The pair's walk alongside the Excess Express tracks thus far had been long and mostly uneventful. The nighttime breeze was soft and pleasant, and the thick, dew-laden grass smelled full of life. Some may have called their moonlight stroll peaceful; some may even have called it boring.
And yet, Vivian couldn't help but enjoy the time thoroughly.
As she and Ms. Mowz sat down to rest for the night, finding a safe space beneath a large, leafy tree, her mind drifted to her memories of journeying with Mario. While their old team had survived tons of perilous moments, filled enough tension and danger for a lifetime, relaxing together had been what she'd loved the most. …Those soft, tender nights when she got to sit down and chat with her new friends, then drift off to sleep side-by-side beneath the twinkle of the stars… and the uneventful days when they'd been able to enjoy just seeing the sights, exploring new and exciting places together.
She hadn't realized exactly how much she'd missed it.
Ms. Mowz had always been a lovely conversational partner, and that night was no different. The two of them set up a cozy little fire and chatted cheerfully for close to an hour – not that Vivian was exactly keeping track of the time. The Little Mouser had stories of all types to share – romantic, intense tales of close encounters with enemies and allies alike, of her experiences exploring mysterious, untouched locations, of her involvement in uncovering unsolved mysteries and conspiracies… Vivian listened with sparkling eyes, drinking in every word until her traveling companion finally yawned.
"Mmm… perhaps that's enough for now," Ms. Mowz murmured, rubbing at her eyes with her tiny, white paws. "We'll keep going tomorrow, all right, dearie?"
And indeed they did. Waking up after a tranquil night of sleep, the two continued on, talking in excited tones as they kept a close eye out for any signs of life. They took extra care along the way to avoid any unnecessary incidents – a conflict with the random Wiggler they spotted sleeping in the grass wasn't exactly one that they needed to have, nor did they expect the creature to know much of anything at all about their X-Naut foes.
After a few more relatively quiet hours of walking, they finally found something of note.
A small building with a partially caved-in roof, no more than a room wide, sat a small distance away from the tracks. From the looks of things, nature had taken control of it long ago – ivy snaked its way up over the front door and onto the rooftop, uninterrupted in its conquest. The room's broken windows were fogged over with the grime of countless years of neglect.
Despite its rough appearance, the shack was the first sign of civilization they'd found. But… if there was a new X-Naut Fortress around, Vivian figured it probably wasn't contained within.
"How sad…" The shadow frowned as her eyes trailed over the cracked walls. She was plenty used to seeing abandoned architecture beneath Rogueport… but it looked extra pitiful there, all alone, nestled amongst the beauty of the rolling hills.
However, its presence was potentially an important hint. Vivian stopped and took a glance around, searching for anything else interesting nearby. Nothing immediately caught her eye – she could see a number of large, jagged rock formations jutting up over the horizon, plenty of trees, hills, and grass… nothing out of the ordinary.
Yet, Ms. Mowz seemed to think differently.
"Hmmm?" The Little Mouser sniffed at the air, halting suddenly with her snout pointed to the wind. Then, with the tip of her nose still twitching, she pointed over to a nearby grove of trees and stated: "…I think… there's something through there, perhaps?"
Vivian looked in the direction of Ms. Mowz's finger. …She wouldn't have ever noticed it without her mouse friend pointing it out, but there really was a change in the grass's pattern. Patches of it were sparse here and there, with small chunks of rock strewn about…
Perhaps there had once been a walkway?
"Yes, I do believe that's it," Ms. Mowz declared with confidence. "I can smell it, there simply must be more buildings that way. Let's go take a look, shall we? I do believe we've found what you're looking for, sweetheart!"
Following Ms. Mowz's lead, Vivian ventured through the thicket, keeping a close eye out for the worn signs of a path forward. They moved through an overgrown field, hiked over a couple of large hills, then sifted their way through one last untamed mass of trees…
…when an entirely new scene opened up before them.
Vivian recognized the distinct architecture of the Riverside Station immediately. The brown bricks and the retro design, the lightly rusting metal fences, all of it rife with a nostalgic, haunting loneliness that existed only as a passing reminder of an era long gone… an entire town that looked just like that sat before her eyes, though somehow it was in even worse shape than the station itself.
"This is-" Vivian started to comment on it, only for Ms. Mowz to immediately shush her.
"Shhhh! Stay quiet…" the Little Mouser whispered. She ducked low to the ground, using the foliage as cover as she beckoned for Vivian to follow. "Over there… see that, dearie?"
Vivian peered out, squinting. She could see… something was moving inside of one of the buildings. Multiple somethings. She caught glimpses of thick, red fabric passing back and forth beyond the cracked walls… and voices? She could tell - there were at least two people in there, rifling through the rubble.
It was them.
The door to the building opened, revealing a single X-Naut soldier carrying a large, boxy steel container in his hands. Unhurried, he trod outside and called back over his shoulder: "I'm full up - headed back!"
The second voice responded: "Okay, coming!" Yet another soldier emerged, carrying a similar container. The two listlessly dawdled for a bit, chatting amongst themselves about mundane things such as what food they wanted to eat or plans for the night, then gradually started meandering down a path that led deeper into the town.
