a breath. "That means a lot, Luigi," she said. "Part of me hopes we can sort things out, though."
"Me, too, Grace," I sighed. "Me, too."
After we finished talking, I was seething with rage. What part of "Grace and I aren't sneaking around" does he not understand? And now look what's happened. He'd better have a good explanation for Gavin when he asks about this.
Huffing, I dressed in gym clothes, grabbed up my gym bag and a sports drink and headed off to Julian's gym for a late-night sweat out.
This has gone too far!
Luigi
22 April 2012
MK
Dear Diary,
First, the heavy stuff.
The morning after getting the boot, Roland had calmed down and called Grace, going into his usual spiel. He was in for a rude awakening. Turns out, his smooth-talking and sweet-talking wasn't gonna get him out of this one. Grace told him under no uncertain terms that she wasn't letting him back in her home for a long, long time. Then, Roland started blubbering, but Grace had finally reached her limit. He had spent the night at a modest hotel with free breakfast in the mornings, and as far as Gracie was concerned, he could stay there and think about what he did. Then, she hung up and went about the rest of her day.
Recently, she's defrosted somewhat, allowing her estranged hubby to stay in Gavin's life. She pointed him towards a nice apartment so that Gavin could stay with him during the weekends. Roland had also taken a part-time job to supplement the family income and sent Grace half his pay at the end of every month. The two of them sat Gavin down one Saturday and explained that they were having a little disagreement and thus needed some time apart. I think that's a gross understatement, but I also know that they're trying to make this as painless as possible on Gavin's part.
Unfortunately, the Butters' separation has painted a larger target on my back. That's right—Roland's taking it out on me, saying that it's my fault he and Grace are having problems. My fault?! I'm not the one who acted like an a—hole! I'm not the one who instigated quarrels with Grace on a daily basis! I'm not the one who disrupted family outings with nonsensical rants! I just walk right on by as he spits insults and reproaches at me. He's lucky I haven't told Mario about his conduct yet.
Sometimes, I just want to fire right back at him. Whether I'm on the lookout for those airships or solving a plumbing problem, I brainstorm ways to teach Mr. Butter a little lesson. Ultimately, cooler heads prevail, as I realize that if I succumbed to that temptation, then I'd be just like him and lose everyone's respect. So, I swallow it down and wait until I'm by myself or at one of the gyms to release it. Grace has also found an outlet for her aggression, as she signed up for dance classes shortly after the blow-up.
Now, for the lighter stuff.
Jas's declaration of love to Jake was a smashing success! She'd taken him to the Guggenheim Museum after they'd finished their homework. After looking at all of the exhibits, they went to the courtyard, where Jas poured everything out and asked him to go out with her. In response, Jake had picked her up and playfully swung her around before saying "yes".
She'd also heeded my advice and let her parents know well in advance. Jackie was all smiles, while Jules was a bit—blindsided. He called me up later and told me that he'd seen this coming, but it still managed to sneak up on him.
"Now I know how Dad felt," he said. "I just hope they don't—you know—because then Jake and I will have problems."
"Isn't she taking a health class?"
"Yeah, she's learning about that stuff, but I'm still worried. I'm keeping these dates supervised for now."
"Jules—take it easy, all right?" I pleaded. "I knew you when you were Jas's age. And I remember when you and Jackie officially became an item."
"Yeah, but—I don't want her making the mistakes I made."
"You're sounding like your dad."
"Well—he's a good dad," Jules said smartly. "All right—let's see where this takes us."
"Don't be afraid to reach out," I said before ending the call.
One relationship is coming apart, while another has just begun. And Jules has every reason to be worried. There's a chance that Jas and Jake will wind up like me and Daisy, steady and enduring. And there's a chance that they'll end up like the Butters, hindered by paranoia and jealousy. They're still so young, having just touched the water's edge of the concept of love. As they grow and wade deeper in, will they sink—or will they swim?
