The race was hectic and gave me goosebumps every second. Kart racing surely had changed a lot since Mario died. Now it was more like a death battle, lucky us that this is just training and that all the items the contestants get are harmless. But it still looks like it hurts a lot when somebody gets hit with a bomb or a koopa shell.

Aside from getting hit with fireballs several times, Waluigi was doing just fine... but it also was because of my helping magic. It made his body and mind more understanding of what he needed to learn and adapted to it quicker than normal. Some would call it cheating but I like to say that it's just a little extra help. And besides, if Bowser can cheat, so can we... even though it's illegal for us, but who's going to notice?

The race went on for seven laps since the track was very short, Shawn was almost too scared to look when Waluigi was about to be hit by something. But he managed to dodge most of the items thrown at him.

Soon the race was finished and Waluigi went back to the garage with his bike as I and Shawn followed closely behind.

''You were really good!'' Shawn joyfully said.

''It's still not enough.'' Waluigi sighed harshly. ''I can't train with just normal legal items, Bowser's going to bring something that's usually banned in the races, like a chain chomp or a mega mushroom. How am I supposed to prepare myself to evade something like that when we're not even allowed to even use them for training?''

''Calm down, Waluigi,'' I said softly. ''It's going to be fine. You used to be in the races when those items were still legal, right? You know how they work.''

''That was a long time ago. I don't have it in me anymore.'' He parked his bike inside the garage by the wall and leaned onto it on one arm. ''I'm going to die this time, I'm sure of it.''

I discretely gave Shawn a hand signal for him to leave the garage for a bit. He knew what was up and gave me a slight nod of understanding before leaving the two of us alone and closing the door after him.

''Wah?'' Waluigi said questioningly.

I grabbed both of his hands and pulled him towards me until we were standing in the middle of the garage. There was quite an empty space there when the bike wasn't in the way.

''Want to dance?'' I asked with a small smile.

''Huh? Here? Right now? You really think this is the best moment?'' Waluigi said and looked at me as if I was crazy.

I put my left hand on his shoulder. ''I don't think the best dancer in the mushroom kingdom really cares about where or when he dances. If he gets a chance he takes it.'' I whispered softly.

A slight chuckle managed to escape Waluigi's lips as we both started to slowly just rock from side to side as we moved around on the floor in a calm rhythm. ''Why have you been acting so weird lately? You've been more... excited and happy than usual...''

''Hah, I don't know,'' I answered. ''Maybe because, for some strange reason, I feel like things will get better from now on.''

He looked at me seriously. ''Uhh, you're not pregnant, right?''

I chuckled. ''Of course not, dummy. Why would I want that when I already have hundreds of lumas?''

''Just making sure.'' He said and let out a sigh of relief.

We continued to dance around very slowly for a good four minutes. I then put my arms around his neck, getting my face closer to his. ''You know, I believe in you. Nobody else could ever have better green shell sniping skills than you. You're going to survive that race because you're the best.''

''Heh, I like to hear those words coming from you.'' He smirked.

I got even closer to his face, wanting to kiss him. He understood immediately what I was going to do and brought his lips closer to mine. But the sound of the garage port opening interrupted us and in came Shawn shouting in panic.

''I'm sorry to interrupt the moment but they're here!''

Waluigi and I backed away from each other quickly. ''Who's here?'' I asked confused.

''The Koopalings.'' Waluigi explained. ''They come here on random days sometimes just to annoy someone or destroy something for fun.''

''Don't they have anything better to do?'' I asked annoyed.

''Clearly not, this is why I didn't want you to come with me here. What if they see through your disguise?''

''Calm down, nobody else has been able to do that, I doubt they will,'' I said and walked outside together with Waluigi and Shawn to take a look.

Shawn was right. The Koopalings were here. They were walking around like the big bullies they were, pushing away people that were in their way. They seemed to talk to each other about something they thought was funny since they giggled a lot. My blood boiled by just seeing them, they were acting like brats just because nobody could stop them.

''Uh, I think they see us...'' Shawn nervously said.

Indeed they saw us. A chill ran through my spine as I realized that they were walking towards us. Waluigi pretended as if they weren't there and gently closed the garage gate behind us, probably to prevent the koopalings to get inside and destroy something. The Koopalings didn't look like they wanted to be very friendly with us and I prepared myself mentally for a fight.

''Well, well, well, look who it is!'' Wendy, the only female Koopaling, said as she adjusted her giant pink bow on her head. ''It's mister nightmare-goblin man and his little snowman-ghost!''