"There we go!" Ms. Mowz giggled, her excitement palpable. "Now, what do you say we tail them, hmmm? Silly boys, they don't have the faintest idea they're being watched… mmmmm hmm hmm hmm!"
Vivian nodded, balling her hands into fists. "Yes! Um, do you think you can lead? I'll follow along behind you at a distance."
While Vivian could sink into the shadows and hide, her visibility of the above world wasn't exactly the greatest while she was in that state. No, right then, she needed to properly see what was going on. …And Ms. Mowz was certainly the expert when it came to sneaking about.
"Oh, most certainly! Don't lose me, all right?" The thief grinned confidently, emerging from her hiding spot. "We'll find the rest of those wretched thugs in no time at all - I can smell them already. Keep your eyes peeled, hmm hmm!"
Vivian watched from beyond as Ms. Mowz moved forward, alone. The Little Mouser had been right to warn her. One moment, the skilled badge thief was ducked behind an abandoned, rotting barrel – the next, in the blink of an eye, she'd somehow already moved several feet forward and was instead standing stock-still behind an old store sign. If Vivian so much as looked away, it felt as though her mousey friend might vanish entirely.
Sneaking ever-so-quietly along the length of the road, the pair of intruders gradually got closer to the two militant men, being careful all the while to stay hidden behind whatever debris was available… though, it was clear even from Vivian's distance that the soldiers were completely off their guard. They chattered loudly, their round bodies swaying jovially as they became engrossed in their conversation, obviously paying absolutely no mind to the world around them.
Finally, after just a few more minutes of walking, a large, black, double-doored gate came into view. A tall brick wall extended in both directions, sectioning off a piece of land from all the rest around it. Not that the gate itself did much to stop intruders from passing through – though one of the iron bar doors was still tenuously attached to its hinges, the other had snapped off and was propped up haphazardly against the outside of the compound.
A sign, worn though still legible, hung upon the outside wall: "Riverside Employee Dormitory."
The two X-Nauts, still chatting amongst themselves, passed right on through without giving the sign a single glance. Vivian watched as Ms. Mowz sidled up to the brick and peered in through a crack, her whiskers twitching curiously.
"Mmmm… looks like the coast is clear. Lucky us, mmm hmm!"
After one more quick look about the area, the two moved through the gate and ducked into the swath of untamed grass and bushes that surrounded the thin, lightly trimmed footpath that the X-Nauts had walked upon. If Vivian had to guess, what she and Ms. Mowz were currently hiding in had once been a flower garden… though it showed no sign of having been taken care of anytime recently. Vivian found herself dodging the occasional abandoned planter as they continued to slowly travel forward.
It wasn't long before they began to hear other voices noisily yelling from afar. After exchanging a firm nod, Vivian and Ms. Mowz crept forward together and stealthily peered out from beyond their hiding spot in the thicket.
The newly revealed scene before them left them more than a little confused.
"Yah ain't gonna take it from me, yo' stanky sea barnacleeeeee!"
The first figure Vivian noticed… well, she thought it was an X-Naut? Whatever it was, it was wearing a thick, white wig and a second, far larger hat over the top of its normal cap. Completing its outfit was a double-breasted sailor's coat that was far too large for it and a thin, long rapier that was almost as tall as it was.
"Buh! Buh! Buh huh huh! Yeah, we'll just see about that, you third-rate dock-licker! I'm taking your whole haul, right now! Stop me if you caaaaaaann!"
A second, much larger man clad in tattered black rags and a skull mask lumbered towards the first, swinging madly at him with a huge-but-fragile-looking ax. However, just before reaching his opponent, the man stopped abruptly – the two stared at each other for an awkward moment, hovering just inches apart, their eyes locked.
And then, the little one used his weapon to poke the big one in the stomach.
"Hey, OUCH! That hurt!" the large one complained, waving his hands in front of him as he deflected the offending object. "…Watch it, seriously!"
Vivian stared at the scene in silent wonderment as the two strangely dressed beings began to argue and take increasingly wilder jabs at each other.
The unexplained conflict was taking place directly in front of a vast, dilapidated mansion of a building, possibly large enough to rival even the Poshley Sanctum. The entire establishment was at least three stories tall, with countless fractured windows lining the horribly cracked and crumbling brick walls. Each window appeared to have had a set of exterior shutters installed at one point – though many were missing, giving the architecture a discomforting, asymmetrical feel. Vivian could see more of the red-garbed soldiers moving about on the upper floors, just beyond the confines of the grime-encrusted glass panes.
Though, observing the X-Nauts inside didn't exactly answer any of her immediate questions.
The scene directly in front of her was starting to get genuinely heated. The bigger man's movements became weightier by the second, each of his initially weak swings becoming increasingly charged as his smaller opponent continued to swiftly deliver jabs to his gut. She could hear him letting out light protests, to the effect of "hey," "not so hard," and "I said, quit it!"
In response, the little one merely snickered playfully.
Finally, apparently having taken enough abuse, the larger one took several steps back and let out a loud, frustrated groan. "UuuUUURGHHH, YOU…!" he howled, stomping his feet as he threw his ax to the ground and kicked up a fuss.
