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“We did it!” Olivia’s eyes shimmered as she, Mario and Bobby exited the Big Sho’ Theater.
Mario nodded, a smile growing on his face. “The Blue Streamer is down. Let’s-a go get the next one!” Two down, three to go.
“Which one is next, again?” Bobby asked.
“The Yellow Streamer, I think,” Olivia replied.
“Oaksy can take us there!” Mario broke into a sprint.
“Big M! Wait for us!” Bobby cried.
Mario ignored him, they would catch up. He wouldn’t leave without them.
The Blue Toad security member turned to Mario as he exited the park. “Leaving so soon?”
Mario nodded. “Places to go, princess to rescue.”
The security Toad chuckled. “Your work is never done.”
Mario shook his head. “Nope. There’s always something I gotta take care of. Whether it’s Bowser,” again, “or a new villain.”
“Mario, wait for us!” Olivia panted, red-faced as she reached his side. Her posture slumped as struggled to catch her breath.
Bobby pushed his way out of the exit. “No need to rush, Big M. We’ve got plenty of time.”
“Maybe… but I don’t want to take a chance.” Mario’s fists clenched as he recalled Peach’s origami appearance. If he wasted his time… who knew what King Olly could do to her? Who knew what he was putting her through? Under all those folds, the real Peach could be terrified.
He could almost hear her pleading cries, “Mario… please help me…”
“Mario? Are you okay?” Olivia patted his shoulder, prompting him to meet her eyes.
“Yeah. Let’s just go.” Mario headed towards the wooden dock, where the Oarsman Toad (or Oaksy, as he liked to be called) waited.
Upon spotting them, a smile spread across Oaksy’s face. He tipped his straw hat as the Mushroom hero approached. “Great news, Mario! That pesky Blue Streamer is gone, so we can move on to Sweetpaper Valley! You ready to go?”
“Yup! Just waiting for Bobby and Olivia.”
As if her name was the cue, Olivia floated down towards the boat. Meanwhile, Bobby stood on the dock, his eyes downcast.
“Bobby? What’s wrong?” Mario asked. Is he okay?
“You know how I got my memories back, right?” Bobby shifted his feet. “Well… That’s really why I joined you guys. To find out who I was. Now that I’ve done that, I really think I should—”
“Leave?” Olivia gasped.
Bobby nodded.
Mario felt a small twinge in his chest. Bobby was leaving? Mario didn’t want to part ways so soon, but if Bobby wanted to… “Well, I’m just happy that you got your memories back.” He offered a half-forced smile. “Keep in touch, okay?”
Bobby nodded. “I will.”
“Hold on just a moment!” Olivia yelled, flying over to Bobby. “Just because you got your memories back doesn’t mean we have to say good-bye!”
“It… doesn’t?”
“No! You can still come with us! We can still travel together!”
Bobby turned to Mario. “Can I really continue with you, Big M?”
Mario smiled. “Of course you can! You’d be more than welcome!”
Bobby’s eyes watered. He’d surely be smiling if he had a visible mouth. “Thank you, guys!”
A sniffle sounded from behind Mario, and he turned to meet the watery eyes of Oaksy.
“Th-this is so heartwarming!” Oaksy sobbed. “My heart can’t take it anymore!”
Mario laughed, patting the Toad on the shoulder. He glanced at Bobby. “Come on, let’s-a go!”
Bobby hopped into the boat with a laugh, getting comfortable in his front-bench seat. “To the Yellow Streamer!”
Olivia was staring at the park, and she let out a soft sigh.
“Olivia? What’s wrong?” Mario asked.
Olivia’s posture drooped. “I just… y’know, wanted to spend some time at Shogun Studios. I wanted to have some fun.”
Some fun… “Maybe…” His voice trailed off. He wanted to say they could come back later, after their adventure was done, but something stopped him. Maybe it was the fact that he himself wanted to have fun. Shogun Studios had seemed like a place for enjoyment. It would be a place for fun, and ninjas, of course. Mario glanced at the Yellow Streamer in the distance. But Peach might be hurt…
“I understand, I’m sorry I asked.” Olivia sighed, floating down to take a seat on the bench.
