Vivian and the bird stared breathlessly at the foreign capsule before them, waiting to see what would happen next. The air around the bizarre object had stilled, no longer showing any signs of movement or immediate danger, but... for how long? If they crept over to it right then… would it do something? Would it explode? Suck them in? Possibly something even worse?

While the shadow had seen a lot of things, she certainly hadn't expected this event.

"W-what in the world…?" Vivian finally whispered, swallowing softly. She squinted as she inspected the pill-shaped pod from afar – it was medium-sized, made of a smooth, clean metal, and had a curved sliding door installed on the front. A glowing red lamp directly above the door indicated the object's locked status, with a small, inset button clearly visible that invited any nearby spectators to press it.

…It was strange. The more that she looked at the thing, the more she was hit with a distinct sense of déjà vu. She could've sworn she'd seen that exact same design somewhere. But where…?

The answer quickly formed within her mind. There was only one place she'd ever been to that had that same metallic, futuristic look to it. The object appeared remarkably similar to the elevators in that place.

The X-Naut Fortress.

But why…? Why would something belonging to the X-Nauts suddenly materialize inside of the Creepy Steeple, of all places…?

Loosening her grip on the parrot, the shadow steeled herself and inched forward while watching carefully for any signs of action. The moment she saw anything fishy, she'd unleash a Shade Fist for sure – she wasn't going to let anything bad happen, not on her watch!

"Be careful, Vivian… skwaaaark…" the parrot nervously cooed from behind her.

"Don't worry, I'll be okay," she murmured. Hovering atop the object, she carefully reached forward and pushed a nervous finger against the button, a ball of fire readied within her palm.

Whir!

With a soft, mechanical noise, the door slid open.

A garbled alien mewling drifted out from within, announcing the presence of another living being. Without any further warning, a flat, fleshy slab of green geometry entered Vivian's line of sight, spinning clockwise in regular intervals as it floated straight up into the air. The strange creature regarded her with a pair of curious yellow eyes as it observed its new surroundings.

And then, as quickly as it had appeared, Vivian slammed her fist into it and sent it flying.

The Mini-Yux let out a small cry as it bounced against the floor, where it collided with the stone and passed out. Vivian prepared another fist of fire, glaring at the capsule, ready for a fight…

…Only for nothing else to happen.

Was that it? Vivian let out a breath that she hadn't realized she'd been holding. …That was all? Just one of those weird little things?

Well, she wasn't complaining. Just to confirm, she peered deep within the capsule. A white sheet of printer paper, cleanly folded over into quarters, rested within the bottom. She pulled the page out and unfurled it, then began to slowly read the sloppy handwriting:

"Accepting new work contracts! We can offer:

Manufacturing (medicine! weapons! household appliances!)

Manual laborers (whatever you need!)

Punching bags

Exotic pets (sample included!)

And more!

Flexible payment plans available. We won't ask questions if you don't!

Please write your response below and return the message to sender. To trigger the return sequence, close the door and hold the button for five seconds. We'll hear from you soon!"

"Whaaaaat…?" Vivian's mouth hung open as she read the message over and over again. She glanced over at the Mini-Yux as she considered what in the world it all meant. An exotic pet…? That?

No, no. That wasn't even the concerning part. …Medicine? Were they selling those shady potions of theirs to people!? And… weapons ? Were they manufacturing arms? Dealing them? …Did… did they have a new fortress somewhere? Who was this message for and why had it appeared?

The confused shadow tugged at her bangs, her thoughts filled with questions. What in the world were those nefarious X-Nauts up to this time? She knew first-hand how dangerous they could be… she'd hoped they were gone for good, or that they'd at least stay out of trouble. Last she'd heard from Goombella, they'd been laying low somewhere around the Poshley Heights area. The Goomba girl hadn't really had much positive to say about them, sure, but it sounded like they'd been behaving well enough. …At least, in comparison to how they were before.

First, Beldam was returning to her old ways… and now, the X-Nauts?

Vivian chewed on her lip. If only Mario were there… he'd know what to do. He'd have answers right away. He'd be able to figure everything out no problem.

But, unfortunately, he wasn't.

Though her heart was palpitating, Vivian gave a resolute nod, choosing to shift her focus towards what she could do on her own – Mario wasn't there, but… no. No, she couldn't let such a suspicious occurrence go unchecked, even if she was scared. It was way, way too fishy. If she let everyone fall back into danger again without saying anything, if she let her precious friends' previous efforts go to waste… well, she simply wouldn't be able to forgive herself.