But his temper tantrum didn't last for long. Eventually taking a deep breath, the man paused and began to grumble with a resigned irritation. "...Huuuurgh, crud… ugh… whatever! Looks like you really are stronger than you seem. For such a runty sea louse, that is!" Then, regaining his bravado as he laughed from deep within his chest, he turned his back and gave a dramatic flourish of his dark, black cape as he moved to exit. Vivian could clearly see a skull and crossbones printed across it. "Buh! Buh! Buh huh huh! You may've gotten me this time, but… I'll be back! Don't you forget it!"
"Aaaaaand cut! Very good, very good!"
A third X-Naut, clothed in a blue jumpsuit and a dirty lab coat, waved to the other two as he moved into Vivian's field of view. She caught a glimpse of the bulky, shining metal object that he held within his hands.
Was that… a camera?
Vivian turned to look at Ms. Mowz, searching for her reaction. But Ms. Mowz's face was just as blank as could be.
"…What is this?" The Little Mouser peered over at her and silently mouthed her thoughts. Vivian could only shrug in response, her own reaction echoing the badge thief's.
"Johnson, are you for real!?" the large fellow yelled, fuming as he turned to his fellow combatant. "Yeah, I know that thing's made of plastic, sure, but it still HURTS! Like… a lot!" Gesturing to his stomach, he continued to rage. "How'd you like it if I jabbed you in the belly over and over, buh huuuuuuh!? You wanna try it!? Give that here, I'll show you!"
"Uh, no?" The little one sidestepped as the bigger one lunged at him. "How else was I supposed to get you into the action? I did you a favor, you know! Got you pumped up or whatever! You should be thanking me, Crumpster!"
C-Crumpster…? The gears in Vivian's brain finally began to turn again. …Was that big X-Naut, maybe…?
"For what it matters, I think you did quite well towards the end! I could really feel the raw emotions," the X-Naut PhD nodded encouragingly despite the petty argument between his comrades. "I should be able to work with this!"
"Urrghhh… I guess," the large one moaned as he turned to look at the PhD. "...Whatever, let's just get the rest of this over with. How many scenes we got left now? Three?"
"Yes, that's right! After that, I'll edit the footage together, and then… yes! You should be ready to enter it!"
E-enter it…? Vivian tilted her head, perplexed. …Were they… making a home video? …Why…? If it was anyone else, maybe she would've found their amateur acting and goofy costumes kind of cute, but… what were they even doing…?
"Yeah! We got this," the one Vivian suspected was actually named "Crump" hollered as he pumped a fist in the air. "Poshley Heights Indie Movie Contest, here we come! We're gonna get that bread! Buh! Buh! Buh huh huh!"
Vivian and Ms. Mowz glanced at each other, the same light grimace plastered over their features. Vivian mouthed what they were both thinking: "oh, no." The thought of this scene playing in front of all those crowds, in front of all those recruiters, possibly in front of some of the best actors in the entire world…
How embarrassing.
"GWEEAAAHH HAHAHAHAH HAHAHA!? You're entering!? In the Poshley Heights festival? You? With that acting? Now, that's quite the funny joke! Gwah hee haaaaaa, HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
This time, Vivian did let loose a scream. "EEEEEKKKKK!" she cried out as loud, uninhibited laughter suddenly activated the air behind her. She ducked as close to the ground as she could while clamping her hands over her head, acting as though a bomb had just gone off. Even Ms. Mowz gave quite the start – the poor thief let out the most mouse-like noise that Vivian had ever heard her make.
"S-SQUEAK!?" Ms. Mowz darted several feet away, acting on pure instinct. Then, glaring back with a blush upon her cheeks, she growled out, "Y-you!? What… what in the world are you doing here!?"
A certain mint-green ghost floated behind the two of them, still roaring with laughter. The three X-Nauts, just as bewildered, were now staring directly at their group.
"B-buh!? W-what? Huh…!? Why're-!?" the large one babbled, looking wildly between the three intruders.
Not giving Crump a chance to get his bearings, Bow drifted out from behind the bushes and looked about with an imposing aura, inspecting the area. Then, getting straight up in the X-Naut lord's face, she chided him with a tone of absolute authority:
"You have no idea what you're doing, none at all!" she scolded, "Give up now if that's all you have! I've been around Poshley Heights enough to say that's some of the worst acting I've ever seen! You idiots'll get laughed out of the event before you even know what's happening!"
"Wh-what!? Who even are you!?" Crump snarled, stepping back. "You're really gonna come up to my doorstep and just start insulting me out of nowhere!? What's your problem, buh huh!?"
Undeterred by his rage, Bow merely sighed and shook her head with pity. "Truly, now… how dare you even grace my eyes with that display!? I am a high-class lady. With taste. And I can tell you with certainty, this is going to get you nowhere. Trust me – I know what I'm talking about."
"I didn't ask! You wanna fight or something!?" The X-Naut balled up his fists, clearly itching for some violence.
