The large gash in the sky had vanished, returning the small town of Flopside to its former glory. Only now, there was something different in the air. The static tension that always used to be there was gone. No longer did everyone await the day the worlds fell apart, the fear had vanished.

"I wish I had known what a pretty town this was," Mimi muttered to herself while sitting on the edge of the fountain, splashing her hand in the water. She wore less makeup than usual, just enough to highlight her eyes. She didn't want to come off too strong just yet when moving into her new home.

O'Chunks nodded and sat down on a nearby bench, though he was almost too large for it. He looked up at the sky, which was just starting to dawn. It was still dark enough for the stars and moon to be visible... which felt strange because it was rare to see places with both. Was that new?

There were a number of citizens out, waiting to enjoy the sunrise. In a way, the city felt almost a little crowded, but the crowds were comforting in a way. After so many years in such a big, empty feeling castle, this felt like a nice breath of fresh air.

O'Chunks looked up at the top of the tower as the sun just started to peak over the horizon. As he suspected, Pierre was sitting on the edge, watching from his own special place on top of the world. O'Chunks wondered if perhaps the view was better from up there. He supposed he and Mimi would have to go with Pierre one morning to find out. Not yet, though. After years of hating him, it still felt too soon to be friends.

Not that Pierre minded. He felt lonely a lot, but it was those mornings watching the sunrise when that feeling started to fade. The wind was just slightly harsher up on the tower, but he no longer had to worry about his hood blowing off.

"It's the 19th of the month," he whispered quietly to the sunrise. The former executioner closed his eyes and smiled slightly as a small breeze pushed against him."We did it, Merlon. We did it..."

After far too many years spent fighting, the war was finally done. There was still work to be done, there always was, but the fighting was finally over. Merlon's dream was finally here. The moon and the stars finally shared the sky, light and darkness finally shared the world.

"It would be nice if he could have seen it," Countess Tippi breathed from behind him.

Pierre didn't flinch or jump. He simply stayed in place and nodded.

"I think... in a way he is seeing it," Pierre breathed, keeping his eyes closed. "Look up, even with the day approaching there are a few stars. I bet he's watching."

"You still sound insane," the countess quietly laughed as she walked to Pierre's side and sat next to him.

"When doesn't he?" Bleck chuckled, floating to Pierre's other side.

"Rude," Pierre jokingly scoffed. He opened his eyes and brought his gaze to Bleck, who was still a small pixl. "Countess... did you figure anything out?"

"Not yet," Countess Tippi breathed. "You?"

"No," Pierre admitted. "Spent all night in the library searching for other ways to bring back his body. But... I haven't found anything yet. We will, though. Someday..."

The countess nodded, keeping her gaze on the horizon as the sun continued to turn the world brighter.

"Someday..." she breathed.

"Until then, I think it's okay," Bleck chimed. "That I'm like this. I mean... does it matter what I look like? You guys still love me, right? I'm still here."

Pierre and Countess Tippi both nodded. At the end of the day, they knew that was what mattered most. They weren't going to give up, though. It wasn't really in them to give up after the years they spent fighting for him. Besides, something felt different about working together to save him as opposed to working against one another.

"I know," Pierre breathed. "But... I have a good feeling about this."

. . .

"Feels weird to be back here," Daisy breathed as she, Peach, Prince Mario, and King Boo all finally made it back to the edge of the Mushroom Kingdom. They were at the top of a hill, a place where they could see the same sunrise that had hit Flopside, peeking from behind Prince Mario's castle. Down below was Toadette town, countless hills, all the makings of a beautiful kingdom.

"It feels weird for all of us to be together like this," King Boo corrected. "Do you think this will ever happen again? Me being on the same side as you, I mean."

"No," Prince Mario instantly stated without an ounce of hesitation, making Peach burst into a quiet fit of giggles.

"Actually, I think that entirely depends on you, King Boo," she answered. "You, and whether or not anything else like this happens again. And knowing us, it probably will."

The ghost king nodded, keeping his gaze forward. He smiled slightly, but not enough to make it obvious what kind of smile he was wearing. He didn't want to give off the impression that he liked hanging out with them or anything.

"I hope nothing like this ever happens again," Prince Mario huffed while crossing his arms. "It was hard. I'm not really an adventurer."

He put a pout on, hiding the fact that something felt so right about facing that huge robot. He, like King Boo, didn't want to give off the impression that he actually had fun. He had a role in life, and it wasn't the adventurer. Just like King Boo's role wasn't the hero.

Although... for a moment, those were their roles. And, even if it was brief, it was nice.

"Maybe things could be like this all the time, someday," Daisy smiled. "I mean, we make a pretty solid team."

"You and Peach make a solid team," Prince Mario corrected.

