Suspects: Mario, Luigi, Waluigi, Wario, Peach, Daisy, Roasalina, Yoshi, and Birdo

Victims: 1 Toad, Bowser

Killer:

Bowser had been a fool to announce that he saw who I was. He should have expected a bullet to come after him.

It was lucky that I caught him right before he said my name. That would have been no fun if the game had been spoiled so quickly.

One shot. In and out. A quick, yet torturous strike through the neck. I was surprised I hit such a small mark. Especially with that bulky shell koopas are so well known for.

Ah well, he was fun while he lasted. I wished I could have saved him for later. I heard his clue though. Blue eh? Good, that still leaves many suspects. I'm surprised that he didn't say something more... descriptive. There are many ways to identify me. Perhaps that was the only thing he remembered about me?

Getting rid of the weapon was easy enough. You have to have fast reflexes if your life sits on a line. A small flick in the right direction.

Let's see how things play out. This should be fun.

One down, eight to go.

Three, two, one.

The game has just begun.

Daisy:

Something glittering landed at Daisy's feet.

It was a revolver.

Picking up the revolver, Daisy heard a scream and a thump.

"Oh, this is just brilliant."

Daisy ran up the steps, almost tripping over her dress in the process.

"Stupid thing." Daisy tore the dress at her knees, allowing herself more manuverability.

When she reached the platform, attempting to clean off her pure white gloves, now stained with a mixture of dirt and blood, she found Peach crying and Mario inspecting a large object with a shell.

Bowser.

This corpse was not mutilated like the other was. Obviously that was the sound Daisy had just heard. Well, one mystery answered.

Luigi came up behind her.

"Another one? Already?" He ran up to Mario, surveying the limp body.

Rosalina appeared behind Daisy soonafter. She shook her head, closing her sapphire eyes."It is moving quickly. Who is next, we do not know, yet we should be on our utmost guard."

Daisy nodded agreement before stepping into the second murder scene.

Luigi:

After the thump, Luigi saw Daisy run towards the steps. She held something metallic.

He didn't want to assume what it was, instead following her to investigate the noise he had heard moments previous.

He hadn't even taken two steps up the stairs when he saw the telltale spikes on the shell of the Koopa king. Luigi turned to Daisy, whose dress was torn at the knees, the fabric lying on the ground at the bottom of the stairs. As well as that, she no longer held the item, instead focusing on wiping her gloves clean of the dirt and blood.

It was then Luigi looked down at his own gloves. They were in the very same condition, covered in mud and blood. Wonderful.

"Another one? Already?" He asked Daisy with a hint of true curiosity.

Luigi shook his head, not waiting for a response, and leaped up the final steps, making his way to Mario. He heard Rosalina speaking with Daisy behind him.

'They sound awfully suspicious...' Luigi thought.

His thoughts turned back to Mario and the corpse of Bowser.

"Find anything?" Luigi asked, also beginning to inspect the body.

To Luigi's surprise, Mario nodded and indicated to a hole glistening red on both sides of Bowser's neck.

"Gunshot. Maybe a pistol of some sort." Mario said, running a hand through his hair. Mario looked at the ground for a few seconds before lifting an item off of the newly bloodied planks.

A bullet.

"Looks like a .8. I don't suppose there's a firearm around here, is there?"

Luigi thought about the thing he thought he saw Daisy carrying. Luigi whispered to Mario.

"I think I saw Daisy carrying something. Do you think...?" Luigi tipped his head in Daisy's direction. Daisy was now speaking with Yoshi and Birdo, who both claimed to have seen nothing. Peach seemed to have pulled herself together, now biting her lip as she appeared to be trying to keep her emotions down.

"Maybe..." Mario said, fiddling with his mustache, "She has been known to be rather impulsive..."

Luigi looked at Bowser, whose eyes were barely bleeding red. It must have been a good shot to take down such an opponent so quickly. It was incredible to think that Bowser had used to be one of Mario's greatest opponents. Now he lay here, stone dead. All of his strength couldn't protect himself from the killer's rampage.

Luigi pauses for a moment, thinking about what he had heard when Bowser fell. He swore he could have heard Bowser's dying word.

"Blue..."

Blue. But what was blue. Did Bowser mean eye color perhaps? In that case, the most viable suspects would be himself, Mario, Peach, Birdo, Daisy, and Rosalina. But other meanings were possible too. Would it be possible to assume it was an article of clothing or something along those lines? In that case, Rosalina would be the top suspect. She was practically the adjective blue, with her long cerulean gown and her bright cyan eyes. Yet, could he mean any aspect of blue? Such as purple... Waluigi and Wario could be possible too...

