Chapter 22 Saying Goodbye
The walk back to the Goldleaf's house was a quiet one, as Mario spent most of it in his own head. He ran through all he had experienced since becoming a Koopa, both the incredibly good and heinously bad. He looked at the Goldleafs, laughing and chatting. It was such a normal sight. They were such a normal family. This kingdom was such a normal kingdom, with normal people living normal lives.
Why did the thought that the Koopa Kingdom would be like this never cross Mario's mind before? Why did he think that it was filled with horrible monsters? It just seemed like a silly, childish viewpoint now. Like monsters hiding under the bed, or girls being able to transfer cooties to boys by touching them. Thinking about it now, Mario didn't feel the greatest. He felt as though he had uncovered a gem in a dig site he had dismissed years ago.
Eventually, the five of them got back to the house. Since Adam and Gabby had eaten sugary confections at Waffle House, Opal and Michael sent them outside pretty much immediately. This just left Mario with the two adults, which… he didn't know what to say to them. He really didn't; all he wanted to do was go off somewhere where he could be all alone. Without saying any words to Opal and Michael, Mario made his way to the guest bedroom that they had loaned to him. He settled down on the bed, looking up at the ceiling. This… he couldn't remember the last time he felt this combination of emotions. Everything was strange, nothing was how it should be. He was Super Mario, and yet he had done some very un-super things. Like he had thought before, he had held onto a childish perspective. Thinking about that now, how he had the black-and-white mentality as a fully functioning adult…
"Mario?"
Mario turned his head to see Michael and Opal standing in the doorway. Both of them had furrowed brows, an expression that made Mario's stomach do somersaults.
"Is everything okay?" Michael asked. He stepped into the room and took a seat on the bed, doing his best to smile. The expression didn't come off as the happiest due to the concern in his face, but it did give Mario the idea to sit up himself.
"I'm just… I'm struggling."
Opal came into the room. "Are you thinking about what the waitress at Waffle House said?"
Mario frowned. "Yes… but that isn't all I'm thinking about." He looked at the Goldleafs, and his lower lip trembled. "I… I feel like a monster."
"You're not a monster!" Michael objected.
Mario snickered. "Honestly, those very words are some that I've told myself all the time in my normal life. And I believed them, that's the thing. I believed them with every fiber of my being. But now…" He paused, biting down on his lip. "Now, it seems silly to think about."
Opal and Michael exchanged a look. "Mario…" Opal cleared her throat. "You shouldn't let what one person says or does depict how you think of things."
Mario felt a pang. While Opal was talking explicitly about the waitress, that statement could easily apply to Bowser. And honestly, the fact that it could made Mario feel even worse. So much so, in fact, that he pulled himself into his shell. He wanted to bury his body in there, not coming out for the rest of time. He was just about to do that when Michael placed his hand on his shoulder.
"Hey, don't do that," Michael said. Mario pulled his head out, noticing how Michael smiled at him. Mario had never seen an expression quite like it before, so happy, optimistic, and reassuring. That expression made the words that Michael said much easier to digest. "I know things are currently confusing for you. But sooner or later, everything will sort itself out. You'll be back to normal, you'll get your life back, and you'll be able to live it in the best way possible."
Thinking about thoe words, Mario felt a smidge better. Of course, there was something he needed to say, something that would be a crime to not point out. "You're right. But… I don't think I'm going to be living my life in the exact same way I did before." He looked at both of the Goldleafs. "I'm gonna try to be better. People deserve a hero who actually lives up to the image and ideas they have about him. They deserve someone who's willing to be kind to everyone. Absolutely everyone, no exceptions."
Michael smiled. "That sounds like a good plan."
"Yeah," said Opal. "I mean… I wouldn't be too hard on yourself when it comes to reaching that goal. I know from experience that holding yourself to impossible standards can and will lead to disappointment."
Mario snickered. "I don't think my goal is impossible." He shifted his position on the bed. "I mean… it'll be difficult. There's no doubt about that; it will be very difficult. But I've always been up to a challenge. And besides, if it means that I walk away a better person, then… I personally think it's worth it."
There was a silence in the room. Michael looked at Mario with a different kind of expression, one that he never thought he'd see on the face of a Koopa. It kind of looked like… respect.
"Mario… you are one amazing human."
Mario's face grew warm. "Thanks." It was then that a thought occurred to him. A thought that, under any other circumstances, would've filled him with excitement. And on some level, it still did, but it also made him so sad. So terribly sad, so horribly worried.
"I… I suppose now I should continue on my way to Bowser."
Opal and Michael blinked before their faces fell. "I see," Opal said. She walked over to him, putting one hand on his shoulder. Michael put his hand on the opposite shoulder, and they both looked at him with worry. "Do you think you'll be able to handle it?"
Mario hesitated before nodding. "Yes. I feel… I feel better about my chances after getting to meet you guys." He smiled. "Especially after all the training you gave me, Opal."
Opal laughed. "Well, that's good. But… there's always the risk of injury. And after what you went through right before we found you…"
A pang spread through Mario's heart, one that was particularly painful. Picturing Luigi and Peach's faces again… no, no, he shouldn't think about that. On some level, that wasn't relevant to the conversation. He had been hesitant to fight against his loved ones, as there was no real reason to. When it came to Bowser giving him his life back, he would fight to the best of his abilities.