“No, wait!” Mario hopped out of the boat, turning back towards his companions with a grin. “Who says we can’t have a little bit of a delay? For a bit of fun?” It won’t be for long, but it’ll still be enough to relax for a bit.
Olivia gasped, her feelers flying to her face. “Really?”
Mario nodded.
Olivia exchanged a sparkly-eyed glance with Bobby. The Bob-omb jumped up besides Mario. “What are we waiting for?”
Olivia squealed. “Let’s go!” She zipped over to the entrance, darting past a startled security Toad.
“H-hey!” he yelped, waving his arms as he stared after her. “Y-you need a pass!”
Mario shook his head, glancing at Oaksy. “Do you mind waiting a little longer?”
Oaksy waved his hand with a grin. “Even heroes need breaks, go have fun! I’ll be right here takin’ a nap.” He tilted his hat over his eyes, leaning against the side of the boat.
Mario and Bobby rushed towards the security Toad, who was just pulling out a walkie-talkie. “There’s an origami thing without a pass in the park! You gotta find it and make it pay the fees!”
“Don’t worry! Olivia’s with us!” Mario called, pulling out his Royalty Pass from his pocket.
The Toad blinked. “She is? I’m sorry!” He pressed the walkie-talkie’s button again. “Cancel that, she came with Mario and some Bob-omb.”
“Roger!” was the reply.
The Toad tucked the device in his belt, flashing Mario a smile. “Now that that’s settled, enjoy your visit!”
“Thanks!” Mario swiped his pass.
“Whoah! Everyone make way! Royalty coming through!” an automated computer voice announced.
Mario chuckled as he entered, tucking the pass away. He’d only bought it in case he’d needed to make trips back to Toad Town. He had plenty of coins, and it really was the more convenient choice. He smiled. At least now I’ll get to enjoy the benefits. At least for a little while.
“Where do you think Olivia went?” Bobby asked, his eyes flicking around.
Mario shrugged. “I don’t really know, but hopefully, she’s figured out that she’s gone ahead, and she’ll come back right about…”
“So sorry!”
“Now!” Mario finished with a snap of his fingers.
Olivia flew up to them, her face red. “Sorry for leaving you like that! I’m just really excited!”
Mario laughed. “It’s okay! I understand.” He still remembered when he’d first been taken to an amusement park for the first time. His excitement had been just as high as Olivia’s, if not worse.
“Hey, Mario? Can we start with the photo studio?” Olivia asked with a giggle. “I want to dress up as as ninja for the park!”
“Sure! Photo studio, here we come!”
When they arrived at the photo studio, they were greeted by a Blue Toad. His name tag read ‘Flash’, and he explained that he was the photographer. With Mario’s royalty pass, they were able to get a picture for free.
“Just choose an outfit!” Flash gestured to a costume-filled rack.
“Oh, wow! There’s so many to choose from!” Olivia flew over, poking through. “Ah! I don’t know what to pick!”
Mario put his hand in his chin as he skimmed over the choices. The available options were; ninja, samurai, pilgrim, and royalty. Mario winced. They all looked cool! How was he supposed to choose?
“I think I’ll take the Royalty,” Bobby requested.
“Okay!” Flash darted over, grabbing a little knight’s helmet from below the rack. “Hold still while I put this on you.” He slipped it over Bobby’s head.
Bobby gave a small twirl. “How do I look?”
Mario gave him a thumbs-up. “Awesome!”
“What about me?”
Mario turned to face Olivia. She wore a peach-colored kimono, and a black wig. The wig’s hair was tied up into a top bun with a pink band.
“You look really pretty!” Mario completed.
She blushed. “Aw, thanks!”
Mario turned back to the clothes line with a laugh. He could cross the royalty and pilgrim from his list. He wanted to be something different… something cool… “I’ll take the ninja!” Mario plucked the black costume off the rack. “Er, do you have a changing room?”
Flash shook his head. “No, the costumes are designed to fit right over your clothes!”