Mario wouldn't want that, either.

She read over the note one last time. An extra message in tiny font was scribbled at the very bottom:

"For direct mail, please address to 128 Riverside Valley."

…Where in the world was that? Vivian hadn't heard that name even once. Not that she was the most familiar with the world outside of what she'd seen traveling with Mario – most of her early life, as far back as she could even remember, had been spent wandering about the Rogueport depths behind Beldam and Marilyn. Beldam was the one who knew everything. Handled everything.

She could go back and ask Beldam, but… no. She quickly dismissed that thought – she… Beldam's words were clear. It was no use denying it.

Vivian couldn't return there. Not at the moment, anyways. Beldam was surely still seething - but the youngest shadow sister didn't have time to worry about that. Ignoring the wounds on her heart, she folded the letter and placed it back within the capsule, tucking the whole thing under her arm as she ran through her options. Maybe Goombella or Frankly would know what to do? Goombella was smart and oh-so-reliable – she could come up with something! Not to mention, having more firepower along would be wonderful. While Vivian could simply run from the goons if she were on her own, if she had to fight them, to truly stop them… well, it was better to be safe than sorry.

"Is it okay, is it okay?" A trilling voice from behind her inquired. She turned to look at the parrot; he was cocking his head as he stared skeptically at the item beneath her arm.

"I don't know. I wish I could tell you…" Vivian shook her head. "But don't worry. I'm going to find out!"

With one more firm, determined nod, the shadow's destination was set.


The grime-infested, garbage-perfumed streets of Rogueport were the same as ever that evening, though even they had a sense of vibrant life to them as they bathed in the warm glow of the sun. Yet, many of the residents still kept their heads pointed directly towards the ground as they walked, being ever careful to avoid the notice of those who seemed to eternally skulk amongst the graffiti-laden alleyways.

Vivian quickly made her way down the sketchy roads, dodging the eyes of ne'er-do-wells as she approached Professor Frankly's abode. If she was in luck, Goombella would be around – the sassy, ponytailed Goomba had since become a Senior archaeology student and was working under Frankly as his loyal research assistant.

Upon arriving at the entrance to the professor's humble home, the shadow gave a few gentle knocks at the wooden door and called out: "It's Vivian!"

"Come on in!" a second voice, aged and somewhat scratchy, responded from beyond.

Accepting the invitation, Vivian melded her body with the shadows of the pavement. She then passed along beneath the doorframe and into the interior of the tiny house, where she was mindful to scoot around the numerous stacked books and papers before she emerged. Things were a bit messier than usual… which already hinted at a certain Goomba girl's likely absence.

"Is Goombella here?" she questioned as she drifted over to Goomba professor. Frankly gave her a mere glance before he buried his face back into the book sitting upon his desk, devouring it with all deliberate speed.

"Ah, yes, good to see you, Vivian. I hope all is well!" Professor Frankly spoke with a friendly tone, "I'm sorry to tell you that Goombella is out! She's been busy for a few days now, that one – she recently headed right back down to the palace to investigate some more. There's still so much to discover in there, by golly! But, I will tell you, she's really found some amazing items!"

He motioned to the book in front of him, a wide, toothy smile spread across his bespectacled face. "See this here? We've found an entire library of books! I'm planning to restore this one soon enough. It appears to be some sort of ancient cookbook, by my reckoning! This recipe here… cabbage, carrots, and seasonings, wrapped up in a specialized breading and then baked… wonderful! Positively groundbreaking, it is! We can learn so very much about ancient civilizations by examining their culinary practices…"

"Um… wow. That's amazing…" Vivian pressed her fingers together as her lips upturned slightly, her mind going blank for just a moment in the face of Frankly's inexhaustible enthusiasm. "But, well, do you know when Goombella will be back…?"

"Goombella? Oh, yes, she'll be back soon enough, I'm sure," he nodded. "Feel free to wait here if you'd like!"

Vivian shook her head. She knew well enough from past experiences that Goombella likely would, in fact, not be there anytime soon. The last time she'd accepted that offer, she'd waited until nightfall before finally leaving, having spent all those hours without even once laying eyes upon the blonde Goomba student. She could still recall in vivid detail how Professor Frankly had fallen asleep atop one of his research papers…

"Mmmm… that's okay," Vivian declined, instead motioning towards the corner of the professor's desk. "I'll just leave a note here."

He nodded, his attention still buried in the ancient text. "Yes, that's alright! I'll let her know you stopped by."