"I know," he said after a round of consideration. He looked in both of their eyes. "But I know I can do this. I've recovered after what happened, and I feel that I'm ready." He smiled. "Besides, Super Mario has fought against Bowser and won before. There's nothing stopping me from doing it again."
Michael laughed. "That is true. You always did have a talent for that." All three of them laughed before Michael gave Mario a warm, if slightly sad, smile. "I'm gonna miss you, though."
Much to his surprise, Mario sniffled. "I… I'm going to miss you guys too. You… you are some of the kindest people I've run across in a while, koopa, human, or Toad." He beamed at them. "But I will remember you guys. I will always remember you guys." He chuckled. "And who knows, maybe I'll take you guys up on your offer and come celebrate Koopsmas with you guys."
Opal laughed. "That would be nice."
"It's December 17, just to let you know," Michael said.
"Duly noted." Mario hesitated. "And… well, I'll never stop being grateful toward you guys. You've done so much for me, and… that can't be ignored."
Michael chuckled. "Thanks, Mario." He hesitated. "Hey, is it alright if I give you a hug?"
A surge of warmness filled Mario's heart as he opened his arms and hugged Michael. Opal joined in, and Mario couldn't have been happier. He even shed a few tears, hoping for the best for this family.
It was almost traumatic having to let the two of them go. Mario hesitated for a little bit before letting out a breath and standing up. "Well… I guess I'll be off."
"Goodbye, Mario," Opal said.
"Kick Bowser's ass for us, okay?" Michael said.
Mario laughed. "I'll certainly try." He waved at the two of them one last time before making his way through the front door. As he closed it behind him, he breathed in deeply before making his way forward. He had only taken a few steps when he saw Adam and Gabby, running around like they had drunk ten gallons of caffeine.
"Hey, guys!" Mario called out. "I'm off to fight Bowser!"
Adam and Gabby stopped and gave him dejected looks. "Oh, come on!" Adam said. "We've only just started getting to know each other!"
"I know. I know." Mario paused. "I'll… I promise I'll remember you guys, though."
Gabby hesitated before smiling. "We'll remember you too, Mario."
"Yeah." Adam smiled himself. "And hey, we wish you luck!"
Mario chuckled before thanking them, giving them one last wave, and making his way forward once again. As he walked away from the Goldleafs, he thought about everything he went through with them. The training, the meals, the moments of comfort. He really would remember them. He would cherish them in his heart forever. When he prayed, he would go out of his way to mention them.
He couldn't have come across a better family to help him out at his lowest point. That was why, as he walked toward Bowser's Castle, he did so with confidence. He would get his life back, and when he did, he would do what he told Opal and Michael and try to be the hero everyone needed him to be.
…
Luigi felt like crying. He and Peach had looked everywhere, absolutely everywhere. And yet, they didn't find Mario. Luigi had kept his eyes peeled explicitly for the Koopa who he and the Princess had beaten into the ground a few days prior, and yet they never saw him. They didn't see Mario and Luigi's worries were all the higher because of that. What if… what if they had killed Mario by accident?
"Oh…" Luigi started to tremble, in a way not too dissimilar to how he did when he was face to face with King Boo. He got into a feeble position on the Koopa Kingdom's ashy black ground (that had been the last place they had seen Mario, after all) Tears streamed from his eyes. He tried to stop them, as he knew that it was very unheroic and made him look weak. Mario didn't need him to be weak at the moment. He had gone through hell; he needed his brother to be strong. And yet, he couldn't do it. As someone who battled anxiety his whole life, he could say that his fear and worry had never been this pronounced before. This probably had something to do with the possibility that he might have killed his brother. His big brother, his brother who he loved more than anything…
Those thoughts just served to make him cry even harder. He became increasingly aware of the fact that Peach was looking at him, prompting him to try and get his act together once again. "I'm sorry, Peach!" He wiped his eyes with his fingers and his nose with his sleeve. "I'm really sorry!"
"It's okay, Luigi." Peach put her hand on his shoulder, patting it in a soothing way. "I understand you're stressed. I think both of us are."
Luigi sniffled. "I… I just… what if we… what if Mario is…"
"Luigi, stop. Mario is not dead." She leaned down to his level. "Mario is tough. He can survive even the worst, most horrible of beatings." She smiled. "I don't think that's different just because of what body he's in."
Thinking about that, Luigi wished with every fiber of his being that he could believe that. Logically, he knew Peach had a point. He knew his brother; Mario was headstrong, and Mario was strong in general. He wouldn't let himself just die because of one little beating. Sure, the fact that it was them who had given Mario the beating probably hadn't helped (and Luigi knew for certain just how guilty it made him feel), but he would still get up. He wouldn't give up for any reason; he would keep moving forward.
Even with that said though, emotionally, Luigi was still horribly distraught. He cried some more, with Peach taking the time to comfort him. Probably the worst thing that anyone could force a Princess to do, but… Luigi would be lying if he said he didn't appreciate it.
"Look," Peach said, "I have an idea. Why don't we stop with looking for Mario and make our way to Bowser? He was the one who cursed him in the first place. If we talk to him, try to reason with him, maybe we can convince him to turn Mario back!"
Luigi snorted. "Bowser would never listen to reason."
"Eh, true. So… we could beat him up instead."
Luigi chuckled, finally able to lift his head and look Peach in the eye. "You know what? I think that's a great idea." He stood up. "Let's-a-go!"