“Ah, gotcha.” Mario spotted the zipper, and he slipped it on. It was incredibly hot, especially after he pulled the hood and mask up. I don’t think I’m going to wear this for anything besides the picture.
“Ready to take the photo?” Flash checked.
“You bet!” Olivia flew in front of the camera, peering into the lens. “I’m ready!”
“No, you go back over there.” Flash gently pulled her away from the camera, setting her up against the blank canvas. Mario joined her, and Bobby was only a step behind. Flash returned to his spot behind the camera. “Alright, make a cool pose and say, ‘Shogun’!”
Mario mimed the position of a running ninja, two fingers extended forward. Bobby made like he was ready to attack, and Olivia gave a light bow.
“Shogun!” they chorused.
*Click!*
“You’re done!” Flash peeked out from behind the camera, a grin on his face. “It came out great! You want three copies of that?”
Mario nodded. “One for each of us!”
Flash pressed a few buttons on the camera, and a whirring noise echoed through the room as the photos printed.
“Uh, Big M?” Bobby nudged Mario’s leg. “I don’t have pockets. Or hands.”
“That’s okay. I’ll hold onto it for you until you can put it in a safe place.”
“Thanks!”
“Here you are!” Flash held out the photos, which Mario took. “Now, could you please return the costumes?”
Mama mia, thank God! Mario quickly removed the outfit. He hung it back up on the rack, removing his hat and fanning himself with it. That thing was hot!
“I can’t wear it in the park?” Olivia asked, her voice starting to break.
Flash shook his head. “No, sorry. It’s a policy.”
“Aww…” Olivia removed the costume. “Good-bye, pretty pilgrim costume.” She set it back on the rack with a sigh.
“Big M? Could you please?” Bobby asked, shuffling his feet.
Mario smiled and lifted off his helm, placing it back where it belonged.
“How’d the pictures come out?” Olivia peered over his shoulder.
Mario crouched so Bobby could view the photo as well. They were all in their respective costumes, making their poses. The background had been replaced to a stunning picture of the entrance to the park. The three appeared to be standing in front of the entry bridge.
“Nice,” Bobby complemented.
“I love it!” Olivia took one of the photos and hugged it to her chest. “I’ll always remember this moment!”
Mario rose to his feet with a chuckle. He neatly folded up the somewhat flimsy pictures and tucked them in his pocket. “I’ll hold onto these.”
“Let’s go!” Olivia slid open the door. “There’s so much to do and see!”
Mario called, “Hey, not so—!”
She was gone.
Mario sighed, shaking his head. “…fast.”
“We better go catch up to her.” Bobby trotted outside. “Where do you think she’s gone?”
Mario shrugged, following and shutting the door. “I have no idea.”
Thankfully, Olivia returned to them before they had to look far.
“I’m so sorry! I’m just so excited to do things without the threat of an origami attack!” she apologised, her eyes trembling.
Mario laughed. “It’s fine. Just, if you’re going to run off, please tell us where you’re going.”
“Okay! Let’s go to the House of Tricky Ninjas! We’ve got to try again!”
“Again?” Bobby sighed.
“Mm-hm! We have to find all the ninjas!”
“You should come with us this time,” Mario offered as they headed through the park. “It’s not scary or dangerous.”
“You sure?”
“Yup!”
“Well… alright, then.”
The three approached the House of Tricky Ninjas, and, after taking a deep breath, entered using Mario’s Royalty Pass. The computer-automated voice welcomed them and explained the rules; find all the hidden ninjas while looking out for traps. If they found all the ninjas, they’d earn the grand prize.
The first room was easy enough, and they upturned everything to find all the ninjas. Mario made sure to hit every square inch of the wall with his hammer, just in case there were any false walls. The second was filled with spinning floor tiles, which Mario overturned to reveal several ninjas.
From there, the rooms got harder. One had spikes that would pop up from between the tiles when one got close. Mario and Bobby had a few close calls, but they were able to find what they hoped were all the ninjas. Mario was thankful he remembered how to get to the exit; using hidden stairs to access the rafters.