Luigi shook his head. This was going to be one chaotic night, and he had to do his very best to survive.

Luigi began to pace.

Rosalina:

Too many innocents killed. Too many already.

Inside, Rosalina knew she had to do something. But what could she do? She knew she had the capability of defending everyone, including herself, but her power could only last so long if it was expended between so many recipients.

As of now, she was questioning Daisy's attitude on the matter. She seemed much more relaxed than usual. Could it be that she was used to such environments?

Rosalina looked at the sky, now beginning to shimmer with thousands upon thousands of stars and lumas. Her children. They would be horrified if they were to see something like this.

For the second time within five minutes, Rosalina approached Mario, who was now questioning Birdo and Yoshi as to if they could have possibly seen anything at all.

"Are you sure you two didn't see anything? Anything at all? Even the weapon?" Mario asked with genuine concern. Birdo was inspecting the diamond on her hand and she appeared to be half-asleep.

"I'm telling you, Darlio, Yoshi and I did not see a single thing. Why do you keep questioning us like we were the ones who did it?"

"Because in all actuality, you two could have done it!" Wario spat, irritated.

"Wouldn't that be a headline for the newspaper?" Waluigi said in mock thought, "Lovers of More than One Passion."

"Alright, you two. Before you start mocking us all from your high horses, remember that even you could be suspects. All of us are, including me." Mario glanced at the Wario bros. "And if I were the murderer, which I assure you, I am not," Mario crossed his arms, turning towards the pair, "I would finish you two off without another hesitation. Your remarks and poor jokes are going out of style, so it would be greatly appreciated if you made like the dead and stayed silent."

Rosalina took this moment to step forward, towards Mario, ignoring the muttering coming from Wario and Waluigi.

When Mario saw her, he immediately lost every shred of anger held against the sulking pair.

"Rosalina. Did you find anything?"

Rosalina lowered her head.

"I am afraid I have not. However, my first concern still stands. I recommend we enter shelter for the night. I still fear for my children." She said gesturing to the night sky.

Mario also looked up to see the shining orbs. Rosalina didn't blame him. Many a time, she had looked up to the sky to find comfort in the pinpricks of light called the stars. Now was no exception.

Rosalina gently put a hand on Mario's shoulder.

"Please..." She whispered.

Mario looked at her.

"It's so dangerous. And so few people can be trusted..." Mario said, looking back at the corpse of Bowser.

Rosalina nodded.

"I know. Yet, please trust me. I would not lie to you, not in front of my children."  Rosalina held her breath as Mario fiddled with his red cap.

Finally, he put the hat back on and nodded at Rosalina. 

"You are right. Let's go."

Rosalina silently sighed. Mario did trust her after all.

She watched as Mario called the group together and declared that they make their way to someplace more helpful to their purposes.

Everyone muttered to each other, but Rosalina backed Mario's claim. There was still murmuring about a partnership between killers, but one by one, everyone agreed.

All but Luigi.

"Come on, Luigi. We have to solve this." Mario said, waving at Luigi to come with them. Luigi shifted on his toes, seemingly pulled by two differentiating thoughts.

"I don't know, Mario... Could I just stay behind and pick up clues here?"

Mario shook his head.

"Luigi. We can't. We have to stay together. In one way or another.  If we're split up, it will give the killer free reign."

Luigi looked at the ground.

"I don't know about you, but I really want to live tonight..." Luigi trailed off.

"Right." said Wario smirking, "As if we all have a suicide wish. If you're the killer, you would love to be split up from the rest of the group, wouldn't you?"

Luigi straightened.

"Who said I had something to do with this? Why would you blame me?" He shouted, extending a hand to show the figure of Bowser.

"Actually..." Mario began.

Luigi dug his fingers into his hat and growled.

"Mario, you stay out of it. Who knows, maybe someone will try to frame me because of something you put out there. I don't want to be framed. I don't want to die either."

"None of us want to." Rosalina said gently, "But many minds thinking together is better than one. Am I right?"

Daisy stepped out from behind Rosalina, striding towards Luigi.

"What are you doing?" Waluigi spat, "You're joining the suicide squad too?"

Daisy spun around, facing Waluigi down.

"No, I'm going to have a chat with Luigi."

"About what? How you're going to kill everyone left? That's pleasant. Can I join?" Waluigi snarked.

Daisy lifted a lip in the beginnings of a snarl, but just as she was about to spit, Luigi out his hands on her shoulder.

Rosalina heard him say softly, "None of that."

Daisy exhaled and turned to Luigi.

After a few moments, Luigi nodded and walked towards Mario.

"Well?" Mario asked.