"I just thought I might save you some time. Really, now, this is too pathetic to even watch," the ghost grumbled as she rolled her eyes. "What a waste of a wonderful hideout, too… this place would be much better suited to us Boos! Tell me, what in the world are you bumbling fools even doing out here? Hmmmmm? You clearly don't know the first thing about acting – why submit a film at all?"
"I… uh…" Crump stumbled over his words, turning his gaze to the ground. "It's! I mean… we're…"
"Hey, lady. Could you, like, shut up and go away? You're super annoying," the rapier-armed X-Naut piped up, tapping his weapon threateningly against the ground.
She shrugged lightly and gave them one last pitying grin. "Fine, fine. Well, you lot'll find out the truth on your own. Gweah hee hee hee… best of luck!"
With that final declaration, Bow faded from sight, leaving only Vivian and Ms. Mowz behind. An awkward tension hung in the air as both parties stood in silence.
"Ugh! …Stupid floaty gas-ball-lookin' chick… what does she even know!?"
Crump, his hands quivering with a seething anger, raised his head to get a good look at his remaining uninvited guests. As he did, he gave a start – his gaze rested upon Vivian.
"…Wait, what!? You! You're… one of those Three Shadows! The heck are you here for…!?" he growled. "Have you come to make fun of us too!? …Yeah, that's it, isn't it? You want some of this!? Buh huuuuhhhh?"
Vivian shrunk back, cringing – with his rigid posture and his tightly-clenched fists, Crump looked legitimately ready to walk over there and try to beat her down at any moment. But… still, what was all this? She took another glance up at the building - an uncountable number of goggled faces dotted the windows, each and every one of them cautiously observing the confrontation taking place on their front lawn.
Their cover had been thoroughly blown. The shadow gulped, anxiety coursing through her veins. What should she do…?
She looked down at the capsule in her hands. …Well, maybe if she just…
"Um… I, uh… have this!" With a crooked smile, she held the pod out in front of her where the enraged X-Naut general could properly see it. "This belongs to you, right? It showed up out of nowhere! What's this for?"
"That's none of your business!" he hollered as he stomped a foot in the grass. "Just… put it down! We don't need your kind around here! Seriously, leave us alone!"
She nodded, laying it upon the ground as she quickly backed away. "Okay, I understand. I'm really sorry for bothering you! We'll be going now…"
Making themselves scarce as fast as possible, Vivian and Ms. Mowz vanished back into the thicket as Crump stared daggers into their backs.
"What in the world was that…?"
The shadow shook her head in disbelief as she and Ms. Mowz huddled up for a strategic meeting, hiding at the edge of the abandoned town's reaches. On their way out, they'd caught sight of a few other X-Nauts milling about and had finally gotten a good look at exactly what they were doing.
Each and every one of them were scavenging. …Seemingly, for anything they could get their hands on. Cups, screws, rusty tools, silverware, bits of wood and scrap metal… the soldiers were slowly combing the area, loading whatever they could find into portable containers as they hauled it back into their compound bit by bit. They were noticeably unhurried, most of them hanging around for far longer than necessary as they picked listlessly at the rubble before them…
Most of their conversations yielded nothing of note, either. …Vivian, despite her best attempts to listen in on them, still knew nothing at all about any grand plans other than maybe what was for dinner.
"This… certainly has been something." The Little Mouser's whiskers twitched in confusion as she pondered what they'd walked in on. "But… I must say, I didn't smell a thing of interest. My, my… there's usually at least something in places like these, but…"
…If Ms. Mowz really couldn't smell anything, then did that mean… was the X-Naut army's new "fortress"… actually almost completely devoid of any value? No futuristic machines, no elaborate research plans… nothing? Vivian frowned. That wasn't the result she'd been expecting…
"Um… maybe… do you think you could explore inside a bit?" the shadow pondered, tilting her head. "There might be something hidden deeper within, right…?"
"Don't bother."
The air shimmered beside them, revealing their uninvited ghostly tagalong once again.
Though Vivian gave a slight start at the sudden-though-strangely-recurring intrusion, she didn't scream. Instead, she let out a low, irritated growl as she glared accusingly at the specter. "Mmmmph… you…! Why did you suddenly show up like that, back there!? You completely ruined our hiding spot…!"
Luckily, the soldiers hadn't been terribly aggressive, but… if they had decided to fight, Vivian and Ms. Mowz could've been in huge trouble. With that many X-Nauts in one building, all staring at them…
"Well, it turned out alright, didn't it? But, like I was saying…" the elegant Boo huffed, pulling out a fan and waving it at herself, "There's nothing interesting in there. At all, really. I saved you the time and took a peek myself. Lucky you!"
"There's… really nothing…?"
Vivian couldn't help but question it. Could that actually be right? Was this Boo woman just playing tricks on them, or…?
"When I say nothing, I mean nothing. Just a bunch of sad men living in some of the most pitiful conditions you've ever seen. It would be a paradise for Boos, but… as an evil hideout? Completely worthless. …You were worried about what they were up to, right? Well, don't be."
Bow's face showed her clear disappointment. …Had she followed along because she was expecting an adventure? Vivian peered at her, gauging her reaction.
