Chapter Text
Chapter 1
"The Egg"
The tide whispered against the shore as Cozette wandered across the lonely beach of Concordia’s southern edge. She often came here to think — to leave behind the tangle of her past and breathe in the ocean’s ancient songs. Since Connie had taken over most of her duties by now, with Cozette only being there to supervise her if needed, she was able to fully enjoy this peaceful moment. Any second from now though, the waves would bring her something she never expected to see again.
There, half-buried in the sand and glinting under the twilight sun, was the Egg that had caused one of the biggest messes Concordia ever had to deal with.
It pulsed faintly, a rhythm like a slow heartbeat. Cozette froze, her chest tightening. She recognized it immediately — even after all this time, the aura of Reclusa was unmistakable, albeit this time it was far weaker than before.
Reclusa, the chaotic spirit who had once plunged Concordia into mayhem, defeated only through the courage of Mario and Luigi, had been... reborn.
Her first instinct was fear, a heavy wave that nearly drove her to flee. But something deeper stirred in her — something tender and desperate.
Memories of her past as Zokket, the mistakes, the harm she had caused... the aching desire to set things right once more. Perhaps, she thought, redemption could be more than regret. Perhaps it could be action. And even though this action would certainly cause uproar among Concordia, Cozette wondered if it was really possible to change one so wicked like the entity that was known as Reclusa.
Cozette carefully cradled the Egg in her arms. Its warmth was fragile, almost pleading. “I must have lost my mind,” she whispered, setting her course toward the sacred halls of the Great Conductor.
The journey inland was long and solemn. Ever sinc the islands had been reconnected, pipes were no longer needed, so methods of travel were back to the norm. As she traveled, Cozette could feel subtle changes in the air: trees leaning as if to listen, stars blinking with cautious hope. The Egg grew heavier with each step, as though sensing the choice that loomed ahead.
By nightfall, she reached the Grand Stage, the heart of Concordia’s spiritual realm. Floating above a small bed of flowers was the Great Conductor — a giant, round pink figure that looked suspiciously like a ballooned pig, complete with delicate white wings that flapped lazily at his sides. His small baton bobbed up and down like he was leading an invisible, extremely slow orchestra.
He noticed Cozette immediately, giving a cheerful snort before straightening up (as much as a flying pig could). “Child of Wattan!” he boomed, his voice surprisingly grand for such a silly figure. “This egg in your hands...it looks familiar! I smell danger! Or maybe just beach sand.”
Cozette sank to her knees, presenting the Egg with trembling hands. Despite the Conductor’s absurd appearance, his eyes shimmered with ancient kindness.
“This is Reclusa´s egg...he has returned...i found him on the beach shore" Cozette gathered all her courage before continuing. "I know what he was. I know what he did. But... I don’t believe Reclusa has to be that again, there is faint life inside the egg still, and more importantly, unlike last time, it didn´t tried to brainwash me...maybe Reclusa is too weak at the moment, this could be our chance to change things to the better." Cozette said, her voice catching. "Please, Great Conductor — let me redeem myself and show Concordia that bonds are strong enough to reform even a monster like Reclusa, i want to do my best to raise him right, show him the importance of bonds...and how wonderful connections can be...i beg you, erase his old memories. Wipe away the pain, the rage and loneliness. Let him be born anew... without the past to chain him. In turn i i will promise to create a being that one day can act as the protector of Concordia instead of its destroyer”
The Conductor floated a little lower, squinting at the Egg as if it might sprout legs and run away. “Do you realize what you just requested from me??? Erase his memories, you say? You think that will work out? Turn the dangerous being that nearly destroyed all of Concordia into a good person through the power of bonds alone? Turning his mind from a scary boom-boom past into a lovely blank page, hmm?”
He twirled once in the air, wings flapping with a musical fwoop, then grew serious — as serious as a giant flying pig could.
“You understand the risk,” he said, tapping his baton against his side. “To noodle with memories is to noodle with the soul! And sometimes when you noodle the soul... you get spaghetti instead of symphony.”
“I understand,” Cozette said, steady. “But I believe...that i am able to reform him, he deserves a chance.”
The Great Conductor snorted again, but it was a softer, almost wistful sound.
“While i still think this is a very bad idea, i shall grant you your wish!” he declared. “But be prepared to shoulder the responsibilities that come with this burden, Wattanist...and the possible repercussions this could cause..." He paused for a moment before continuing his speech. "That said, if you´re still up for that task, so be it. Let the memory mop-up commence!”
He raised his baton high, and from it sprang a symphony of twinkling lights that wrapped around the Egg. Threads of magic spun and wove into the shell, seeking out old pain and sorrow.
Flashes of Reclusa’s memories — storms, battles, lonely screams — danced briefly in the air, fading into glittering dust.
Then, silence.
The Egg glowed with a pure, uncertain light, cradled in the echo of forgotten dreams.
Cozette stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on the surface, feeling a tiny, unfamiliar spark of life stirring within.
The Great Conductor floated in lazy circles above her. “It is done! Or at least, mostly done! Probably. What hatches now... well, that’s a mystery even to me. Maybe a saint. Maybe a professional tap dancer. We’ll see!”
As Cozette gazed into the Egg’s luminous shell, a small, hopeful smile touched her lips — and far above, the stars blinked, as if waiting to see what would come next.