Luigi clenched his jaw and barely whispered out the words.

"I'm coming."

There was a pause. Finally, Mario nodded.

"Right. Let's-a go."

Mario jumped down the steps, and the rest of the group followed.

However, Luigi trailed near the back, head hung low.

Waluigi:

Luigi was a coward.

There was no two ways around it. Everyone knew it, even Luigi himself.

Silently, the small party traced their way through the square, keeping a lookout in all directions. Whomever the killer was, they had to know better than to kill in broad moonlight. Then again, shadows are dark, and the killer was quick.

Waluigi found himself looking in every direction, even below him at times.

'Great, now I look like Luigi.' He thought bitterly.

Wario nudged him.

"You look like you saw a ghost. Loosen up."

Waluigi took Wario's advice, trying to self-assure himself. At times, Waluigi wondered how Wario could act so confident in himself. As if he had the whole world under his belt.

Waluigi set his shoulders back and attempted to mimic Wario's strides. Confident and cocky, that was Wario's motto.

Birdo, who was standing with Yoshi behind Waluigi, spotted the sudden change in motive and made a comment.

"As if you didn't look strange enough before, now you look as if you're a giraffe trying to strut on a runway."

Waluigi stopped, letting Birdo walk up to him.

"Pardon?" Waluigi asked, bending down to the pink creature.

"You heard what I said." Birdo affirmed, lifting her chin and putting fists on her hips, "I mean it, darling. You look like a giraffe trying to run away with the show." She indicated to Waluigi's strangely long, yet thin, legs. "And your lower half doesn't seem to disagree."

Birdo carefully clasped her hands around Yoshi's arm and began to tug him along with her.

"Come on Yoshi, my sweetheart. We're going to head up front. Stay away from the freaks."

"Freaks!?" Waluigi cried, "As if you're one to talk! Your mouth makes up most of your face! No wonder you have such a fat tongue. Oh wait, that's Yoshi's thing, isn't it?" Waluigi tapped a foot.

Birdo made no response, only waving a hand behind her. "Goodbye giraffe."Rosalina also came up behind Waluigi.

"Do not listen to them. They mean no harm. In fact, I find them like you and your brother in a sense." She said softly.

"Okay, you're maybe toeing the line there. My brother and I are not dating." Waluigi started at Rosalina, crossing his arms.

Rosalina shook her head, smiling demurely.

"I never said you were. I am simply stating that there are many similarities between yourselves and the couple. Your most prominent one is to make every joke about the situation as humanly possible." Rosalina looked around the area for a moment. "And to be honest, in a situation like this, we need all the lightening mood we can get."

With that, Rosalina brushed past Waluigi without another sound, delicately floating above the stones towards the group.

Waluigi watched her for a little longer before shaking his head and sprinting to catch up with the rest of them.

If what Rosalina said was true, then he and Wario would be ratcheting up their game big time.

Apparently they were needed.

They would do their best to do their jobs.

Birdo:

Birdo sidled up next to Mario, who was in a pace near sprinting.

"What is the rush, Darlio?" She asked, keeping time with him and with Yoshi.

"We need to solve this case Birdo. I don't want anymore deaths tonight."

"I'm sure you don't, especially for a man who has clobbered both Bowser and myself several times. I'm sure you don't want to have anymore deaths of your possible opponents."

Mario made no response. If anything, he increased his speed.

Birdo turned to Yoshi.

"Sweetheart. Lift?"

Yoshi's eyes sparkled.

"Yoshi, Yoshi." He said as he slowed to a stop.

Birdo carefully mounted Yoshi, who let out a trill of excitement. With Yoshi's extra speed, Birdo could keep a constant clip with Mario.

"If you aren't going to speak to me about the possible murderer, Darlio, could you at least tell us where we are going?"

Mario slowed a touch.

"I'm not entirely sure, but I think that the courthouse would be a fine place to start." He said without missing a pace.

"Oh, that's lovely. Is a jury waiting for us too?" Birdo drawled, inspecting her reflection in her diamond ring.

Mario shook his head, keeping his sights ahead.

"No. We can't have the murderer killing more innocent toads. They have no way to defend themselves. We do. Or at least we have a chance."

"Yoshi Yoshi?" Yoshi asked.

Mario smiled wanly.

"Yes, I'm afraid it has lots of places to hide, Yoshi. I suppose it would work in our advantage and the killer's. It's the best chance we have though. It's as far away from the rest of the population as I can think of."

Birdo shook her head, tapping Yoshi on his neck.

"I'm done, sweetie."

Yoshi slowed again, coming to a stop.