"Mmmmm… I think this obnoxious harpy may be right," Ms. Mowz folded her little arms, sighing. "…I didn't catch the scent of any danger. Or any badges, for that matter…"
If that were true, then it meant their entire trip had been completely unnecessary. …Though Vivian should've been glad for it, knowing that Poshley Heights and the people within were likely safe… she couldn't help but let a frown creep onto her features.
It looked as though the only reward for their valiant efforts was to be the long trek back to town.
The sun was rapidly setting. The trespassers had left – yet, even hours later, their sudden appearance still weighed on a certain someone's mind.
That night, the current de-facto leader of the X-Nauts was in an extra horrible mood. The more he thought about everything - about the constant failure of all their plans, about their lack of options, and about their increasingly depressing future - the more he just wanted to get up and throw a chair across the room.
The great Lord Crump gripped at the edge of the kitchen table hard enough to make his knuckles hurt, grumbling to himself. And yet, the X-Nauts sitting around him didn't so much as look up.
When exactly had his fortune turned this awful?
After those chumps had finally gotten off his lawn, he'd changed back into his good ol' uniform and made his way back inside of his organization's new… fortress… where he'd gulped down a nice, big glass of water as he sat beneath the single flickering light illuminating the dormitory's shared kitchen. Other X-Nauts milled about nearby, many of them hunkered down on the floor where they chatted while rolling dice or playing cards. Really, Crump could've at least gone for a soda or something, but…
Well. Their current lifestyle didn't exactly allow for such… luxuries.
The water sloshing around inside his gut only served to remind him of how empty it really was. His tortured belly rumbled and roiled with every twitch of his body, the gnawing acids reminding him once more of what he was already oh-so-very-aware of.
He was hungry. Suuuuuper hungry.
One of the X-Nauts rustled about within his uniform for a moment, then revealed a single, tiny bar of something wrapped in glistening foil. Crump – and several of the others - watched like hawks as the soldier quickly unwrapped the morsel and popped it into his mouth.
Crump could smell it from his seat. Chocolate.
"Hey! Where'd that come from!?" "You got any more? Hand it over, give it, now!" "Don't be stingy, what the hell!?"
The other men practically swarmed around the snacking one, each scrambling for a share of something that likely didn't exist. The soldier threw his hands up in defense as the others heckled him mercilessly.
Crump held a palm against his head and cursed beneath his breath, choosing to ignore the saliva pooling longingly in his mouth. …They were running out of money fast. Most of their assets had existed in the form of their old fortress… thankfully, he'd managed to coax some bank details out of Grodus so he could at least access their leader's personal stash of money, but it wasn't even close to enough. They'd already used most of it just to acquire some basic materials and set up a generator for electricity. Apparently, their esteemed leader hadn't considered any sort of contingency for anything after the failure of the Thousand-Year Door plan. Deep down, Crump had been aware that Grodus's final grab for power had been all-or-nothing, but…
Their current situation was bad. Really, really bad.
…He seriously wished Grodus could just fix it. Grodus was smart… unlike Crump. Grodus always knew what to do. Grodus had always handled everything.
And yet, Grodus was…
Crump grumbled to himself. …There was no use dwelling on that. Better to focus on what he could do something about - and there really was only one thing he could do with an empty stomach when he couldn't eat.
He pulled himself to his feet, ignoring the lethargy that was setting in, and cautiously trudged up the rickety wooden stairs one step at a time. He was extra careful to avoid the soft spots – someone'd already managed to put an extra hole through the floor in one of the rooms upstairs. They could probably find more materials in town to fix it with, but it was best to just not fall through it in the first place.
As he trotted down the dark hallway to the tune of creaking floorboards, low, droning voices filled the air, drifting out from the numerous rooms and giving the space a sense of quiet activity. …Many of the men were already in their beds. Passing by several dimly lit entryways, the X-Naut commander eventually reached his own dwelling and pulled open the moldy, slightly off-kilter wooden door, making his way slowly inside.
…Thankfully, none of his own roommates were back yet. He really, really needed a moment – just one, before he snapped for real. The burly X-Naut let out a deep breath as he sank down onto his own mattress in the corner, situated on one of the bottom bunks. …The stuffed fabric had yellowed with age and sported a majorly funky scent, but it was something, at least.
Straining to keep his tired eyes open, the man glanced over at a small, plush dog bed situated on the other side of the room and let loose a quiet greeting.
"…Hey, Grodus. I'm back…"
Silence.
As expected, the domed head stationed atop the bed said nothing.
Crump knew for a fact the man could hear. The former X-Naut overlord did respond occasionally – though he was always curt and disinterested. Crump and the other X-Nauts had even taken him outside a few times, believing that maybe he'd enjoy some fresh air once in a while… and yet, they'd only ever really been met with irritated protests and insults. As alternative ideas, they'd installed a doggy door leading out into the hallway and had put a ramp up to the nightstand so he could at least look out the window, but…
Despite everything, Grodus barely ever moved. He'd go into sleep mode for days at a time, telling them not to disturb him. To an extent, Crump could understand. …It still hurt every time he remembered his own experiences. That nasty, hopeless feeling of floating in space, all alone with no way out, his body freezing from his fingertips to his core, the life slowly draining from him…
And then, his vision fading into complete and utter darkness.