Dropping down, they were met with a small empty room; only a bookshelf was present. That, and a hidden button. With a quick press, the bookshelf shifted to form a staircase, which the three climbed. From there, they found the last ninjas and activated the room’s deadly trap. They fled, with Bobby and Olivia screaming, as Thwomp-shaped walls bore down on them.
“You said this place wasn’t scary or dangerous!” Bobby yelled.
“I forgot about this part!” Mario apologised.
Olivia gasped. “There’s the slide! Go, go!” She quickly folded herself up and squeezed into Mario’s pocket.
Mario hit the ground and slid down it, screams from behind him indicating that Bobby had followed. The slide twisted sideways and in circles.
“I’m going to be sick!” Bobby yelped.
Thankfully, the light at the end of the tunnel shone, and Mario’s boots touched the ground. He dove forward in a roll, leaping to his feet with a triumphant pose.
“Oooh…” Bobby groaned, stumbling about. “Let’s never do that again.” He bumped into the wall and fell down.
“Congratulations! You are now official ninjas!” the automated voice cheered.
With a pop, confetti showered from the ceiling. It was drawn into Mario’s confetti bag before it hit the ground.
“Cool…” Bobby moaned. “Oh, that didn’t do my stomach any good.”
“You found… twenty-four out of twenty-five ninjas! Oh, you almost got it! Better luck next time for a chance to win the grand prize!”
Mario snapped his fingers. “Ah, so close!” He shook his head with a sigh.
“That was better than our last score!” Olivia reminded him. “We only found nineteen our first run through.”
“That’s because I didn’t really care about finding them, I was just looking for Luigi.”
“However!” the voice continued. “For your outstanding, near-perfect efforts, you get a prize of five hundred shiny coins! Thank you for participating in the House of Tricky Ninjas! Feel free to give it another run whenever you’d like!”
A tile opened in the ceiling, and five hundred-value coins dropped to the ground. Mario collected them, and the three exited the building.
“Wasn’t that fun?” Olivia prompted, her eyes sparkling.
“I dunno…” Bobby shook his head. “I still feel nauseous, and my heart’s racing.”
“Why don’t we stop at the teahouse?” Mario pointed across the mini-plaza. “Seems like they’ve got good stuff.”
They entered the Tranquil-Pipes Teahouse, sat down, and placed their orders. They all had decided on the special, Shogun Studios-exclusive Ninja Petal Tea. With no other waiting customers, their drinks were served in a little more than a minute. Due to Bobby’s lack of arms, he was provided a straw so he could drink the tea through his invisible mouth.
Mario made sure to blow on the tea before taking a sip. A subtly sweet taste swamped his tongue. It wasn’t strong, yet the favor was still there, and it had a florally hint to it. “Mama mia, this is wonderful!”
“I know!” Olivia’s eyes glittered.
“Y’know, I’m not a tea Bob-omb, but this stuff’s pretty neat,” Bobby complimented.
Mario downed his tea, not caring that it scalded his throat. He firmly set the mug down, wiping his mustache with the back of his hand. “Alright, what’s next?”
“We’ve got to do the Shuriken Dojo again!” Olivia tapped Mario’s shoulder. “You’ve gotta go for the expert level!”
“Okie, dokie!”
Once Olivia and Bobby had finished their tea, they made their way over to the Dojo, though they made a quick stop at the petting zoo. Olivia gave Princess the Chain Chomp a few strokes before they were on their way.
“Welcome to the Shuriken Dojo!” Ninja Star, the Toad who ran the Dojo, greeted them with a smile. “Oh! Mario! Welcome back! You here to try the expert level?”
“You bet!” Mario slid the Toad his Royalty Pass.
“Cool, cool!” Ninja Star swiped the card, and, with a beep, the targets popped up. “You remember the rules, right Mario?”
Mario nodded, whipping out his hammer as he stepped into the shooting range. “Let’s-a get started!”
“Okay! You want to do normal or expert mode?”
“Expert!”