Birdo dismounted, beginning to take a slow pace as she followed Mario. Once Mario had his mind set, there was no changing it. In a sense, Mario was somewhat like her. Annoying, yet persuasive.

The best Birdo could do as of now was to keep an eye out. For herself and for Yoshi.

Wario:

Wario was never fond of running. He had always been slow and he hated to be left behind. Yet, for some reason, Luigi and Daisy were lagging behind him. Even Waluigi was staying behind.

He didn't know where they would be going, but Wario hoped it would be well worth his energy. He never did things without a reason. Running most of all.

"This is ridiculous!" Wario shouted. "If you're so worried about someone coming to kill you, why would you burn off all of your energy and weaken yourself beforehand." Wario puffed, "Idiocy, that's what I call it!"

As soon as he had finished speaking, the whole party slowed down, as if waiting for something.

"That's more like it!" Wario panted. "Take time and smell the daisies why don't you?"

Mario turned.

"That's actually a brilliant idea, Wario. We should take a head count. It's probably the only brilliant idea you've had, but nonetheless, still a good one." Mario shrugged.

"Alright, this is going to be a little noisy, even before we start, so we're just going to group together so we can see everyone. Everyone." Mario's piercing blue eyes stared right into the shadows.

Wario turned to see Daisy placing both hands on Luigi's shoulders. Luigi was shuddering, obviously terrified of the darkened area.

"Waluigi! Get out here!" Wario shouted.

A moment later, someone tapped him on the shoulder. Wario nearly jumped out of his skin.

"Surprise!" Waluigi shouted, "Finally, I scared you." He laughed.

Wario growled.

"This is no time to be doing this, Waluigi! You're just digging yourself a quicker grave." Wario smacked Waluigi to the side.

"Lighten up a little, War." Waluigi was pacing away, towards the collecting group, "Besides, Rosa is on my side. We need to start laughing a little."

'Save for the fact that Mario hates both of our guts.'

Wario pushed aside his shakiness and made his way to the group, who were slowly flocking in from all sides.

They were situated in a half circle, with Mario being in the center.

"Alright. I'm going to list names, and you will answer me with one word. 'Present'. Anything more, and I'll remind you that the killer doesn't wait for you to follow instructions. Understood?"

Mario began.

"Obviously I'm here. So, Peach?"

Peach lifted a hand.

"Present."

"Rosalina?"

"Present."

One by one, Mario listed all of the names. Wario was about to fall asleep when he heard his name called.

"I'm here." He muttered.

Mario nodded.

"Daisy?"

Silence.

Mario looked around, eyes beginning to widen.

"Daisy?" Mario asked, beginning to lower himself into a fortified position.

Wario began to look around as well, keeping an eye on the rooftops and in the shadows coagulated by the sides of the houses.

Wario spotted Peach and Luigi looking back and forth.

"Daisy! Are you alright?" Peach shouted.

Birdo and Yoshi were traveling around together, inspecting all the bushes and trees nearby.

"Yoshi Yoshi." Yoshi called back.

"She's not hear either, Darlio." Birdo called in translation.

Wario began to walk around a bit, getting a feel for the area. This was bad, this was very, very bad.

Waluigi stood by his side.

"This is not hide and go seek, Daisy! This is actually serious!" He called, cupping a hand.

There was a squeal, and Wario turned to see Rosalina in the doorway of the courthouse.

Orange fabric and slim, white legs were visible from the doorway.

Wario didn't have to get any closer to guess what could have happened. It wouldn't have taken a genius. The crimson dripping from the white marble stairs leading to the doorway was enough.

Daisy was dead.

Daisy:

Convincing Luigi to come with her and Mario had been easy.

"Mario needs you, Luigi. You're just going to stand by and watch? Are you going to run away?"

Luigi had looked at her with those pleading bluebird eyes, as if silently begging her if he could stay.

"You really think Mario needs me?" He had asked.

"I know he needs you." Daisy whispered.

Luigi had nodded, eyes setting with purpose.

"Fine. I'll come along."

That had been that.

Now as she walked by Luigi, she noticed that he appeared to be rather upset and maybe a little scared of his surroundings.

"Are you alright, Luigi?"

As if jostled from thought, Luigi looked at Daisy with slight alarm.

"Oh," he said, seemingly coming out of a daydream of some sort, "I'm fine. It's just... What did you find? I think I saw you carrying something. You put it away before I could get a glimpse of it."

Daisy stiffened. The revolver? Daisy toyed with a bit of her hair.

"Oh?" She asked, trying to sound interested.

"Yes. Do you still have it? Maybe it could be a lead. Mario said that he asked you a little about it. Did he?"