After scribbling away on a sticky note and attaching it in an easily noticeable spot, Vivian shifted over towards the doorway while being very, very careful not to disturb any of the eternally growing research piles. However, before she left, she decided to ask the professor one last question…

"By the way, I was wondering…" she mentioned as she turned back, looking to him once again, "Have you ever heard of a place called Riverside Valley…?"

"Riverside Valley? Hrmmm…" Professor Frankly tilted his head as he combed through his memories. His bushy eyebrows narrowed with concentration. "That name seems familiar. Perhaps… there? I do believe that's the name of a railway town close to Poshley Heights! …Or, rather, once was." He frowned slightly. "There used to be more along those tracks, long, long ago. Back in the infancy of Poshley Heights, before it was even called that, those rails were oft used for cargo transport from the Rogueport harbor. Work along the railway was quite the popular career choice!"

"Was…?" Vivian pressed a finger against her lower lip.

"…Was. Nowadays, you've seen it – the whole train shebang is mostly just a luxurious attraction! Not as much use for laborers now, though the Riverside Station is still in use. The area's gone through a lot of changes over the many years, what with the construction of the sanctum, the shift in demographics, the river drying up… Riverside Valley lies between the Riverside Station and Poshley Heights, though it's no longer marked on any map you'll find!"

"I see…" she pondered, "Okay, I think that's what I needed. Thank you very much!"

Though she didn't bring it up to Frankly, the new information he'd given her honestly deepened her worries even further – if the area was already set up for housing workers, it'd be the perfect place to start building a new fortress. The X-Nauts had probably been able to jump straight back into their nefarious plans without even breaking a sweat.

Wringing her hands, Vivian exited back out into the Rogueport streets and quickly made her way towards her next destination, being careful not to make any unnecessary eye contact with the Robbos walking to and fro. Even if Goombella wasn't around, it would be okay - she still had other skilled allies she could call upon for help.

And so, her next stop would be the inn. …Or, rather, one of the stores situated above the inn.

She pulled open the establishment's familiar wooden door and entered, the strong scent of fruity beverages – both alcoholic and non-alcoholic – wafting over from the bar area and tickling at her nostrils. She'd been there more than a few times while traveling with Mario – as a result, simply floating in and listening to the sounds of the patrons mingling was enough to hit her with a wave of nostalgia. She could hear the clinking of glasses, the banter of coworkers, and…

"At the boom-bossa-boom festivaaaal~!

A certain singing voice, jovial and completely self-absorbed, carried through the air from a table at the back. However, none of the other patrons paid it even the slightest bit of mind – the owner of that voice and his all-time favorite song were practically a permanent fixture of the place, after all. Even if he took breaks from singing it or went out on a little journey, he always predictably returned to that exact same spot.

Vivian figured she might as well ask him, too.

"Flavio?" The shadow pressed her fingers together as she sidled up to the yellow-skinned merchant's table. "Um… hello! Is Bobbery around today?"

"The 'Stache brothers, best of~- …ah? What's this?" The pompous man stopped his singing to glance at her. "Who interrupts!? You're… you! Ah, Flavio remembers! Valerie, is it?"

"Vivian! My name is Vivian!" she protested. …He never did manage to remember, even though that absolutely wasn't the first time they'd had the exact same exchange.

"Yes, yes, Vivian! Of course, Flavio knows, it was but a jest!" he sniffled. "Bobbery? Not here today! Out at sea, on another voyage. …Without Flavio, as misfortune would have it. Beyond that, I do not know."

Well, that was about what Vivian expected. Sometimes Bobbery still did work for Rogueport's most notoriously cone-nosed merchant, but more often he simply journeyed out with Cortez for adventure's own sake. …Regardless, Flavio was one of the most up-to-date people around on the harbor's activity besides the sailors themselves, despite him nursing what may-or-may-not have been an unhealthy relationship with alcohol during most hours of the day.

"Okay. Thanks for the information! Let Bobbery know that I said hello," Vivian chirped.

"Leaving so soon, are you? And here I was thinking maybe you had something interesting for Flavio…" he sighed, a smidge of longing behind his gaze. He peered at Vivian expectantly. Hinting.

Vivian… didn't know what in the world the man wanted, really.