Luigi
22 July 2012
MK
Dear Diary,
Grace sounded sad and weary when she called me today. Ten years after she met Roland, their relationship was hanging in the balance. So, she caught a flight to Isle Delfino and went to the beach for some introspection, staying long after the other beachgoers had departed. She'd plunged, nude, into the waters, and just as she'd returned to shore from a much-needed swim, she'd seen him.
"What did you do?" I asked.
"Well—he was just standing there, looking like a lost little boy," sighed Grace. "I think he'd been drawn to the site of our first meeting just as much as I had. We looked at each other and—we got to have our first decent talk in months. Both of us were so sad that we wound up like this, fighting and—I didn't know what to make of it. I think now that it's a sign, a sign that there's still hope for us."
"He could be manipulating you," I said.
"That was what I thought, too," she said, "but his attitude was—too earnest—to be manipulation. The two of us got to disconnect and talk about us—and then we went for a swim together."
"A swim?" I repeated.
"Yeah. I missed him so much, and I could tell that he missed me. So, we just…"
"Where does that leave you two?" I asked.
A sigh. "I dunno. It still hurts. But I think Roland's starting to come around."
"It took long enough," I said. "When are you returning to L.A.?"
"In a week, maybe. I need some time. And L?"
"Yeah?"
"If he finally decides to apologize to you, at least hear him out."
"I'll do my best," I promised. "Bye, Grace."
"Bye."
Don't tell anyone else this—but I think Grace is moving way too fast. Because where will they be tomorrow, after the nostalgia has passed?
Luigi
28 July 2012
MK
Dear Diary,
Today was supposed to be a fun-filled day at Peach's Castle. After a light lunch, the three of us sat around discussing adventures past, present and future, as well as an email Master Hand sent out telling us that preparations were officially underway for a fourth Smash tournament. Then, Mario broke out the old Super Leaves which turned him into Raccoon Mario and me into Fox Luigi, and we took off from the second floor of the castle to collect some coins.
Using our tails, we gently alighted onto the ground to take a breather, when a mysterious shadow blotted out the sun.
"What in God's name?" I asked.
Koopa's Clown Car slammed onto the grass between us, knocking us to the floor and taking away our Super Leaf powers. The seven Koopalings grinned at us before BJ revealed that they had Peach!
"You've gotta be kidding me," I muttered.
"Catch us if you can!" BJ taunted as the Clown Car flew off, the two of us giving chase.
I'd better end this entry here; there's no time to waste!
Luigi
19 August 2012
MK
Dear Diary,
I was grateful for the welcome distraction from the Butter family drama. At least he wasn't around to give me a hard time. And I could use my aggression from putting up with him to deal with the enemies and bosses in our way.
Mario and I had almost forgotten about those Super Leaves. They added an extra spring to our jumps and allowed us to soar through the crowds, almost like the Tanooki and Kitsune suits, except the latter two could get stuffy at times. We glided together, hand in hand, like those Blue Angel airplanes, collecting lots of coins and using our tails to knock enemies out of our way. And with the Invincibility Leaf, Mario became a White Raccoon, while I became a White Fox!
That was another thing—coins! The worlds we found ourselves in had lots and lots and lots of coins! While staying focused on the task at hand, I tried to collect more coins than Mario, making things more interesting. At various points, we came across a coin box, which automatically rewarded us one-hundred coins if an enemy didn't knock them away. And then there was the Golden Flower, which gave us a bit of a Midas Touch. Our fireballs were golden, and we could fling them at blocks to turn them into gold, and turn our attackers into gold, as well. At least for Mario, it was gold. My fireballs were silver. Remind me again which placing the silver medal is given to?
The Super Mushroom, Fire Flower, Star, Mini Mushroom and Mega Mushroom also made their return, and we could collect several power-ups at a time to save for later. Every so often, we came across Toad Houses, where the hopeful Toads waited with plentiful goodies. While staying at the Toad Houses, I'd text my friends in New York and Los Angeles, keeping them updated and sending them selfies. Then, I'd recharge my phone, and Mario and I would be off!