Ninja Star rubbed his hands together. “Oh-ho-ho! We have a daredevil among us! A royal one, to boot!” He typed a few buttons into the computer. “Okay, so the goal is to get exactly one hundred points before the time runs out.” He peeked out from behind his device, a mischievous grin rising on his face. “You think you can handle that?”
One hundred points! “I’ll give it my best shot.” Mario hoisted the hammer over his shoulder.
Ninja Star laughed. “That’s the spirit! Are you ready?”
Mario nodded, squeezing the handle tight as he narrowed his eyes at the field where the targets would appear.
“Alright… Three! Two! One! Aaaaannd, GO!”
Olivia and Bobby cheered as Mario used his hammer to fire the ninja stars at the moving targets. He racked up his points as quickly as he could, wincing the few times he struck negative marks. His score was climbing… higher… higher… almost there…
“Time!” Ninja Star cried.
The targets whisked out of sight.
The hammer’s head hit the ground, and Mario exhaled, wiping sweat off his brow. “How’d I do? Did I get it?”
Ninja Star peered at the computer. He winced. “Ooh, you scored eighty-eight points!” He shrugged. “Better luck next time!”
Mario’s eyes narrowed, and he smacked the head of his hammer into his open palm. “I’m trying again.”
Mario went through the same thing again, grabbing as many points as possible. He went for the big ones, avoiding minuses whenever he could.
“Stop!” Ninja Star yelled.
Mario paused mid-swing. He turned to the Toad.
Ninja Star beamed. “Congratulations! You did it!”
“I did?”
“Yup!” Ninja Star pressed a button, and a tiny model of a Macho Paper Koopa fell into his hands. “This prize is yours!” He set it on the counter.
Mario tucked his hammer away, approaching the little collectable. He’d done it. A smile grew on his face. He grabbed the model and held it up triumphantly. “Here we go!”
“Here we go?” Olivia asked, blinking.
Mario shrugged as he pocketed the collectible. “It’s something from the past, I used to say it a lot.”
“Oh, okay!”
Bobby peered at the Toad’s name tag. “Is your name really Ninja Star?”
Ninja Star shook his head. “No, it’s Teddy. When I was hired, I got the choice to make up an employee name for myself, and I wanted to have a cool name that goes with my job at the Dojo!” He held up a shuriken between his fore and middle finger, a grin growing on his face. “And so I chose Ninja Star!”
“Gotcha.”
“What do you guys want to do next?” Olivia asked. “I’ve kinda been forcing you to do what I wanted.”
“Can we go to the Big Sho’ theater?” Bobby blinked up at Mario, eyes glimmering hopefully. “Even though Rubber Band made all those shows last time, I still enjoyed them. I want to see the real ones!”
Mario nodded. “Sure! And, since it’s the real staff, they won’t make me risk my game preforming.”
“Great!”
“Just… can this be the last thing? We’ve had our break, and we’ve been here for an hour and a half already. I don’t want to delay any longer.”
Olivia drooped. “Okay…”
“We can always come back when this is all finished with,” Mario reminded her with a smile.
She perked up. “True!”
When they got to the Great Sho’ Theater they had to wait in line, just for Mario to show his Royalty Pass and get in free of charge.
“I think they should have a separate line for royalty,” Olivia brought up.
Mario just shrugged.
As soon as he stepped foot into the theater itself, he was halted by a voice calling his name.
“Mario!”
A Blue Toad staff member rushed over, face red as he struggled to breathe.
“What’s wrong?” Mario asked.
“I-It’s a crisis!” Drama, as his name tag read, gazed up at Mario in despair. “The main actor has gone missing!”
“Really?!” Olivia gasped.
“You want me to go find him?” Mario asked. He was already turning towards the exit when Drama grabbed his arm.
“No, we need you to replace him!”
Mario stiffened. “What?”
“The show starts in five minutes!” Drama pulled Mario towards a door marked ‘Staff
Only’. He pushed it open. “I got Mario! We’re saved!”
The Toads all turned to him.
“Thank the Stars!” a Purple Toad cried, his eyes shining with tears.