"Um… is there something bothering you?" she hesitantly asked the question. She wasn't quite sure that she wanted to play into whatever was going on in his mind, but…

"No! No, it is nothing, nothing it all. Nothing but the whiling away of greatness, currently trapped at home for 'business' while his lesser peers enjoy a delectable whiff of adventure," Flavio scoffed, a light pout upon his face. "I will see you next time, you weird, floating thing. Yes, yes… Skull captain casts his gaaazeeee~ "

Vivian forced a smile upon her face, despite her confusion. "I, uh… okay. Take care, I think!"

Ignoring the obviously dissatisfied plume-head, Vivian gave Podley a quick wave and made her way up the stairs, passing on through the inn area and out onto the walkway between rooftops. From there, she entered the door that led to her true destination.

Countless boxes, each undoubtedly filled with rare products, lined the back wall of the Lovely Howz of Badges. Vivian was immediately pleased to see that two rodent-like creatures were watching over the shop that day – a yellow one at the counter and a snow-white one situated in the corner. The paler mouse rubbed at one of her finds, diligently cleaning off a particularly stubborn patch of grime.

The charming Ms. Mowz looked up as Vivian entered and squeaked out a greeting, briefly putting a pause to her scrubbing: "Oh? …Vivian, hmmmm? To what do I owe the pleasure? …Is everything quite alright? You look a bit unwell, dearie…"

Though Vivian didn't actually know all that much about Ms. Mowz's daily life - and though the mouse was prone to disappearing for long periods of time - she was still a valuable and trustworthy companion. …Mostly trustworthy, rather. Thankfully, Ms. Mowz didn't seem to make a habit of swiping anything from her allies, but…

Regardless, Vivian trusted her well enough.

"Mmmmm…" The shadow paused. Really, her answer to the mouse's question was no for multiple reasons, but how exactly should she explain? "Um, first, can you take a look at this?"

She held the capsule out to Ms. Mowz, quickly opening it up and showing her the letter inside. The Little Mouser's tail twitched as she read over the text.

"What precisely is this meant to be, hmm? Some sort of proposition…? Mmm hmm hmm, have you gotten yourself wrapped up in something shady, perhaps?" she giggled, "Well, whatever it is, I can't say I'm much interested. So sorry, dearie!"

"Ah… no, that's not it! I'm not advertising anything!" Vivian blushed, waving her hands in front of her. "This suddenly appeared over in the Twilight Town area, out of thin air! See this capsule? Take a good look at the design. I… I think they're up to something again. I have a really bad feeling about it… have you heard anything?"

Ms. Mowz pressed a hand to her chin, thinking. "Them? Oh, I see, them … no… no, I can't say I have. Sorry, sweetheart! But, if you're worried, I suppose we can take a peek? I've never been to this 'Riverside Valley' before… that bit's quite interesting. I do wonder what I might find out there, hmm hmm hmm…"

Vivian couldn't help but catch the mischievous glint in Ms. Mowz's eyes as she spoke. …Well, the Little Mouser's ulterior motives aside, she was still happy just to have one extra person. If only more of her former allies were easy to get a hold of, it would be a weight off her mind… but, she would take what she could get. Ms. Mowz's skills in stealth were sure to come in handy.

She'd explain more to her mousey companion on the way.


After a bit of chatter, the two decided that it would be easiest to travel via pipe to Poshley Heights, then walk alongside the railway. If Professor Frankly were right, it likely wouldn't be too difficult to find Riverside Valley from there – they simply needed to look for traces of worn signage and abandoned buildings nestled amongst the trees. With Ms. Mowz's keen sense of smell on their side, they'd almost certainly locate it before long.

However, the big first surprise of the journey waited within Poshley Heights itself.

While the town was filled to the brim with ritzy and glamourous residents, the place itself was usually relatively quiet. The rich didn't much enjoy having their lives interrupted, after all, even by tourists with jingling, coin-laden purses. That day, however…

As Vivian exited the pipe, the first thing that reached her senses was the lively roar of a crowd.

"Ah, wow…" She covered her mouth in awe as she observed the vigorous hustle and bustle before her.

The pair had emerged into a truly spirited chaos. Everywhere she looked, the sidewalks were absolutely overflowing with people of all sizes, all colors, all races – she could see Koopas, Toads, Bob-ombs, Snifits, Bumpties, and countless others, some of which she couldn't even identify. Many of them rushed back and forth while carrying boxes or decorations in their arms, yelling instructions over their shoulders at each other. The delicious scent of fair food – hot dogs, pretzels, and freshly-cooked meat – beckoned to her, causing her stomach to let loose a soft, longing rumble.