There was still nothing better than journeying with my big bro through land, sea and sky, both of us listening to tunes on some music app on our phones. Skipping through grasslands, trekking through sun and sand-kissed deserts and then cooling off in the water, cautiously making our way through luscious forests with a river of pink—stuff—that hurt us on contact. Then, there was the frosty world of ice and snow and finally—the foreboding world of lava where Koopa and his brat kids waited.
And in that final world, Mario and I had to contend with falling volcanic debris as it decimated platforms. Here was where that Super Leaf really came in handy, allowing us to jump, float and fly when the footholds became too perilous to stand upon. Due to my higher jumping height, I tended to help Mario across, and he'd smile at me in response each time I saved him from falling short of the next platform. If that wasn't enough, large fireballs barreled at us, which we had to jump over, slide under or dodge.
At Koopa's Castle, we battled each of the seven Koopalings before facing off with Koopa himself. We could see he learned at least something from last time, for he had Peach in the gilded cage again. Despite her situation, a sunny smile was on her face, her eyes snapping and sparking as she looked at us. There must've been a bit of that Wish power in her gaze, for when we looked at her, we felt a surge through our veins.
Mario and I exchanged a look before bounding at our foe, driving blow after blow into him and using our Super Leaves to evade his attacks. I nimbly flitted and buzzed around that turtle, peppering him with the sharpest, stinging blows in my arsenal, as Mario just attacked and attacked. I had to knock him out of the way of a hammy fist, a hammer or a gout of fire several times. Eventually, though, Mario corralled his adrenaline and became more reserved in his attacks. He grabbed Koopa by the tail and tossed him to me, and then I slammed him to the ground before dealing an excoriating uppercut which sent him sprawling off the bridge.
Mario and I high-fived.
"Nice job, you two," said Peach. "I'm really glad you saved up those Super Leaves."
We ran up to the cage, and then we noticed how Peach's hair looked damp—as if it had just been washed. She tucked one curl behind her ear and jiggled the hairpin she was using to try and pick the lock.
"You came in the nick of time," she went on. "I was just about to figure out this stupid lock…"
The chain above the cage abruptly rattled before hoisting it—and its occupant—upward.
"Hey, what the..?" Peach balked.
"Hang on!" Mario shouted as three bone platforms materialized.
The two of us hopped up the platforms and onto another bridge, where Peach knelt intently at the lock of her cage, licking her upper lip as she continued to work at it with her hairpin.
"Something's up," whispered Mario.
I nodded. "What's that turtle's play now?"
We glanced up as the cage was hoisted higher.
"Oh, come on!" Peach shouted in exasperation.
The seven Koopalings zoomed down to us, wands in hand, and cast some sort of magic as the ground rumbled and purple smoke began to rise.
"Oh," Mario and I said in unison.
Koopa, now giant-sized, emerged from the smoke, inadvertently sending the Clown Car spinning out of control, and roared in our faces.
"I've got you now!" he chortled.
Gracefully, Mario and I leaped from floating platform to floating platform, using our tails to keep ourselves at a steady forward or downward glide. Meanwhile, Koopa took large swipes at us, his giant hands smashing through platforms like they were nothing. Each time we reached level ground, he tried to strafe us with fire, but we simply jumped over his head. This process repeated two more times before we reached the big button at the very top. And there was Peach, looking like she was holding her breath as she watched.
The two of us jumped onto the button, and Koopa stopped mid-swipe, looked around in confusion and then clawed at the air as he dropped to the castle floor far below.
The bottom of Peach's cage opened, and she floated down so that she was standing between us.
"Thank you," she said, kissing each of us on the nose.
"Thank goodness you're okay," said Mario, lifting her into his arms and carrying her out of the castle as I followed behind.
Outside, the Toads were already waiting for us in their car, "Don't You Worry Child" by Swedish House Mafia playing on the stereo. Mario helped Peach inside before taking a seat himself, with me scooting in next to him. The car then turned around and headed homeward.