“The show can go on,” a Red Toad added unenthusiastically.
Mario pulled his arm out of Drama’s grasp. “Hold on, just a moment!” There was something oddly suspicious about this situation. Some of the Toads’ faces perfectly mirrored the situation, but others seemed… off. Some were too distressed, others weren’t enough. It was almost as if… they were faking. “What’s really going on here?”
Drama’s destress melted away in a second, and he burst out laughing, clapping Mario on the back. “It’s just a joke! Rector staged it!” He pointed at a Green Toad wearing sunglasses.
Rector grinned. “We have all the actors, I just couldn’t resist a good little prank.”
“Oh, you should’ve seen the look on his face!” Drama snickered. “He looked horrified!”
“Wait, this was all just a joke?” Mario checked.
“We’re all guilty as charged.” Rector swept his hand to the room around them. “We have all the actors for the show.”
Drama bowed. “I was the most suited for getting you here, since I’d be the most convincing.”
Record laughed. “Drama’s also the best actor here, and he’s also the lead for the first floor show.”
Mario shook his head with a small laugh. “Well, you got me. I thought I was going to appear on stage again!”
Rector chuckled, approaching the Mushroom hero. “Nah, you’re the audience. I just have this flair for dramatics and comedy.” He winked. “Including pranks!” He pushed Mario out the door. “Get in your seat before you miss the show!” He closed the door behind him.
“What was that all about?” Bobby asked, trotting over with Olivia by his side.
Mario shook his head. “It was all a joke. We gotta get in our seats!”
They sat in the front, the chattering of excited Toads rising around them. Only a minute passed before the lights dimmed to a near-blackness, prompting silence among the crowd. A spotlight flicked on with a loud click, illuminating a ninja-dressed Blue Toad as he came out onto stage. He bowed.
“Hello, and welcome to the Big Sho’ Theater!” The Toad paused as applause rang out. “Today, you’ll be watching three different performances on three different floors! I’m your narrator, Teller!”
“Creative,” Bobby commented.
“Please, no cellular devices, talking, or outside food or drink.” Teller twirled, striking a ninja-like pose. “Now, let’s get this show started!”
And, with a puff of smoke and petals, he vanished.
~~~
Olivia was still laughing as they left the Big Sho’ Theater.
“Remember when Strider said to the Robber Guys, ‘Guess you guys picked the wrong pipe to come out of’? That was hilarious!” Olivia fell to the ground in a heap of giggles.
“It wasn’t that funny. Sure, I chuckled a little, and it was entertaining, but not to the point of dying from laughter,” Bobby noted. “You really need to get out of the house more.”
Mario shrugged. Olivia’s naïve outlook towards many of the simple things was just a little quirk she had. Mario just assumed she grew up sheltered, and that this was her first real time out in the world.
Olivia composed herself with a breath, rising back into the air. “Okay, I’m done.” She giggled. “Time to go for the Yellow Streamer!”
~~~
“Thank you, Big M! For everything!” Bobby eyes glittered in his mischievous grin.
“Bobby, what are you—?”
With a loud hiss, Mario was cut off as sparks began to fly off the new fuse Bobby had for himself. Mario gasped. His legs were moving before he could think.
*BOOM!*
The explosion knocked Mario back, sending him falling on his back. He closed his eyes as chunks of rock flew through the air. He coughed as the smoke cleared, blinking open his eyes as he sat up. The boulder was gone.
So was Bobby.
Tears stung Mario’s eyes, and his chest tightened. “No…”
Olivia groaned. “Mario? Bobby?” She twitched, pushing herself up. “Are you there?”
Mario could only stare at the confetti that once was the boulder. At the scorched dip in the ground where Bobby had last stood. Bobby sacrificed himself. He’s gone… he’s… Mario swallowed, bowing his head and allowing his hat to slip over his watering eyes.
“Mario? Did you save me?” Olivia patted him on the shoulder. “What’s wrong? Where’s Bobby?”
