SMB4 Chapter 12

Chapter 12, Those Boring Nights In



The punishment had been brutal, and Sebastian was met with a terrible fate. A game over. However, Alvise and the others decided to stay out of it. The people had pulled a 180 now. They were hopeful now and they had begun to rebuild their kingdom. However, in the inn the four had more pressing matters. Alvise and Belle sat back to back on the sofa in deep thought. According to what they had heard, there was a boo manor north of the kingdom. But it was a bit off of their desired route.

"We've taken a lot of time…" Alvise said solemnly. "Its been used wisely… But I can't help but worry."

"But if we don't check it out…" Belle looked up, the top of her head against the back of Alvise's. "We could miss out on something important… News of Star or at the very least, how she's holding up…"

Hero and Mary stood at the door nodding along. They had only just returned from a shopping trip. Hero was empty handed as he stood there. He had gone looking in the shops for something very dear to him. An item that meant more to him than all the coins in the world.  He had checked each shop, at least twice over to be sure the item he wanted wasn't there, but every store had been empty. Mary, on the other hand, had found something very useful. Two old toy guns, the type meant for firing little spurts of wind magic or water magic. She was going to work on them to allow her to fight with her medical magic. It was a long shot, but she was determined to improve after what happened before.

"Ugh… What do we do…" Alvise muttered. "We have to decide today…. Go find that Boo Mansion… Or pass it up and hurry up."

Hero stared on quietly, blinking a bit. His mind grew fuzzy and soon, he drifted back, falling into the abyss of his mind. He could remember it now. His past… His youth was coming back to him. But why…? Hero stared on at the scene before him. It was fuzzy, and it was like the color was drained away. Hero shook his head a bit, but he still stood before his memory. He could see them now. Blocky shadows side by side. He couldn't make out who they were, but they wore fear and worry on their faces. Sitting before them was a boy, no older than a few months he had to be, but he couldn't tell if he was possibly younger than that. However, he saw the boy seemed to be laughing. When he walked closer, he could see the boy covered in blue flames, giggling and laughing as he clutched it and threw it around. Hero's eyes widened quite a bit. His parents! Their faces came into view clearly now. His father's strong features were a bit fuzzy, but he could make them out. And his mothers eyes were as clear as day. And oddly enough, like the fire, her eyes and his hair had color to them, even with the rest of them in a grayscale.

The world suddenly shook and Hero fell through the sandy floor. It was sudden and he had no time to react. When he opened his eyes again, he could see a familiar face. A shaman it seemed. Or perhaps a druid. He knew the man well though. That was the man who had taught him many things, and practically raised him. His guardian and his sensei. He also saw another figure, but unlike everything else, unlike all the other people, this one was in full color. She was fit, built like a desert dancer, and was tall as one. Hero could see his younger self was taller still though. He could remember clearly her pale blue eyes that sparkled in the desert sun, lighting up his memory, all around her he could see the golden sands of the deserts, and the nearly burned rocks that held the homes of the many Geck creatures of the desert. She wore white tights, that fit along her leg perfectly, not a wrinkle in sight. Her feet were covered by a pair of shoes made of a light material, strapped up to her calf to allow the desert dancer full freedom of her ankles.

Her stared as his younger self walked to this girl, and nudged her playfully with a smile. He watched them walk off, hand in hand, and could remember the feel of her gloves in his hand, even though this young woman was bare handed. He could feel the soft leather against his skin again and stared at his hands. He looked up again and gasped a bit when he saw them run. Hero began to chase after them, running as fast as he could. He skidded to a stop when he saw them kneeling by a reservoir of water.  He could see her hair fall down straight, but that wasn't right. He remembered four long braids of beautiful golden silver hair, always up and always catching his eye from afar. As though listening, the young woman began to braid her hair as Young Hero tended to a wound on his side. Hero just smiled as he watched his younger self and the girl, who wore a tunic like top. It was thick, sleeveless, the kind a swordsman would wear, but it was altered to fit a woman's body. Its blue material matched perfectly with the dull silvery buttons and clips on it, and Hero could see her smile reflected in every piece of metal on her being.

He wondered why he was reliving all of these events all of a sudden. Before he got his answer, he suddenly fall backwards, falling into the sand. He fell in a full circle and felt as if he fell into a standing position. He could see something on the ground now. A blocky image at first, but it focused until he saw himself, laying out cold. Hero then looked up, facing where his younger self was, as his younger self tried to move. He could see a group of men. He could make out their outfits clear as day, but their faces were blank, much like a Shyguy. Three were carrying something. A person? It looked like…. The girl!? And another was carrying something. It was curved and wrapped up with something blue. A tarp? A blanket? Maybe clothing… Hero watched as the group took off with Hero there, trying to recover. What was going on? Why did he remember all of this all of a sudden. Why!?

"Lu…na……" Hero muttered out.

"Hmn…?" Alvise looked up. "Yo… You okay? You look pale… Hey, Mary-"

"He's having a reaction, its psychological though… Look at his eyes." Mary said, picking up the look. "Hero…? Hero, hun? You wanna take a seat?"