Even the skies were filled with a variety of beautiful hues – long, flowing ribbons and streamers dangled from nearly every open rooftop surface, drawing the shadow's eyes upwards. But most noticeable of all was a massive, sprawling sign hung high above the entrance to the Poshley Sanctum that proclaimed the true nature of the event to the world:

"Welcome to the 57th Annual Poshley Heights Entertainment Festival!"

"E-entertainment festival…?" Vivian stammered, taken aback. As joyous as everything seemed, the noise on its own was almost enough to make her want to retreat straight back down the pipe.

"Oh, my… now, doesn't this look like a fun time?" Ms. Mowz eyed the crowd, her nose twitching with anticipation. "I had no idea something like this was going on here! Not that I come out this way often… perhaps I should start? Hmm hmm hmm!"

An idea popped into Vivian's head. If this was an entertainment festival, then maybe a certain someone else would be around…?

She scanned the crowd while searching for familiar faces. Unsurprisingly, a few did pop up quite quickly – though none of them were who she was looking for. Zip Toad stood in the center of a smaller subsection of the swarm, clearly having the time of his life, chatting up women and making all sorts of dramatic motions in the air. Meanwhile, off to the side of the sanctum's entrance, she could see just the tip of a familiar brown deerstalker hat.

However, before the shadow could even think to make her way towards the hat's owner, the air beside her suddenly stirred, letting loose a strange, almost phantasmal sound, when…

"GWEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH HEE HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Vivian nearly screamed as her ears were immediately filled with a harsh, screeching laugh. She leapt back, putting distance between her and the offender, then wheeled around with a burning ball of fire clutched within her fist…

…only to be met with another familiar face, howling gleefully at her reaction.

"Gwah heehehehh hahahhahaha! Ah, I simply knew you would be fun to scare! I could tell the first time I laid eyes upon you!"

A beautiful green Boo with little red ribbons attached to her form, somehow even more blessed in the looks department than Rogueport's lovely Boo sisters, floated gracefully within the air. Vivian had seen her before – just once, when Mario had returned, though that was all the time it took for her to leave a lasting impression. The notably elegant ghost continued to laugh even as Vivian glared daggers.

"Ooooh… that's so awful! How could you…!?" Vivian choked. She didn't even know the girl, not really – how could she do something like that to a stranger…!? Even if Mario knew her, it was still…!

"Excellent scare, my lady!" A second Boo, far older and clad in butler's attire, materialized beside the first. "It nearly brings a tear to the eye!"

"Goodness gracious, how incredibly rude," Ms. Mowz huffed, unphased. "Do you mind? Perhaps you don't have anything better to do, hmm? Lady Bow, was it?"

As the Boo woman's laughter died down, she flashed Ms. Mowz a haughty, unapologetic grin. "Oh, hush, you grimy rodent. Dangling such a meek little thing in front of me and expecting me not to bite… how could I not?"

Anger flared within Vivian at her words. "M-Meek!? I am not meek!" she protested. She'd traveled all over the land, she'd stood up to her sisters, she'd even saved the world – meek? Her, meek, even after all that!?

"I simply call them as I see them, gwah ha ha! If you don't want to be called meek, then you ought to stop cowering at the sight of a crowd, you know," the ghost snickered.

Vivian nearly let out a gasp. She'd noticed that…? Suddenly feeling a bit ashamed, the shadow quietly hung her head and folded her hands in front of her.

The ghost giggled. "See!? Look there, that reaction! How very cute!"

"My, you really are unpleasant," Ms. Mowz sighed. "Well? What exactly are you doing here still, hmm? Weren't you just in town for a little vacation, sweetie? Perhaps you ought to head on home soon."

"Oho, and what if I don't? Is that supposed to be a threat of some kind? Just as I'd expect from a common street rat," Bow laughed in return, "…But, no. I rather like this place, you see! The Boos here are a wonderful sort, the Poshley Sanctum is simply beautiful, the entertainment is plentiful…" Then, adding one more barb as she smirked, "…and I am ever free to do as I so please. I didn't ask for your opinions, you know."

"…You ought to watch yourself," Ms. Mowz huffed. Apparently fed up with the conversation, the Little Mouser turned her nose towards the sanctum entrance and began to walk. She motioned to Vivian, inviting her to follow.

"Enjoy the festivities, ladies! Gweeeaaah heh hah!" the haughty Boo called after them.