Mario didn’t have the voice to explain. Any words would come out in the form of a sob. Bobby was gone. He’d sacrificed himself to save Olivia. His friend.
“Wait… that noise… was it an explosion?”
Mario nodded, a sniffled escaping him as he forced his hat further over his eyes.
Olivia gasped. “Bobby! He… N-no!” Her voice broke. “No! No!” She sobbed, and Mario looked up at her. Her eyes were filled with tears.
“Olivia…” Mario began, but his voice failed. Tears distorted his vision. He reached a hand towards her. Surely, they could comfort each other.
She backed away, shaking her head. “Th-this can’t be… I won’t accept this!” She whipped around and zipped towards the tunnel.
Mario jumped to his feet. “Olivia!” He extended a hand after her, but she didn’t look back, disappearing into the darkness. He was alone now. Mario let out a sigh. He trudged through the crater where the boulder stood, the confetti being drawn to him. He halted in the mouth of the tunnel, his hand moving to his pocket.
Mario pulled out the picture they’d taken at Shogun Studios. He traced his finger over Bobby, tears sliding from his eyes. Oh, Bobby… He’d been there, and then he wasn’t. They’d barely spent any time together, and it all had to end in that one moment. That one, single moment.
Mario’s free hand squeezed into a fist, his eyes scrunching shut. If only he’d told me what he’d been planning. Mario could have stopped him. They could’ve found another way. One that didn’t result in grief. I should’ve asked him…
“Do you trust me, Big M? This is the only way to save her.”
Yes, he had trusted Bobby. And it had resulted in his death.
Mario’s soaked eyes trailed to the photo again, his vision wavering. Tears dripped onto the picture, soiling it ever so slightly. Bobby… you were a great friend… and I wish there was a way I could show my appreciation for that.
The gentle sounds of the river drew his attention, and he glanced at the picture once again. With a firm nod, Mario marched towards it. Oaksy had long gone; Mario had dismissed him after they’d returned with the fuse.
That blasted fuse.
Mario fell to his knees by the riverside. He placed the picture in the sand in front of him. “Bobby… I wish I’d had the chance to say this before your game ended, but…” Tears fell. “Bobby, you might have looked like a normal Bob-omb, but you were anything but that. You were loyal, fun to be around, and, most of all, you were my friend.” He let out a long sigh. “We met in the tram, and I really only let you come because Olivia wanted you to. I’ll admit I was worried you’d be in the way, or that you’d get hurt. I feel selfish for ever thinking that you’d be a burden, now.” Mario shook his head. “That’s in the past. During the times we traveled… you started to mean more to me. Sure, we had some obstacles, and your amnesia really got in the way at times, but we pulled through together. And, in the end, you remembered everything.
“By that time, Bobby, you’d grown on me so much that I thought of you as a friend. I trusted you, and I cared for you.” Mario sniffed, wiping tears off his cheeks. “You wanted to make an impact… that’s what you said.” A sorrowful smile appeared on his face. “You made a bigger one that you realised… in my life, and Olivia’s. I just wish you’d known that before you’d gone.” Mario bowed his head. “I’ll miss you, buddy. Your sacrifice will always be remembered, and I’ll never forget you, nor the times we had together.”
With a long exhale, Mario pushed the picture into the river. He put his hands on his knees as his watery eyes followed it down stream. It twirled in the current, dipping under the surface at time. A hollowness enwrapped Mario’s chest, yet… the words he’d spoke about his friend seemed to lift a weight off his shoulders. Mario closed his eyes, his hands clenching into fists. If only Bobby had been able to hear me…
He glanced back up to watch the picture dip under the water. Mario waited for a few moments, but nothing changed. The photo didn’t resurface. He rose to his feet, brushing sand off his knees. He stared where the picture had last been, biting the inside of his cheek. Good-bye, Bobby.
As he turned away to go search for Olivia in the mountain tunnel, a small breeze whooshed around him. He halted, glancing around as he felt a small tug in his heart. The wind whispered into his ears, carrying with it a message that Mario could barely hear, but put a smile on his face all the same.
“Thank you… Big M…”