"True, but the four of us are stronger together," Peach smiled. She turned and looked at her fellow heroes, then held her hand forward. "Friends?"

Daisy grinned and instantly put her hand over Peach's.

Prince Mario and King Boo briefly exchanged weary gazes before King Boo shrugged and put his arm in the circle as well.

The prince seemed to roll his eyes, but it was impossible to miss the slight smile that made its way onto his face as he put his hand in as well.

"Friends," King Boo, Prince Mario, and Daisy all together.

. . .

He had almost missed how light the air in Sarasaland felt. It was dry, but humidity always gave the air this strange kind of weight, one that he wasn't used to.

Not many people noticed that he was back. He doubted fewer people even noticed that he was gone to begin with. Still, he was glad to be home. He couldn't remember the last time he left for so long. A part of him was worried everything would fall apart without him there.

But it was fine. It was all fine. Turned out he set up a system strong enough to thrive even in his absence.

He walked back up to his lonely room, then pulled out his umbrella, looking it over. He then turned his gaze to his window. The sun had risen just a few short hours ago. He planned on returning to the Mushroom Kingdom to celebrate with Peach, Daisy, Prince Mario, and King Boo, but... he wasn't up for celebrating. They acted like this was a victory, but he felt lower than ever.

"We need to make a change," Prince Luigi breathed. He set his umbrella down by his windowsill and walked up to his mirror. His crown was crooked like it always was, but he wasn't going to straighten it.

He smiled slightly, then grasped the nearest piece of parchment and his favorite quill, then he started writing. Writing as fast as he could. He was left-handed, so some of the ink smeared onto his gloves, but he didn't care. They looked messy anyway after all he went through. He used to always get on himself about keeping his hands clean, but a part of him liked how they looked. That's what gloves were for, right? Getting messy so his hands wouldn't have to.

He looked down at them, then set his quill down and carefully slipped the white gloves off, folding them up and placing them on the nearest counter.

Once he finished writing, he took the scroll and grasped his umbrella. He ran out of his room and down the hall, rushing toward the large gates at the front. The large gates always felt intimidating to him, in a way. They were always meant to keep bad people out, but what they really did was keep him locked in.

He quickly pushed them open, then stuck the scroll up to the front of them.

He turned around, facing his Kingdom. Sarasaland was small. Not many people went outside often because of the intense heat, but he didn't care who was or wasn't listening. He had to say it out loud to make it official.

"The gates are staying open," Prince Luigi stated, placing one hand on each side of his face to amplify his voice. "From this day forth, anyone may enter and anyone may leave."

A few people walking by looked at him with confused expressions, wondering if he had lost his mind. In a way, maybe he did, but in other ways, it felt like he finally found his mind. Or maybe he finally found his heart.

A few citizens walked up to the gate and looked at him. He smiled at them, then nodded. As if silently telling them it was true.

Things were going to change, starting now. He was going to reconnect with his brother, with the world. He was going to stop living so cautiously. The gates were open now, and he was never closing them again.

He smiled to himself as more and more people showed up, cautiously walking past him so they could explore the palace they spent their whole lives looking at from behind the large gates. Some people smiled at him, something they had never done before. He always did his best to be a good ruler and do what was right for Sarasaland, but his fears blinded him. Safety and security can be taken too far. He knew that now. Too much of it, and it leaves no room for joy.

He smiled to himself and closed his eyes, feeling an energy in the air he never felt before.

Then, he felt a soft drop of water land on his forehead, right above his eyes.

He looked up to see a large gray cloud forming over his kingdom.

Slowly, more drops began to fall.

Prince Luigi quietly laughed and held his arms out as his subjects all looked around in shock and awe, their eyes lighting up upon seeing the rain return after so many years.

The prince clutched his umbrella tightly with one hand but didn't open it up as the water fell faster and faster, soaking the ground and falling from the open gates. He didn't need the umbrella to shield him from the water. He didn't need a shield at all anymore.

The drops were cold. They made him think of Dimentio, the way he too was cold, yet not something the prince feared. Many people didn't like the rain, but Prince Luigi and the people of Sarasaland longed for it. He was going to spend every moment he could outside soaking it all in.

He remembered his time as Prince L decently well. Back when he was Prince L, his mind felt fuzzy, but now everything was clear. He supposed he should have resented the jester for using him that way, but he couldn't. If it weren't for Dimentio, he'd never have gotten to experience the thrill of adventure, he'd never have gotten the chance to be part of that story.

If it wasn't for Dimentio, the gates of Sarasaland may have very well stayed shut forever. Prince Luigi might not have ever found himself.

"Thank you, Dimentio," the prince breathed, smiling up at the sky. "I think I'll miss you."

The rain continued to fall as thunder roared in the distance. The prince could feel an ounce of electricity spark in the air, spark within him.

"You're welcome, my prince."