Crump didn't know why he was still around. He'd felt it – Grodus had been there, too, in that endless, empty void. In that space between life and death.
Just when it'd seemed like everything was truly over, they'd seen a light and heard that woman's voice, followed by a burst of power forcefully pulling them straight back to where they'd come from. Crump had awoken whole, gasping for breath and clutching at his chest, half-buried in the Fahr Outpost snow. Sure, he'd been chilled to the bone, but he'd overall popped out good as new.
…But, Grodus…
Crump continued to stare at the mechanized head sitting atop the dog bed. His boss's metal form glinted against the gentle trickle of moonlight.
Why had Grodus come back like that? Was that supposed to be his punishment? …Crump didn't know. Even months later, he couldn't get Grodus's empty, wretched voice out of his head. The man had muttered to himself over and over as Crump had trundled laboriously through the bone-chilling ice and snow, clutching his leader's remains within his arms…
…Crump understood. Instead of coming back like that, Grodus would've rather…
Finally ripping his gaze from his hollowed-out shell of a leader, the X-Naut commander forced his eyes shut and tried to lull himself to sleep. …He couldn't do anything. He'd failed Grodus, over, and over, and over. And, even now, even after miraculously escaping certain death, he still couldn't do anything…
…How was he supposed to fix things…? …He didn't know. He didn't know…
That rich-looking Boo girl was right. He'd thought, maybe… maybe, if they at least won that contest's cash prize, he'd be able to line their pockets a little bit. …But…
"…G-ghhhh…" He curled up, pulling his blanket in tight. His stomach rumbled again, making him nauseous.
Right then, he wanted to give up. Really, more than anything else, he just wanted to throw it all away and run. …But he still had a job to do. If there was still something he could reach for, anything at all…
He had to make things right. ...As the only functioning leader of the X-Nauts.
"Grrrrghhh… crud! Crud, crud, CRUD!" he screamed, throwing his pillow against the floor as he clutched his head. "Okay, fine! Fine, I get it! I… urgh! URGH!"
With one last, long look at Grodus, Crump crawled back out of bed and stomped his way down the stairs, any pretense of caution or pride gone from his mind. On his way out, he glanced over at the kitchen table - Johnson was sitting there, scribbling something upon a sheet of paper. The PhD from earlier also sat nearby, humming softly as he fiddled with some kind of device.
Crump didn't know how in the world those two could produce such fine work with their present circumstances, but they sure did. The little capsule they were putting together looked almost picture-perfect. …Not that such professional-tier work did them much good. The townspeople weren't the least bit interested in buying any of their "suspicious" merchandise no matter how fancy it looked, and nobody had ever responded to any of the offers they put out, but…
As Johnson had described it, hand-crafting those nifty little pods and sending them out into the world was basically a hobby for them. …It was like playing the lottery. Perhaps, one day, one would just so happen to land in just the right hands and score them the best sponsor ever. They'd get a steady flow of work, they could order all the burgers and fries they could ever want, install a few more bathrooms, fix the roof, start expanding underground, buy a karaoke machine…
But Crump didn't have time to daydream about all that. He was on a very serious mission.
"I'm headed out, keep things under control! And with that… Pow! I'm gone!" he hollered with a wave, stomping across the entryway floor as an unyielding, single-minded force propelled his every step forward.
Johnson looked over, thoroughly confused. "Wha? Where're you headed? It's getting late, what the heck?"
Crump was already out the door.
As Vivian, Ms. Mowz, and their particularly mouthy uninvited guest finally approached the colorful vicinity of Poshley Heights once more, the Little Mouser couldn't help but let out one last, irritated sigh. Vivian smiled and giggled softly, having already mostly recovered from her own sense of dissatisfaction.
"Mmm, really, that trip was simply disappointing…" Ms. Mowz grumbled. "I still can't believe I didn't smell a single treasure around the entire place. …They must've cleaned it out completely. My goodness gracious, there's usually at least one somewhere…"
Vivian felt genuinely bad. The badge thief had been kind enough to humor her - she would've much preferred for her friend to have gotten at least something out of her trouble.
"I'm really sorry. It's not much, but… would you like me to buy you something? That stand over there is selling cheese fries!"
The shadow motioned over to a brightly decorated stall manned by a pig-like creature in an apron. However, Ms. Mowz merely turned up her nose.
"Oh, don't worry about it, dearie. I'm certain there'll be plenty of other chances for me to find what I'm looking for. After all, we're at quite the event… Mmm hmm hmm!"
Vivian let out a little laugh. …Really, that was just like her.
"Honestly, now…"
Lady Bow suddenly spoke up.
"I'm still curious. You were worried enough about those grimy brutes to walk all that way? When I'd heard you'd journeyed with Mario to stop them, I'd expected a bit more."
Vivian blinked. …Had Bow… been concerned? …And here she'd thought the Boo woman had just been looking for more mischief to get into, eavesdropping on them and then following them all the way out of town…
Well, it was probably a bit of both. Regardless, the idea warmed her heart just a little.