The other Koopalings tried to hold in their laughter. ''Good one, Wendy,'' Roy said. I noticed that he had his Bill-blaster with him. If he decided to start a fight with that thing it could turn into a very bad situation for us.

''What do you all want?'' Waluigi asked annoyed.

''Just checking how it's going for our dad's opponents,'' Ludwig said with his blue hair flowing in the wind. I swear, his hair the only thing he cares about. But I also noticed that he had some kind of scars on his arms and legs which made me a bit worried.

''And hey, look at that!'' Morton said and pointed at me. ''Looks like the purple elf managed to lure someone with him!''

Just ignore it, don't get mad. I repeated in my head. ''For your information: I'm his girlfriend, and I've been that for four years now.''

All of the Koopalings started laughing. ''Are you serious?!'' Iggy asked in disbelief. ''You couldn't find somebody better than this loser?''

She went up to me and scanned me with her eyes up and down. ''Wow, nice clothes you got there. They're so casual that not even a Monty mole would wear them.''

The Koopalings continued to laugh out loudly. I, however, kept calm. I would not get mad over a few insults coming from Wendy.

''Hey, leave them alone!'' Shawn suddenly said which caused the Koopalings to stop laughing.

''Huh? Something you wanna say, little guy?'' Larry asked.

''Yeah, something you wanna say?'' Lemmy repeated.

Larry elbowed Lemmy's right arm. ''Shut up, stop copying everybody.'' He whispered.

''Leave them alone, or else I'll... take off my mask!'' Shawn threatened them.

I could feel the Koopalings' auras starting to shiver out of fear. But they themselves didn't seem to be moved at all by Shawn's words.

''What kind of threat is that?'' Morton chuckled. ''Shy guys are too scared to take off their masks, it's not like you're any different than them.''

''Guys, don't... let's just go...'' Ludwig whispered, but they didn't listen.

Shawn reached for the belt that held his mask firmly attached to his face and loosened it. He grabbed his mask so that he was ready to remove it at any moment. ''I'm warning you!'' He said.

The Koopalings' auras shivered even more and now they started to look very worried. ''N-Nah! You're too scared to do it! You're bluffing, there's a reason why your kind's called ''shy guys''!'' They all said.

''Guys...'' Ludwig said again, his siblings still didn't listen.

''Very well,'' Shawn said and completely removed his mask to reveal his face. Neither I nor Waluigi could see it since we stood behind Shawn, but the terrified looks on the Koopalings' faces was enough to convince me that I didn't want to know what Shawn was hiding behind his mask.

The Koopalings ran away, terrified, I had never seen them so scared before. After they had left the training grounds with their tails between their legs, Shawn quickly fumbled to try to put on his mask again. When he had attached it again he was breathing heavily in relief, but I could also feel that he was extremely anxious and stressed about what he had done.

''Shawn, are you okay?'' I asked and descended onto one knee to pet him on the head.

''Y-Yeah...'' Shawn said. ''I'm fine, don't worry about me...''

''That was really brave of you,'' Waluigi said. ''Thank you.''

''No biggie.'' Shawn nervously replied. ''I'll always help you if you need me.''

''I think that's enough training for today.'' Waluigi concluded. ''Go and get some rest, Shawn. You don't need to clean the bike today.''

Shawn only gave a simple nod and went inside the garage again.

______________________________

On the way home I was mostly quiet. To think that Shawn actually would show his face to the Koopalings to get them to go away. Many shy guys would never have been able to muster up the courage it would take to do such a thing.

''Waluigi?'' I asked.

''Hm?'' He replied without looking at me.

''How did you meet Shawn?''

He gave me a suspicious look. ''Why do you ask?''

''He just seems like a very special guy.''

''Well... We met each other four years ago, maybe a year before I met you. Wario wanted to mug him but I decided against it since he looked so poor and helpless. I ended up talking to him for a long while and offering him to live in my garage until he could find a job. But after Bowser took over I needed a mechanic and a training partner for the tournaments and hired him. He still lives in the garage, but at least he has enough money to feed himself.''

''You seem to have a thing for helping people in great need of food and shelter. First Shawn, then me.'' I chuckled softly.

''That's just a coincidence.'' He replied like it was nothing. But I knew that he had some good inside of him.

''And you know... rewards come for those who help,'' I said.

He gave me a small smile. ''You haven't forgotten that reward for me for letting you come with me to the training today, right?''

I playfully pulled his hat down so it blocked his view. ''Don't be impatient, Walu. You'll get that cake as soon as we get home.''