"Y-Yeah. Yes, thanks Mary." Hero said before walking to a seat. He slowly sat and shook his head a bit.

Mary then felt a shock hit her back. It was sharp and painful and her mind raced. Suddenly Mary felt herself fall, but it wasn't to the ground. She dropped down into a body of water. Mary opened her eyes and gasped. Water. Green, semi transparent water! Mary stared into the water and mumbled a few words as she tried to regain herself. The fact she was still breathing in this water never crossed her mind. Then she sank again! It was like wearing the metal cap. She fell until her feet touched the floor. Mary looked around and saw buildings all around. She was in some sort of street. Mary began to walk a bit, unsure of what was going on. Up ahead, she saw people. They were jelly like beings, all shaped like humans. However, one little girl caught her eyes. She was fully human, but her color was so strange. Her skin was pure white, and her clothes different shades of grays. However, she could see the girl had auburn colored eyes, and bright blue hair. Mary stared at the girl in awe. She looked so familiar. She reminded her of a younger her.

Mary followed the girl as she walked, unsure why no one noticed her, but all seemed to talk to the little girl. Well, the girl wore a tiara…. And her clothes were gorgeously designed, and even embroidered  with desert floral patterns and designs. The gloves she wore were long and lacey, and she wore little boots on her small feet. Mary followed the girl until she reached a castle. She followed her in, the guards not seeing the blue haired adult follow after her. She stopped after a bit and ducked behind a column as the girl reached the throne room. Was she mad!? Suddenly, two figures came into view. They were shadowy, but had large visible smiles. They lifted the girl up and gave her hugs and kisses all over her head. Mary stared, her eyes widening. A princess…? So precious a sight. Mary walked closer, and suddenly saw the two figures light up. The one to the left was the woman. She wore a dress of pink and black with desert cacti ornaments. Her eyes were auburn a d her hair as white as the clouds above. Her skin was soft and tanned and her lips lightly tinted red with lipstick. The right was the father of the girl. He was tall and muscular. His hair, blue as the clear day and his eyes a stunning golden color. Mary stared at them in awe. Why did she see them now!?

It suddenly began to hit her! Hero's memory flashes… Mary was somehow affected by them! She was having memory flashes herself. But how, she thought? Her memories had been destroyed, slashed away by time and amnesia! Why was she seeing her memories now!? And what was she seeing!? A king? A queen!? That little girl, was she a younger Mary? The Doctor was confused now. Her head was splitting with pain now. What was going on!? Before she could figure anything else out, Mary fell again. This time the fall was harsh. She fell into a blanket of snow, a light woofing sound coming from the impact. Mary rose unharmed, but what she saw was damaging enough. The castle she had followed the girl into, it was in pieces all around her. Ice covered large chunks, and around her, people were frozen solid. Mary rose, her eyes widening.

Mary began to run through the snow looking for any sign of life. As she did, the snow below her feet suddenly became wet dirt, then, dry sand. The desert. Mary turned to look back, and gasped. Only the castle, and a few areas around it were frozen and snowy. She wasn't seeing a change in weather. She was seeing the aftermath of a massive magical attack. Mary turned back, and suddenly found herself far out of the desert. She was in a village of some sort. Mary began to walk, but she only managed several yards before she saw a sight too horrid to take in all at once. Laying before her, their bodies surrounded by a sea of blood, were the man and woman she had seen. The king and queen. Mary's lip quivered and her eyes watered.

"M-Mom… D-Dad…?" She uttered, not even sure that was even accurate. Were they really her parents…?

"MOMMY! DADDY!" She heard a familiar voice shriek out.

Mary turned to see the young girl from before. Her voice. It was identical to Mary's, albeit younger, lighter than her adult form, but the similarity was otherwise perfect. Mary stared at the girl, as she fell to her knees at the bodies of the deceased royal couple.

"What about the girl…?" Came a deep voice.

"Her? Kill her." Came another.

"No, your highness. You've done what you set out to accomplish. Leave that girl alone… Out here… She can never prove anything. Her kingdom is soon to be swallowed by the desert. She'll have no one to prove nothing to."

"But…. Fine…"

Mary turned, her eyes filled with rage. There were several men standing by the girl now. One was a young man. He looked to be just a few years older than Mary's younger self. White hair and white eyes. His clothes were armored, and royal in design. He wore a crystal like crown on his head and had a bored expression on his face. The next was a small guard, armed to the teeth in knives and swords. The last… He was a large man. His eyes were pinkish red…. And he was crying. As the young royal body left with the small guard, the large guard knelt down to Mary and hugged her. Mary stared confused.