The pair fumed silently as they weaved their way through the crowd, Vivian making a specific point to stay above ground and prove she could deal with the throngs of people with no issue. That Boo didn't know a thing about her, she didn't! She had no way of knowing what Vivian had been through, the kinds of things she'd dealt with… she'd grown so much, she had! She wasn't timid, she wasn't cowering or hiding from anything, she wasn't, she wasn't! Mario had taught her… Mario had taught her…

A lone Bumpty stood beside the noble sanctum's entrance, his beady little eyes darting across the crowds as he observed the happenings within. Upon spotting the approaching pair, his expression lit up, though he carefully hid his excitement beneath a façade of dignity.

"Ah, it is you all! Lui- erm… Mario's assistants!" he spoke as he rubbed a flipper across his trusty magnifying glass. "According to my most astute of deductions… you must be here for the festivities!"

The penguin-like creature, named Pennington, stood awkwardly beside the doorway, fumbling about as people trickled in. Vivian had never gotten the impression he'd been the biggest fan of his sanctum management duties… and today seemed to be no different. He looked tired, for once, despite his best attempts to hide it.

"What might all this be about? It seems we arrived to a party, hmm hmm!" Ms. Mowz greeted him as she took up a spot just outside the hustle and bustle.

"Yes, indeed! It's just as you've surmised," he nodded in confirmation. "Welcome to the 57th Annual week-long Poshley Heights Entertainment Festival! You're just in time, the festivities started up yesterday evening! …Or… so they've told me to say. Haaah," he sighed. "Just how I'm intended to keep up these mind-numbingly repetitive greetings for a week, I'm not entirely certain… I suspect this remarkably slave-like treatment may be abuse. I… may need to lodge an intelligently worded complaint, though I've deduced that they may not listen. Such… is the harshness of life, I do conclude..."

Vivian wasn't exactly certain who "they" were, but even then, she felt a very slight tinge of sympathy.

Ignoring the Bumpty detective's bout of disillusionment, Ms. Mowz continued with her inquiries. "Well, that's not entirely what we're here for. Rather, we're seeking out some particularly strange men in red-and-white suits - the X-Nauts. They have a fondness for crossing their arms and generally being quite the nuisance… Have you seen anything like that, hmm, little bird?"

"Oh, those people? Yes, yes, I deduced they were nothing but trouble!" The penguin-like creature smacked his flippers together in recognition. "Not today, but I've had an observant eye on them, I have! They're always getting into something. Hiding around corners, whispering, harassing people… sometimes they come out and make a big racket for no reason at all! That, and they simply won't leave my trash alone!"

So, they really were up to something. Vivian clenched her fists as she listened to the tale, nodding intently. If the X-Nauts were around while the festival was happening… things could get bad.

She wouldn't let them ruin it.

"Did you see where they went?" Vivian questioned, taking careful note of what Pennington had to say.

"Uh…" he paused. "…I'm… in the process of deducing their hideout, yes! Gathering evidence takes time, you know! But… the sewer system is highly suspect! Always scurrying about like rats, sneaking off somewhere - they must be there, it's rudimentary!"

…While Vivian felt a hint of doubt at that one, maybe it was possible? They could check there for signs of their evil plots next - that is, if searching for Riverside Valley didn't pan out. Maybe those lunatics were even less picky about location than she thought? Though, that aside…

"By the way, is Flurrie here?" She had to ask. If this was the land's greatest entertainment festival, then, more than likely…

Pennington pondered for just a moment, then gave a little nod as he concluded something. "The Rubenesque one, hmm? Not yet, though I suspect she's due to arrive here soon."

Vivian smiled. …So, even if they failed to find the X-Nauts, even if the villains did happen to be plotting something nefarious directly beneath the walkways of the festival, slithering about the dark corridors of the sewers… Flurrie was going to be around. Even if something bad happened while Vivian and Ms. Mowz were gone, Flurrie would be able to help protect everyone.

That did put her mind at ease. "Okay, got it! Thank you, Pennington!"

Come what may, Vivian knew that she and her allies absolutely had to stop the X-Nauts from causing any more pain in the world. They had to. Vivian was stronger this time, much stronger than before – and she was determined to prove to Beldam that she could take care of things just fine, with or without Mario there.

With that motivating thought, the youngest shadow and the lovely Ms. Mowz made their way out of the festive town and set off down the gradually darkening train tracks, not noticing the lingering disturbance trailing along the air behind them. Their destination for the night was clear.

Vivian had already decided – no matter what, she wouldn't let Mario's precious efforts to save them be wasted. It was time for them to protect their own home.

She owed it to him to do all she could.


Chapter image: www tumblr com/thegroduschronicles/753216946118508544