AN: Hey guys! Today just so happens to be Angry9guy's 5th year anniversary since posting his first story on this site! Congratulations to you, Angry9guy; that's really nice! :)
Chapter 11 Distant Relations
"Are you sure that we'll be able to help?" asked AL as the group walked through a forest.
Mario nodded, flashing the kids a smile. "Of course. I mean, given what I already know about you guys, I think you'll be of great help."
AL hesitated, looking down at the ground. "I'm glad you feel that way, but…"
"But what?"
AL's face grew pink. "I just… I want to be like Luigi, but considering how I'm just… I'm so young and so stupid and so clumsy…"
"AL," Luigi said. He went up and put his hand on AL's shoulder. "AL, it's okay. You're not stupid. You have this spark to you that I saw when you were with me. I mean… for crying out loud, you did EVERY SINGLE ONE of my dishes." Luigi beamed. "How can anyone look at something like that and not say that you're a real trooper?"
"I agree," Aqua said, coming to a stop as she looked down at the kids. "And so what if you're young? I was young on some of my earliest adventures." She paused. "I was also unsure of myself in so many areas. But even with that said…" she took a step toward AL, Savannah, and Bill, giving them the sweetest smile in the process. "I was still able to do great things. Just because you don't believe you aren't capable doesn't actually make it true." Aqua looked toward Savannah and Bill. "And that applies to all of you."
AL's face turned crimson, and the other kid's skin tones were also a considerable shade of pink. "Thanks, Aqua," said Savannah.
"Yeah," said Bill. "That means a lot coming from you."
"Well, it's true." Aqua stood back up. "You three can and will make some considerable contributions to the team."
"Even if we're still scared?" AL asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Luigi chuckled and walked up to him. "AL, if fear didn't exist, there'd be no such thing as bravery either. It's when people are scared to their limit that they can be the most brave."
AL gawked at Luigi. A tear came out of his eye, his lower lip started to tremble, a sniffle came out of his nose. And then… the flood gates opened. He shot forward and wrapped Luigi in a hug, all while bawling like a baby.
"Oh, Luigi!" He sobbed and sobbed, not letting go of the green clad plumber. "See, this is why you're the best! This is why you're number one!" He let out a whimper and squeezed even harder. "You are just… you're amazing."
"Thanks, AL." Luigi hugged him back. "Thank you so much."
The two stayed in each other's embrace for a good long while before AL finally decided to let go. He looked toward Savannah and Bill, who looked just as touched by Luigi's words. Perhaps they found a bit of comfort in them too.
"So…" Bill took a step forward. "Off to be brave heroes we go, huh?"
Peach chuckled. "You got it, Buddy." She turned and started making her way forward. "If we move fast, we'll be able to get to our destination in…"
"Uggh…"
The whole party stopped, blinking their eyes out. "Uhh…" Luigi's brow furrowed. "Okay, please tell me if it's just me, but I could've sworn I just heard…"
"Oww…"
Peach gasped. "It sounds like someone's hurt!" She looked to the right, in the direction where the groaning sound had come. "Oh, if it's one of my Toads…"
Those were the only words needed to get the group to act. They ran toward the sound, keeping their eyes peeled for wherever it came from. After about five minutes of running, five minutes of the groans and grunts of pain getting both louder and closer, the group finally found the person who was making these sounds. It fortunately wasn't a Toad, but…
"Mama Mia!" Mario exclaimed. He gawked as he looked upon the girl. No older than fifteen, she was covered in cuts, bruises, dirt, and even blood. He went up to her, lifting up her head so that he could look her in the eye. "Are you okay?" A silly question, but even still, it was necessary. "What happened?"
The girl groaned. She looked up into Mario's eyes, tears welling in her own eyes. "Where am I?"
"You're in the forest just outside of Toad Town." The girl looked confused through the haze of brain fog she was clearly experiencing, but that didn't make Mario frustrated whatsoever. "What happened to you? What's your name?"
The girl groaned. "I'm… Princess Metallica… of the Metal Kingdom." She coughed, practically hacking up her lungs as she did. "My kingdom… was attacked… by the Koopas…"
"By the KOOPAS?" Aqua exclaimed.
If Metallica wanted to respond to that question, she never got the chance. She collapsed onto the ground, making Mario look even more concerned.
"We need to get her to the hospital!"
…
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Was it horrible that the sound of the heart monitor going off made Aqua anxious. She fidgeted in her seat as she sat in Metallica's hospital room. Peach and Savannah were by her side, and it was safe to say that they felt just as troubled as she felt. As Savannah had her eyes on Metallica, she looked ready to break down crying. It got to the point where she started whimpering.
"Oh…" She began shaking as well. "Will she even wake up?"
Aqua felt a pang as she got up from her chair to comfort Savannah. "She'll be okay." She looked back toward Metallica. "The doctors did say she responded well to the treatment." She gave Savannah a smile she hoped appeared reassuring. "I'm sure everything will work out."
Savannah let out a breath. "Okay, I just…" she whimpered again. "This… I can't help but think about… about when… AL was in the hospital…"
If the pang she felt earlier hurt Aqua, this one was SO much worse. She debated what to do before looking back down at Savannah. "Do you want to step out? You can go join the boys down in the cafeteria."
Savannah sniffled. "Okay." She nodded. "I can do that."