As always, Mario was welcomed back with great fanfare, while I wasn't. What did I have to do, hold up a sign?! Remaining in the car, I texted my friends to let them know I was back in the MK. Then, instead of heading into the castle, I decided to go for a little walk.
I stopped at a restaurant for a quick bite, exchanging texts with Mario and Peach. The Toads were asking about me. Which begs the question, how long did it take for them to realize that I was gone? I told them that I was fine; I just needed some solitude, but I'd be back by nightfall.
By the time my little stroll was finished, it had worked its magic. My mind had reset, and I was calmer and ready to continue. I dropped by the castle, thanked everyone for thinking of me and ate a few slices of cake.
"Hey," said Mario. "You did good."
I guess that's all that matters.
Luigi
30 September 2012
MK
Dear Diary,
Grace is now staying with Gadd and Becky, and her room is just the way she'd left it. Of course, it looked like the room of a nineteen-year-old, so she had to put up some new decorations so it could look like a thirty-year-old woman's room. I guess being in the house overpowered her with memories of happier times, so she retreated to a place which reminded her of a simpler life.
I don't know whether or not she should take Roland back, and quite frankly, it's none of my business. But if he's convinced himself that Grace likes me more than just a friend, what kind of example will he set for Gavin when he, too, falls in love? I haven't seen him act that way around Grace's other male friends, and he's even cordial with Greg—her first love! What does he have against me? Why does he see me as a threat to his marriage? Because Grace and I had to band together during a dangerous situation?
At least the two of them are communicating regularly. Roland's also starting to get a little wake-up call, for he's scaling back on the vitriol against me, or at least going back to the passive-aggressive stuff. We'll see if he begins to finally take responsibility for this rough spot in his marriage.
On the other end of the spectrum, Jules told me that Jas and Jake are about to go on their first official date. He sounded like a bundle of nerves, like all parents. He's already compiled a list of rules for the couple to abide by, and he asked me if it needed editing. It does—he should shave off at least half of those rules!
Shortly after Jules called, Jas called to vent over said rules. I agreed with what she was saying, but I also told her to cut her dad some slack. Once he gets used to Jake being her boyfriend, Jules would relax a little bit—just like Joan and Josh steadily relaxed around Jackie. Eventually, Jas conceded and hung up to prepare for her date.
I think I'll let you go for now.
Luigi
18 November 2012
MK
Dear Diary,
I should've known something was gonna go down today; Koopa hadn't bothered us for a few weeks. He must've used those weeks to plan something huge.
Mario and I had joined Peach for a casual tea party, joined by Blue Toad and Yellow Toad. Music played on low as we discussed local happenings and plans for the upcoming holiday season. Too bad this tranquility wouldn't last.
Our converse ground to a halt when we heard distant cannon fire. It just had to be Koopa's airships! All business, Peach set down her tea, picked up the phone and started making phone calls, speaking crisply and tersely to the person on the other end. The last time Mario and I saw her like that, the whole world seemed to be falling apart due to a situation beyond our control.
She'd finished one phone call and was about to dial another number when a mechanical arm reached inside, gently eased the phone out of Peach's hand, dodged out of the way when she tried to hip bump it and then softly stroked her hair before smashing down onto us as we tried to run to her aid. Then, it scooped up the four of us, swung us around three times and flung us far away from the castle.
Fortunately, the boughs of a big tree broke our fall, and we emerged dizzy but otherwise unharmed.
We got to our feet and were galvanized into action at the site of Koopa's airship fleet firing upon Peach's Castle. That turtle's tactics were growing increasingly aggressive. If we didn't get back there on time, then he could achieve his goal of taking over the MK from the inside!
Luigi
8 December 2012
MK
Dear Diary,
The tree we'd landed in contained Super Acorns, which turned us into Flying Squirrels. With this power-up, we could cling to walls, jump higher and fly over tough obstacles. We quickly grew to like this new power-up, but we also utilized older power-ups, such as the Fire and Ice Flowers, the Penguin Suit and the various Mushrooms.