Daisy shook her head. Mario hadn't asked her at all.

"Hm." Luigi said, looking down.

"But I do have it." Said Daisy, reaching into a secret pocket in her skirts.

She withdrew the revolver. Luigi's eyes widened.

"Mario was right." He said, "Could I hold it?"

Daisy hesitated. What if he was the murderer?

"Tell me what you want me to look for." She said, lifting her chin, "I don't necessarily trust you with a murderer running around."

Luigi bowed.

"I respect that. Here's what I want you to look for. Could you check to see if the revolver has any ammo left?"

"How do you do that?" Daisy asked, turning the gun in her hands. Luigi took an intake of breath.

"Careful! Careful!" He hissed, "It could still be live!"

"Alright, smartie, Tell me how to do it then."

Luigi took another breath and spoke to Daisy in a low voice.

"Alright, here's what you do..."

Within few seconds, the gun chambers were open. Luigi and Daisy had stopped following the group and were now standing alone in the middle of the street.

There were no bullets.

"Huh." Luigi said, scratching his head. "I guess the killer thought he had a good enough shot for one bullet."

"Well, he wasn't bluffing." Daisy said, fiddling with the flintlock, "It shot Bowser through the neck and yet avoided the shell."

Luigi nodded, "Whomever it is, they're dangerous. If they could pull that stunt, well..." Luigi looked around. "Mama Mia, we've been left behind. Come on Daisy!" Luigi ran ahead, almost leaving Daisy in the dust. "We've gotta catch up!"

It was only when they spotted a flash of red that they slowed down. It must have been Mario. Luigi, despite the tedious run they had just endured, was breathing at a completely normal rate.

"How?" Daisy panted.

Luigi shrugged, "Endurance?"

Daisy put her hands on Luigi's shoulders. "Just give me a moment."

"Alright, this is going to be a little noisy, even before we start, so we're just going to group together so we can see everyone. Everyone." Mario looked right at Daisy and Luigi.

"Right, I'm good." Daisy put her hands on her knees. "I'm coming."

When Daisy finally looked up again, Luigi was gone.

'Probably with the rest of the group.' Daisy straightened up, 'I better go along as well.'

Daisy stumbled into the courtyard, brushing up against a loose nail in the process. She felt it cut into her exposed arm, drawing a bit of ruby blood, glimmering in the moonlight.

'Nice. I hope the killer isn't a shark. It'll circle in for blood.' Daisy thought, holding her arm to her chest.

Suddenly, a rushing sensation went through her head and she felt extremely weak. She leaned up against a wall, trying to get over the wooziness. It wouldn't leave.

A pair of hands gently lifted Daisy under her arms. She heard a voice, but she couldn't tell who it was. Her ears were beginning to pound and her vision was blurring. She could make out four words.

"I've got you, Daisy."

They sounded hauntingly familiar, but Daisy couldn't place her finger on it.

"What happened?" Her voice echoed in her head and she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the drums pounding in her skull.

The voice let out a small laugh, and Daisy felt herself placed on something smooth, yet cold.

"What happened?" She forced her tongue to move.

It was silent for a moment, save for the drums.

Then the voice spoke.

"No witnesses. A touch of paralysis poison... Say goodnight."

Daisy tried to scream, tried to open her numbing lips, but nothing came out. Her tongue filled her mouth and it was all she could do to not cry as the drums reached an impossible crescendo.

"Goodnight Daisy." The voice whispered.

The drums silenced as her eyes opened with realization.

There was a snap, and somehow, Daisy knew it was her.

Now her heart took up the rhythm of the drums. Fear and cold dread filled her stomach. It couldn't be.

Bile made its way up her throat as another snap echoed. Ripping sensations rained in her chest as she felt things inside of her tearing.

She wanted it to end.

'Just stop... Please, please stop...'

As if the killer heard her thoughts, the agony stopped for a moment.

Daisy's ears and heart rang as it was silent for a moment. She felt the whisper of gloves brush across her cheek, wiping away a tear that she hadn't noticed was there. The fingers ran through her hair, delicate, yet firm, and she felt a pressure on her neck.

The killer was holding her down.

Daisy couldn't utter a sound anymore, her heart playing a slow beat as she saw the silhouette of someone crouching over her. Someone that she knew oh so very well.

Her heart bled. In more ways than one. Ribs slicing her lungs, her breaths becoming ragged, she wanted it to end. She wanted it to be done.

Again, the killer heard, and again, it followed Daisy's wishes.

The bludgeon came down upon her head.

Daisy's heart ended its struggle, silenced at last.

...

End of Part Two

Til' we meet again, Keep Rockin'

-Shamrockin13