As Savannah left, Aqua sighed and ran her hand through her hair. "Poor kid…" she looked back at Metallica. Her breathing and heart rate were stable right now, so that was a good sign. Still wasn't enough to make Aqua smile though. Biting her lip, she turned back to Peach. "I knew that the Koopas could be vicious, but…" she whimpered. "I don't even know what to think anymore."
"Neither do I," Peach said. Much to Aqua's surprise, Peach had her nose buried in a book. Blinking, Aqua took a seat right beside her.
"What are you reading?"
"A textbook." Aqua raised an eyebrow, prompting Peach to explain. "Metallica mentioned she was princess of the Metal Kingdom. My knowledge of that land is pretty rusty, so I wanted to catch myself up."
"I see." Aqua wanted to say that it was probably more important to HELP the girl as opposed to finding out about her kingdom but stopped herself before she had the chance. "Any… anything interesting you were able to find out?"
"Well… I did find something intriguing." She looked back at her younger sister. "The Metal Kingdom was created by people who were involved in the Mushroom Kingdom Civil War that happened… about five centuries ago, if my history knowledge is to be believed." Her eyes glittered. "They were apparently really sick of the conflict, so they set up the Metal Kingdom as a haven. That's why the Metal Kingdom chose to become an isolationist nation."
"Huh. That is interesting."
"I think so." Peach looked back down at the textbook before a tiny smile graced her lips. "What really makes me excited is the fact that one of the people who established the Metal Kingdom was one of the Mushroom Kingdom's former princes. They set up their own monarchy in the Metal Kingdom, and they are the main line from which Metallica over here is descended."
It took a minute for that statement to sink in for Aqua. When it did, her eyes grew wide. "So… we're related."
"It's a very distant relation, but yes, we are." Peach chuckled. "Makes you feel some interesting feelings, huh?"
"Yeah." Aqua rose from her chair and went over to Metallica. "Man, I… now I want even more for her to be okay." She smiled. "I feel like I'm closer to her in a way, you know?"
"Oh yes." Peach closed the textbook and came over. "I know exactly what you mean." She looked down at Metallica, frowning she did. "She's so young…" She sighed. "I cannot stand the idea of a young person being subjected to the evils of the world. And yet, here we are, with a girl who was beaten to within an inch of her life."
THAT made Aqua sniffle. "Yeah, I…" she sniffled again and wiped some tears from her eyes "I hate that so much." She whimpered. "The Mushroom World is supposed to be a happy place, right? The Toads established our kingdom with the intent of having everyone live in bliss and harmony, right? So… why do we have to have evil people come along and muck it all up?"
Peach's brow furrowed. "I… really can't tell you, Aqua." She looked back at Metallica. "I understand your frustration, but I don't have an answer."
Aqua stayed silent before gripping her hand into a fist. "I wish things were different. I THOUGHT things were different, but…" she growled. "This is all Bowser's fault!" Anger flared up in her mind. "Every major problem that every kingdom has had over the course of the past two decades has been entirely HIS fault, and…" she whimpered again. "I hate him! I hate him so much! I…"
"Aqua." Peach placed her hand on her shoulder. "Aqua, please." She wrapped her sister in a hug. "I know it's frustrating and difficult, but… but there's no reason to hold onto hatred." Her face grew somber. "Hatred is the gasoline poured on the fire of suffering. And considering how that fire is already all-consuming and terrible… we shouldn't hold onto hate. No matter how tempting it may be."
A silence filled the room as Aqua sniffled once again. "I know. You're right, but…" she hung her head. "It's just… it's hard."
"It is." Peach lifted her head and smiled at her. "That's why we need to stick together. We need to support each other." She gestured toward Metallica. "And we can support her too. She's clearly been through a lot thanks to the Koopas, which is a situation you and I can relate to perfectly."
Aqua thought about that position. "That is true." She stepped towards Metallica. Would it be appropriate to think of her as a long-lost cousin? Honestly, while she didn't know the answer to that question, Aqua could really care less. Not only were she and Metallica related, she could also RELATE to her. Just thinking about Metallica suffering at the hands of someone like the Koopas ignited something in Aqua. Looking down at this girl, no older than fifteen… there was a protective part of Aqua's brain that was currently acting up. Nay, acting up in a passionate, all-consuming way. She was going to protect Metallica. She was going to protect her in the same way that Mario and Peach did for her. Metallica deserved that. She deserved a light at the end of the tunnel. She deserved to hold onto hope. Aqua knew from firsthand experience how horrific the feeling of despair was, and she didn't want to have someone like Metallica go through it. The fact that she and Metallica had a fraction of familial blood flowing through their veins only served to make that idea stronger.
"Ugh…"
Aqua gasped. Not daring to take her eyes off of the princess, she stepped towards Metallica. She groaned, moving her head left and right. Her eyes fluttered open, making eye-contact with Aqua first and foremost. Aqua let out a happy laugh as she stepped towards Metallica.
"You're awake."
"I… yeah, I.." she groaned and sat up. She put her hand to her head, rubbing it as she took in her surroundings. "Where am I?"
"You're in the hospital, Metallica," said Peach.
Metallica blinked as she still rubbed the side of her head. She studied Peach and Aqua, taking in their appearances. "Who are you? What's going on?"
Aqua smiled and took a seat on her bed. "Just sit back, cuz." Metallica did a double-take at that word, causing Aqua to chuckle. "We'll explain everything."