"Um, well… they used to be a bit more," Vivian shrugged. "But I'm glad they didn't look like they were doing anything bad. Back when my sister worked with them, they were actually kind of scary!"
"Your sister…?" Bow squinted.
Vivian couldn't help but frown. …That's right, her sister. She'd been able to distract herself for a bit with the mysterious capsule business, but now that they had a better idea of what the culprits were currently up to, now that they were reasonably sure they weren't a major threat… she'd have to turn her attention back to her other problem.
Beldam.
"Hmmmmm? Sweetheart, are you quite all right? You're making an awful face right now, you know," Ms. Mowz tilted her head as she examined Vivian's expression.
Vivian sighed, inwardly wondering how much to actually tell her friend. …There was no way Ms. Mowz would react well, not with the history between all of them. She really wanted to solve the issue in a way that involved her and Beldam properly making up, but…
In the end, she relented. "I… not really. My Sis… Beldam's been at it again."
"…Is that right…?" Ms. Mowz's eyes narrowed. "Has she been hurting you…?"
Vivian had never gone into the details of Beldam's "punishments" with her friends, but she had always gotten the sense they already had some idea of what they were like. …Though, it was true Beldam hadn't done all that much this time. Still, she'd felt it. That same rage, that same festering desire to cause her pain…
"…Not really, no," Vivian shook her head. "She's… she's been having a lot of trouble adjusting. I think she's starting to take it out on me. I made the mistake of mentioning a letter from Mario, and, um..."
The all-too-fresh memory of Beldam tearing her letter – Mario's letter – out of her hands and drenching it beneath the faucet bubbled up to the forefront of her mind. Hot, thick tears began to gather beneath her eyelids, threatening to spill out at any moment. She forced them back with a sniffle.
Ms. Mowz reached out and placed a hand upon her back. "Really, dearie… I think you put up with far too much. You can leave that old wretch behind, you know that? It was already incredibly kind of you to give her another chance. You don't owe her a thing."
"…I…"
Deep down, Vivian knew Ms. Mowz was right. Beldam had been lucky Vivian was willing to forgive her at all – the fact she was already falling straight back into old habits was appalling.
…But…
"I… I know, but… I think she really does love Marilyn and I deep down! She's just terrible at managing her emotions, and I… I can't just give up on her. We're her only family." Tears began to roll down the shadow's cheeks. "We're all she's had for the longest time."
"Gracious, you really are a doormat, aren't you? Gwah hee ha!"
"H-huh…?" Vivian looked up to find Bow examining her with a smirk upon her face.
"Do you even know how ridiculous you sound? 'But she's faaaaamily!' Are you telling me this woman hits you? That you went on an entire, grand journey – with Mario, of all people - to put a stop to her and some goons… and that, after all that effort, you just went back to her?"
Vivian shrunk back beneath Bow's piercing gaze. The Boo snickered harshly, growing ever closer.
"Well? Honestly, tell me… are you stupid or something?"
"I… um…" Vivian stumbled over her words, her thoughts swirling.
"Listen. You have to learn how to live for yourself," Bow sighed, "Nobody needs a family like that. Do you really just want to live under that person's thumb forever, craving whatever drops of affection she deems you worthy of? …How sad!"
Vivian began to sniffle harder, clutching her hat against her head. …It hurt. Everything hurt…
"Truly, must you butt into everyone's business?" Ms. Mowz stepped between them, forcing Bow to back up a bit. "I really don't care if you're bored or what have you! Honestly, you're a wretch yourself!"
"Oh, hush, you! When I'd heard you lot had also journeyed with Mario, I was curious! I thought maybe we could find some common ground, but it appears that I was incorrect."
…Vivian had just wanted… she'd just wanted Beldam to learn to love her. She'd just wanted to have a real family, one that would never leave her behind… she wanted someone to look at her, to tell her good job, to encourage her, to hug her when she was feeling down…
Why was that so much to ask?
Bleary-eyed, Vivian peered out at the distant crowds. Mothers walked with their children, undoubtedly enjoying the festivities together. A Toad held her daughter's hand, smiling with a radiant joy as she led the child down the confetti-coated road. They talked. They laughed. Vivian could only imagine how wonderful it all must've been.
As she was watching, a large, blue cloud of a woman emerged from the throng, looking to and fro. The spirit-like creature quickly locked eyes with Vivian and, with a massive, happy grin, began to wave.
At that moment, Vivian was thankful that her bangs hid her tear-stricken eyes.
"Aaaaah, Vivian, darling! A pleasure to see you, a pleasure!" Flurrie positively beamed as she floated over and immediately wrapped Vivian in a warm, all-encompassing embrace that the shadow was all too happy to receive. "Here to enjoy the festivities, are you? I hadn't the faintest idea you were coming, you ought to have said something!" And then, turning her head to Ms. Mowz, she continued: "And the lovely Ms. Mowz as well? How wonderful! Oh, and you're…!" she exclaimed as she turned her head to the ghostly lady.
"Ah, Madame Flurrie! So good to see you!" Lady Bow laughed, pulling her fan out of thin air and holding up to her face. "I've gotten word you're receiving quite the award later, is that right?"