Due to the increased severity of Peach's situation, the four of us ate and slept on the go. If we decided to stay at a Toad House, then we kept the stay as brief as possible. Most of the day was spent on the move, listening to our music to keep ourselves alert, resting only when we needed to. Yoshi and his brethren helped us along the way, and there were also Baby Yoshis, too. They could either glow in the dark when our visibility decreased, balloon up to give us an extra buoy or blow out bubbles to trap enemies and turn them into useful items. Our journey took us across the calm Acorn Planes to the arid Layer Cake Desert; afterward, we plunged into the aptly-named Sparkling Waters to swim our way past the various coral reefs. We climbed up Frosted Glacier Mountain and tangled with a poison bog in the Soda Pop Jungle before exploring the dank coolness of the Rock Candy Mines and plodding our way across the fluffy Meringue Clouds. At the end of each world, we boarded the airships of each of the Koopalings and did battle with them. Three Ground Pounds usually did the trick, but if we were equipped with a Fire or Ice Flower at the time, then we'd use those projectiles to fight them.
Peach's Castle was a sordid sight by the time we arrived, surrounded by a lava moat and teeming with enemies. Storm clouds had gathered, casting the area in a haunting, red-violet hue. The castle itself appeared intact, and we were happy to see that Koopa and his minions considered it below their dignity to loot the place. As we ran deeper into the besieged castle, our hearts raced faster and faster. Where was Peach—and was she all right?
The four of us kept going, evading BJ, who attempted to dive-bomb us in his Junior Clown Car. By the time we confronted that turtle on the bridge, we were hot and giddy with worry.
"Don't be alarmed," he smirked at us. "I've been giving her the royal treatment."
I saw Mario bite his lip hard, drawing blood, and gave him a warning glance. Don't take the bait, I silently told him. Nearby, the Toads glanced worriedly at each other as they contemplated all possible meanings of Koopa's words.
He leaped at us, but we simply slid under him and pressed the switch that activated the axe. I had no idea Peach had those installed in her castle. Perhaps she anticipated Koopa pulling this stunt?
However, we knew that this was too easy. That turtle wasn't done with us yet. Cautiously, we moved toward the castle's outer balcony—and there, through the window, we saw Peach.
Her chin rested on her fists as she gazed at what Koopa had wrought upon her castle, and the sight of those familiar buds in her ears let us know that she was trying to calm herself by listening to music. Wait—he was letting her listen to her music? How nice of him—too bad he was trying to take over her castle!
Peach raised her head, and we saw the rosy flush on her cheeks and the light film of sweat on her face. The storm on her face dispelled, and she tossed us a wave.
"You guys okay?" she called.
"Yeah!" Mario shouted back. "You?"
"Uh—been better!"
"Hang in there, Peach!" I said to her. "We're gonna finish this!"
"Is there anyone else in there?" asked Blue Toad. "Anyone hurt?"
"No—everyone's fine—ish," shrugged Peach.
"Why are you all—sweaty?" Yellow Toad wanted to know.
"You'd sweat like this if you were in my situation," said Peach.
"True," said Mario, giving me a side glance.
Peach opened her mouth to say something else, but then she leaned out the window and glanced down. "Here comes trouble!" she warned.
BJ flew over in his Junior Clown Car, towing his now oversized dad, who he deposited across from us.
"How do you like us now?" laughed BJ as Koopa gave a menacing roar.
Mario, Yellow Toad, Blue Toad and I stood our ground as father and son advanced on us. I made the first move, leaping on BJ's head and knocking him out of his car before piloting it over to his dear old dad's head and using it to perform a Ground Pound.
"Never would've thought that," Peach mused as she calmly watched the fight.
I bailed from the vehicle as Koopa tucked into his shell and chased us from one end of the bridge to the other. After finishing the move, he next sent a hailstorm of large fireballs raining toward us. We all scattered, barely managing to avoid them. Once the hailstorm passed, BJ reappeared.