"Listen lass…." Little Mary's eyes widened as the man spoke. "I'm sorry… I tried to get him to leave them be after the castle was gone…" But little Mary was silent. "I promise lass… Someday, he'll atone for these murders… Someday…"

Mary remembered the words clearly now as she heard them. Her fists began to ball up as she knew what was coming. The man pulled up his hand and hit her head hard as he could. Little Mary was knocked out, bleeding, as the guard wiped his eyes and walked away. He drew her in close, just to strike her. But he was crying. Remorse. She could feel it. But then what…? Before Mary knew it, she was back in the room with Hero, who was laying down, shaken up quite a bit still. Mary was no better off. She walked to the sofa and sat down. Why? Why would these memories just flood into their minds. This same thing had to happen to hero. But why was it hitting them?

As Mary began to close her eyes, Hero's opened up. What he saw was a ring of fire, and two figures. Hero growled slighty now. He figured out where his memories were heading, and he was far from pleased. To his left was Young Hero, even more battered and brusied as he held on to his sword, Nights Candle, with both hands. His body as well as his younger form had faint wisps of Aura rising off him as his control slipped. And to his right.. stood a man that caused Hero to clench his teeth in fury. He stood almost as tall as Hero's older body was and in his hand was a long saberlike sword. The blade was beautiful to look at. A slender curve ran up the back of the blade, giving the weapon it a near fanglike appearance, yet there was a small notch roughly six inches up from the gaurd. Its gaurd was a simple grey stone that showed where the hilt and blade met but little more.

"I'll defeat you and take back Luna and that sword!" Young Hero cried out, anger and pain laced his words. Just outside the fire ring another man held the battered young woman, who was gagged and crying. Blood ran down the side of her face from a strike. In the ring the second man let out a sinister laugh. The kind that would normaly make a persons blood run cold. "You little fool? You can barely stand before me now." He said with a sneer. Hero's focus shifted onto this villian. The man's bloodshot brown eyes gleamed in the fire as he stared down at the younger Hero. The man's skin seemed almost yellow due to the flames and his hair was covered by a turban like headgear. He wore baggy desert robes to keep the heat out, something Hero knew well about but hated wearing himself. As the Man took a step to Young Hero the scene seemed to suddenly move in highspeed as the two fighters clashed. Compared to now, Younger Hero was much faster, but at the same time much weaker, as shown but the man pressing the young desert warrior closer to the fire. Hero tried to move to help his younger self, but his effort was futile. The man soon over powered the young fighter and knocked him back only for Young Hero to dance away from the flames last second.

"I can't let you win. I love her to much." The teen said underhis breath. None of the others heard this but Hero whos fists clenched in the real world to the point of drawing blood. And with a flash of sparks the fighters met again. Young Hero with his two handed strikes, meeting the quick strikes of his loves stolen blade. The fight went on, Hero watching helplessly as his younger form was dropped to the ground with a strong strike from the hilt of Luna's sword.

Outside the ring of fire Luna gasped into her gag and as the one holding her laughed at her love his grip relaxed just enough for her to break free and throw herself into the ring. Totally unoticed by the bandit leader that was about to plunge the blade into the once more struggling boy. "I told you that you couldn't defeat me. And now you DIE!" And with that he turned the blade point down as Hero begain growling. Luna's surprising speed got to Young Hero just in time... Hero closed his eyes but he still heard the wild pained scream of his younger self. He was suddenly taken to an all black room after however. From the darkness, a caped Man appeared. His eyes were a strong red color, and above his head, a magical book seemed to float. He wore a cape and under that a blue tank top and black pants with a large, thick, black belt. The man hovered towards him slowly, and stopped softly, patting his shoulder firmly. Hero couldn't stop to notice much more of the man as he was back into the room again.

Hero began to shake violently as he laid on the other sofa, across from Mary. The memory consumed him. All around his body, aura formed, and blazed up taking on a red color. While nothing was on fire, it did crackle. It was hardly a sight you could ignore. However, the memories of the tormented Mary drove her back into the watery nightmare she had escaped. She could see her younger self again, sitting on a porch in the gale kingdom. From behind her a hand came and with minimal forced pushed Mary to stand back up.  

"I told you, keep yer dirty little mitts off my chair. it's the only thing I ask you to never touch Isis…. Star spirits why did you curse me with the bloody chair…." An old woman muttered.

"I-I'm sorry grammy… I did my chores." Mary muttered.

"Good girl. Come, you aren't in trouble for touching that chair…. No, no trouble. Come, lets have some supper, yes?" The old woman patted Mary as she walked to her side.

"Grammy…. She…. She took me in and taught me medicine… I remembered that… But… My suppressed memories…. How did I-"

Mary stopped herself as a caped Man appeared. His blue hair in short spikes, goggles reasting on his head. He wore a cape that resembled a moving, functioning galaxy. The man hovered towards her slowly, and stopped softly, patting her head. Unsure what to think, Mary just watched as he floated away, out of sight.

Outside the room, outside the memories this same man floated above the hotel. It was none other than the Count. He frowned deeply as he saw both their memories. It was painful to watch, but gave him  understanding he did not have before.

"And now… They live yachter's dreams." And so The Count sunk into the building. He was ready to begin that cycle again.