Flurrie nodded. "Oh, so you've already heard! Our newest performance of 'Super Mario: Legend of the Seven Stars' has been quite the stunning hit. My goodness gracious, Doopliss gets better and better every day! I'll admit, I was worried at first, but he's adapted fabulously."
"Mmmm… I'm really happy for you both," Vivian smiled softly, vivid images of Flurrie's spirited performances dancing through her mind. She recalled how the cloud spirit moved across the stage, her entire being brimming with life, with passion, with a pure love of the spotlight… when she'd first seen it, she'd scarcely been able to peel her eyes away. "You really do seem like you have fun up there. It looks so difficult, though…"
"Oh, at first! But acting can be truly freeing, you know. Stepping into the shoes of an entirely different individual, experiencing the world through their eyes… Really, you ought to give it a try sometime! I'd be happy to give you a lesson. Doopliss simply loves it!"
Vivian gulped. …She… wasn't sure she'd be able to handle it. She could easily see herself tripping on stage, fumbling her lines, and leaving to the utter silence of a disappointed crowd…
"Well, well! A chance to train with one of the best actresses of the land isn't one that most people come across," Bow interjected as she floated next to Vivian. "Really, you should consider it! This is the perfect spot for it, too – there's all sorts of opportunities here if you decide to get serious."
…Was that… really an option? Vivian tilted her head, considering. Flurrie was… to her, Flurrie was amazing. Flurrie was naturally independent, self-assured, and strong-willed, living a glamorous life upon the stage where she was able to express herself while being loved by many. She was everything Vivian naturally wasn't. …And yet, everything Vivian wished she could be.
Maybe… just maybe… could she really give it a try?
"In fact… no, this is perfect!" Bow fanned at herself. "There's an event here just for that! Haven't you heard of the Ten-Minute Rookie sessions?"
"H-hmm? The what?" Vivian tilted her head.
"Oh, now there's an interesting thought. That event is a bit special. It's aimed at truly brand-new actors," Flurrie explained, "The cash prizes are largely meant to be used for furthering one's education. …Though, you do need sponsorship from an acting company of some variety. Most use it to audition and train new talent from schools. I'd be more than happy to enter you, darling!"
…Could she really…?
Vivian tried to imagine herself acting as Flurrie did. She envisioned the audience cheering for her while she spread her arms to the spotlight, gesturing powerfully upon the stage. Maybe she'd play a beautiful princess in a sparkling dress. Maybe she'd play the role of a strong, yet charming, hero…
That sounded wonderful. It really, truly did.
But… could she really?
"I… mmm. I don't know. I'd like to, but…" The shadow fidgeted. "Do you really think I could do it…?"
Flurrie nodded enthusiastically. "There's no harm in giving it a try, darling! Believe you me, those plays are the most easy-going event around here. The skill range is all across the board. It's a wonderful experience, and you don't have to go through with it if you decide you don't really want to. They're open for the next couple of days." She paused. "Though… it'll be a bit harder if you perform alone. It would be ideal to have at least two people… Ms. Mowz? Lady Bow? Were either of you interested?"
Ms. Mowz shook her head. "Mmm hmm hmm… so sorry, but I have other plans. That said, I do think you'd look absolutely precious on the stage, Vivian. I think you're more charming than you realize."
Vivian blushed. …If Ms. Mowz intended to flatter her, it was working.
Bow was the next to speak. "I wish you the best, but I'm here to watch and have fun, thank you very much. …Though I'm fully capable of acting, I promise you."
With their present options exhausted, Flurrie gave a sad smile. "It is what it is, I suppose. Well, if it's too much, we can always just do some casual practice for now. There's always next year, darling!"
The more Vivian thought about it, the more she actually did want to give it a try. Beldam made it sound like she believed that Vivian was still constantly dwelling on the events of the past, unable to move forward. Still bringing up Mario, still focused on what had happened back then…
If she were able to start something new, if she were able to prove herself by acting upon the stage… would Beldam finally accept her?
She really wanted to find out. Even if it was hard. She really did.
"W-WAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIT!"
A booming, strained voice called out from beyond, coming from the city entrance. A certain bulky man lumbered there, staring pointedly at the group as he drew air through large, breathy gasps, his gait heavy with exhaustion.
"H-huh!?" Vivian stammered. "You're…!?"
The one and only Lord Crump stood before them.
"Oh, man… oh, MAN, I finally caught up to you…!"
Vivian gasped, taking a defensive stance as he began to rapidly lurch towards them. Flurrie, confused as she was, looked between Vivian and the already-prepared Ms. Mowz before also readying herself for a fight. Yet, the sight of the three heroes didn't seem to deter him at all – just the same, the X-Naut commander trundled forward, swinging his body in a near stupor.
But the three of them were not his target.
The man came to a sudden halt before Bow and, with a labored grunt, prostrated himself on the ground before her.
"Please…" he gasped, clasping his hands together. "Please help us! I'll do anything, PLEASE!"
Lady Bow stared down upon him as he pushed his head into the street and begged with all his might.
Chapter image: www tumblr com/thegroduschronicles/754486286713225216