"Let's go for that vehicle!" shouted Mario, and we ran toward our opponents.
We evaded their attacks and landed some of our own before once again stealing BJ's craft and slamming it down onto Koopa's head. We repeated this twice more, and after the final time, Koopa swayed back and forth, dazed, before falling backwards. BJ looked where his old man had fallen, looked at us—and then beat a hasty retreat.
Peach was slightly slumped in relief against the windowsill, catching her breath and gathering herself. The four of us raced into her room on the double.
She was once again composed by the time we got there, smoothly gliding toward us.
"Thank you," she said.
"My pleasure, of course," said Mario.
"If he's learned something from this, then he won't try something like this again," I said.
"But—he will," eyerolled Peach.
"He's really not gonna quit, huh?" chimed in the Blue Toad.
"He's not gonna quit getting on my nerves, I'll tell you that," said Mario.
Someone knocked frantically on the door. "Oh, my God—is everyone okay?" asked a Toad's voice.
"Yeah—we're good!" Peach shouted. "You can come in now."
The door opened, and Peach's retainers came streaming in.
"Hey, everyone!" shouted a Toad. "Mario saved the castle!"
Cheers.
"Well done you, Mario!"
"Mario really came through for us today!"
"We knew you could do it, Mario!"
Once again, they hoisted Mario onto his shoulders and carried him out of the room.
Peach blinked. "I don't know about you, but I feel like baking a cake," she said. "Who wants to join me?"
"I do!" exclaimed the Yellow Toad.
"Right behind you!" added the Blue Toad.
"Okeydokey!" I chimed in, thankful for something to do.
At the obligatory party later, the Toads droned on and on and on about how thanks to Mario, Koopa could never get to them for long, even from within. They didn't bring up the fact that I'd thought up of commandeering BJ's vehicle to use against Koopa, nor did they touch upon the leadership skills I'd demonstrated during various parts of our trek. Why? Because a shadow did those things. What's the point in paying attention to a shadow, right?
After the party, I changed clothes and went to Julian and Jackie's gym. The pair could tell that I'd come straight from a rescue mission. Jackie called Peach, while Jules called Mario, to tell them that I was there. Like father, like son—and daughter-in-law.
When I returned home later that night, there was an ice cream sundae waiting for me in the freezer, along with a thank-you note from Mario. Happily, I carried the dessert to my room, took up a spoon and dug in.
I'm sleeping in tomorrow!
Luigi
14 December 2012
MK
Dear Diary,
I—I don't know what to write today. I don't even know if I want to write anything today. My hands are shaking, and I can barely keep this pen steady. I just—I can't wrap my mind around the fact that there are some who'd have no problem hurting or killing others just for fun. There's Koopa, who's a thorn in our side with his weekly "visits", but he's displayed a softer side and has clear morals and lines he won't cross. Then, there are people like Adam Lanza.
Who is Adam Lanza? Well, he's someone whose name didn't explode into the public consciousness until today. Around mid-morning, Mario and I were doing our plumbing thing, on our way to assist a client, when Peach summoned us, along with the rest of her constituents, to her castle for an emergency meeting.
"What's going on?" That was the first thing Mario asked when we arrived.
"Yeah, is everything okay?" I added. That's when I saw that Daisy was there, and both royals looked deeply shaken.
"Something—has happened," Peach said in a shaky voice.
"What has that turtle done now?" asked Mario.
"I didn't do anything." Koopa had suddenly appeared, and was now enfolding Peach's gloved hand in his. "I—I just got word of it myself."
"It's okay," Peach said off of Mario's expression. "I asked him to come, too."
Mario relaxed.
"You guys," said Daisy. "There's really not an easy way to say it—so we're just gonna say it. There's been a mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut."
We stood there in silence as her words sank in.
"A man named Adam Lanza broke in at around 9:30 this morning and just…" She trailed off, shaking her head. "Before then, he killed his mother and took her weapons. A school full of young children, and he…" She squeezed her eyes shut.
