Chapter 14 My Rescue

"Ugghh…"

He hurt so badly like his whole body had been dropped in a vat of acid. He couldn't open his eyes; they felt like twelve-ton bricks. Nothing about the way he felt was natural or even tolerable. All he could feel was pain, pain in the ugliest form feelable.

The physical pain was nothing in comparison to the emotional pain, however. Thinking about everything that had put him in this horrific position, Mario's psyche screamed in agony. Getting beat up by Peach and Luigi was a disturbing concept by itself, but when he factored in the way they looked… they had stomped on Mario's head without question, not taking the time to stop and think about what they were doing until after Mario was defeated. The memory of his loved ones, leaving him to rot away on the Koopa Kingdom ground…

Mario held back both a sigh and a sob. Oh man, nothing had been going his way. Since he was forced to take on the form of a koopa, nothing seemed to make sense anymore. The meeting with Ruby was the only remotely pleasant thing that had happened to him; everything else had been discouraging to the highest degree. And the fact that the Kingdom he served, the people he loved turned their backs to him…

He bit his lip. Not really knowing the reason behind this action, Mario tried to open his eyes. Given how the sky above him had been filled with volcanic ash and smog the last time he checked, he fully expected to see that. He fully expected to see the dark void that so accurately and perfectly encapsulated his feelings. So, when he saw a white ceiling on top of him… well, it made him blink. He blinked multiple times, unsure if he was really seeing things correctly.

"What the pasta…" he couldn't even begin to wrap his head around what he was seeing, how it was even feasibly possible. Why would there be a white light on top of him? Unless… he was… dead. Oh no, was he dead?

"Oh good. He's waking up."

Mario blinked again. He tried to lift himself up out of the lying position, but all at once felt some people putting their hands on him. He struggled against their hold, almost feeling like screaming at the pressure put on him.

"Go slow, sir," a voice said. "You're still not one hundred percent, so you need to ease back into consciousness."

Mario stopped. Ease back into consciousness? Okay, those words were a little weird, but he decided that it would probably be in his best interest to follow their directions. He eased back into the lying position, focusing mostly on his breathing rate. He took deep breath after deep breath, all while whoever was surrounding him took their hands off of him.

"You're gonna be okay," one voice said. It was quite soothing, and the sound of it actually did help Mario calm down. "It's all going to be okay. Just try not to panic, okay?"

If he could, Mario would've nodded. He allowed himself to "ease back into consciousness," as these voices had told him. After a little bit, he could move his hands. After a few more minutes, he felt as though he was fully awake and alert. He took a few more deep breaths, hoping to et his breathing rate back under control.

Soon enough, he could finally open his eyes and sit up. When he did, and he saw what surrounded him, he couldn't help but feel surprised. "I… I'm in a hospital?" He looked down at the bed he was apparently lying in, at the white linens that contrasted with the Koopa Kingdom's ashy blackness. He looked around the room, noticing some sunlight coming in through the windows. His confusion grew with each sight he saw, unsure of what was happening or how he was supposed to react to it.

"How…" he tried to figure things out. How did he get here? He wasn't anywhere near a hospital when he lost consciousness. Did someone bring him here? If so… who?

"How does it feel to be alive again?" A voice asked with a chuckle.

Blinking, Mario looked to his left. A dragon koopa woman, who had her dark purple hair done up in a ponytail as she wore a white coat, stood next to his bed. She smiled at him, and Mario was taken aback to notice that there wasn't a single drop of wickedness or malicious intent in her expression. She just looked like a normal person, a doctor who had treated a patient and had gone above and beyond to help him.

"Who…" Mario put his hand to his head, just noticing that his head was starting to hurt. "What's going on?"

"You received a pretty big whooping," the doctor said. "My guess is that it was given to you by some people from the Mushroom Kingdom." Mario cringed when he heard that, which was all the confirmation the doctor needed. "You were found unconscious by a traveling family during a volcanic eruption. They took you here to help you recover."

Mario's jaw dropped. "I…" he looked down at the linens covering him again. "Wow."

"Yeah." The doctor walked up to him. "We were able to patch you up with some magical and medicinal procedures. Just… just don't get too close to Mushroomers from here on out, okay?"

Mario's heart physically ached when the doctor said that. He looked away from her, not knowing what the best thing to say or do was. "O…okay." That one-word sentence was the only thing his discombobulated self allowed him to say.

"If it's any consolation, you responded well to treatment." Mario looked up at the doctor, who was smiling at him now. "So, you'll be able to get discharged within no time at all."

A statement that probably should've caused him relief didn't make him feel anything. "G… good." He sunk a little bit into the bed. He didn't know where he was going to go after he was discharged…

"Now, I imagine that you're probably feeling a little hungry." As if those magic words, Mario's stomach rumbled. Mario's face grew warm as the doctor laughed. "I'll have the kitchen prepare something for you; it is a little bit passed lunchtime." She turned to the door. "Food is going to be an essential part of your recovery along with the meds."

Mario nodded, not wanting to say anything for a good long while. It was only when the doctor opened the door that something occurred to him.