My blood ran cold. "How—bad?"
"28 dead, 2 injured," said Peach. "That's including the mother. Most—most of them were children. When the news broke, they said that—21 children had…"
"21 poor, defenseless children," I rasped. "Oh, God…"
I fell to my knees on the carpeted floor, breathing in sobs. Daisy knelt in front of me, cupping my face in her hands and pressing our foreheads together, also crying. Mario looked positively ill.
"But—why?" he asked.
"I don't know," Peach said sadly. "I don't know. Right now—there're saying that he had a history of mental problems—like that's an excuse."
"Oh, Peachy," blubbered Mario. "Peachy—just—just hold me!"
And she did.
Our usual smug and arrogant archnemesis had nothing to say, just sinking onto a sofa with a look of profound sorrow on his face.
21 children had perished at the hand of someone they didn't even know, spending their final moments in fear and confusion. 21 souls who had their futures spread out before them. Imagine their parents as the police had to inform them that they wouldn't be picking up their offspring from school today—and the days after today. Imagine the pain of their grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, younger siblings, older siblings, as they had to wrestle with the fact that they'd never see these children again. Imagine the families and friends the six teachers and faculty had left behind, as well as the coming trauma for the survivors. And all because one man had decided to shoot up the school because he wanted to show how powerful he was with his big f—ing gun.
I let out one wrenching sob after another, and I could hear Mario heavily sobbing next to me. The other Toads who'd assembled were also reacting in horror, and I could also hear Jules and Jackie in the crowd, trying to get ahold of their daughter. She was nowhere near Connecticut or the school in question, of course, but it didn't lessen her parents' worry.
Looking up, I could see Koopa slumped over in grief, silent tears rolling down his face. He might be a ruthless villain, but he was also a father. I could imagine what was going through his head right now.
Slowly, we all began to calm down. Still holding Mario, Peach led an impromptu prayer service for the slain. Afterward, Koopa grabbed his cell phone and called each of his Koopalings, telling them that he loved them and that they'd always make him proud. Jules and Jackie announced that their gym was closed for the rest of the day, and Peach and Daisy announced that they were opening a relief and food drive. All three monarchs ordered their flags lowered to half-mast and would come together for a candlelight vigil later tonight.
Why are there terrible people in this world? What makes them snap and want to kill people who didn't offend them in the slightest? And furthermore—why are firearms readily available to such psychotic people?
Dio. Those poor kids. I'm—I—I can't write anything else right now.
Luigi
21 December 2012
MK
Dear Diary,
Good news—the world didn't end today.
But it's changed. There's new technology, new words introduced into our vocabulary. There's Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Tumblr and a mess of other social networking sites. There's faster Internet service, new and improved cell phones, and by extension, vastly improved means of communication. And even within the borders of a whimsical kingdom, we're reminded of the harshness of the real world, where people storm into schools and riddle young children with bullets for the heck of it, where people hijack planes and crash them into buildings, where avaricious people can betray the trust of pop singers and gun them down to protect their own secrets—where even a simple anomaly can cause a space shuttle to disintegrate in midair and claim seven lives.
We're still shaken from the Sandy Hook tragedy, and of Adam Lanza's blatant disregard for human life. But we're also reminded of our own mortality. Jules and Jackie have taken the week off, leaving their gym in the hands of their employees, to spend more time with Jas. Koopa told us that he wasn't gonna invade us for a very long time so he could further bond with his Koopalings. Even Roland put aside his nonsensical beef with me in favor of interacting with Gavin more. And while I don't have children of my own, I've spent the past five days playing the grateful game, appreciating the various people in my life, friend or foe. It's true that I'm living in Mario's shadow, but at least I'm living. For 21 children, 6 teachers and one mother, their lives ended five days ago in a senseless act of violence.
Life's hardly perfect, and there are times, like today, when we thought the world was going to end. But in my opinion, life is still worth living.
And in the end, the world will keep on turning.
Luigi