"Wait." The doctor stopped, and Mario all at once became much more hesitant. "The… the family that rescued me. Where are they now?"

"Oh!" The doctor laughed again. "They've been waiting for you. Want to make sure you were all better before they left."

Even though Mario had no idea who this family was, he still smiled. "Can I see them?"

"Of course! I'll let you know that you're awake." With that the doctor left, leaving Mario alone. He thought about the mystery family, the mystery family who had taken precious time out of their day just to make sure he was okay. Who were they? Were they Koopas? Because if they were… well, Mario never in a million years would've expected that. They deserved some level of praise, being Koopas who put others first and themselves last.

After a few minutes of waiting, the family entered Mario's room. When he saw them, he actually gasped out loud. They were Koopas alright. The mom was tall and curvy, with crystal blue eyes and pink hair with yellow and blue streaks. The dad had orange hair and a smile that was the very definition of infectious. And two children who looked to be about the same age (Mario was willing to guess that they were twins), stared at Mario with the most excited looks in their eyes, which were the same shade of blue as their mother's. They looked like they were about to jump on top of the bed and give Mario hugs, with only their mother holding them back and preventing them from doing so

A few minutes of silence hung in the air as Mario took in the appearances of these four koopas. "Uh…" He tried his best to help himself not look like a complete buffoon. "You… you guys were the ones who saved me?"

The mom nodded. "Yes sir."

"We were all really shocked when we ran into you," said the dad. "I mean… yeesh! There was so much blood; your head looked like it was about to cave in, and…"

"Daaad!" the two kids said in unison.

The dad stopped. "Sorry! Sorry; too graphic." He looked back at Mario. "The point was that we weren't about to just leave you there. Especially so close to an active volcano."

Mario smiled. "Th… thanks." He fidgeted with the edge of the blanket covering him. "I… I owe you guys a lot."

"Oh. No, you really don't," said the mom, waving her hand to dismiss the statement. "We're just happy to help."

"Yeah." The dad was quiet for a second before stepping forward. "I'm Michael Goldleaf, by the way." He put his hand on the mom's shoulder. "This is my wife, Opal. And these two…" he gestured to the golden-haired twins… "are my kids, Adam and Gabby."

"Yep!" said the boy. He giggled, sounding like just a normal kid that Mario would meet back home in the Mushroom Kingdom. "We're twins. We just turned five!"

"Five?" Mario smiled, giving a nod in their direction. "Well, you guys are getting big!"

The girl smiled. "We are." She puffed her chest out. "We're big kids, and nobody can say otherwise."

Mario laughed along with Opal and Michael (Adam gave his sister a funny look). After they recovered, Mario pushed his hair back and gave the whole family a grateful look. "Well… I must say, thank you." He remembered the emotions he felt after the fight, causing him to feel gloomy once again. "You… you guys stepping in was…" He paused. "I don't think I'd be here without you, so… thanks."

Opal exchanged a look with Michael at his tone before stepping toward him. "You're welcome." She wore a consternated expression. "We're just happy that you're okay."

Mario's heart melted. "Th… thank you again." Seriously, why couldn't Bowser be this kind, this generous?

Adam giggled and approached Mario's bed. "We're gonna have so much fun!" He bounced up and down while holding onto the edge of the mattress. "We're going to play in the yard with you, make your meals… oh, we're going to treat you right, just wait and see!"

Mario blinked, sending a surprised look toward Opal as she pulled her son back. "What… what is he talking about?"

Opal wore a sheepish grin. "Well…" she pushed a lock of her pink hair out of her face. "We've been talking about possibly letting you spend some time with us so you can recover comfortably."

Mario gawked at her. "Really?"

"Yeah," said Michael. "I mean… it was just a thought, but it's one that the kids have gotten really excited about, as you can plainly see." He took hold of Adam's hand. "But I do realize that it might be a little impractical for you. I mean… I imagine that you probably want to go back to your family in order to recover with them."

Mario felt a pang. He sunk into the bed some more, once again feeling like he had the weight of the entire world resting on his back. "Uh…" Oh man, how was he going to explain this? "Well… I don't think my family would be willing to see me right now, unfortunately."

The Goldleafs all seized up, exchanging sympathetic and concerned looks with each other. A horrible silence filled the room, allowing Mario all the time he could possibly need to reflect on how much his family… his brother would reject him in his current state. As he thought about the frightened looks Luigi had given him when he had first woken up on the fateful day he had been placed under this spell…

"Well… we'd be willing to see you right now," Gabby said.

Mario looked up at the Goldleafs, trying his best not to cry. Seriously. Why oh WHY couldn't Bowser be this nice, this friendly?

"Thank you," he whispered, whimpered actually. He tried not to cry. "You have no idea how good it feels to hear you say that." He let out a breath. "I would love to stay with you."

"Splendid." Opal wore a smile that made her already gorgeous self look that much more beautiful. "As soon as you're discharged, we'll take you to our house in Lava Falls."

Mario nodded, never feeling so glad to be welcomed by koopas.