Lily of the Valley, in hopes of new beginnings

Chapter 1

The next day after the events where SMG4 almost destroyed the castle, everyone worked together repairing the castle back to its former glory. From the Toads, SMG4's crew, the Mario Bros and the main Wandering Trio helping out. With the help they got, the castle got repaired quickly. "Thanks for your help everyone! We wouldn't know what would definitely happen when the princess came back with the castle almost destroyed." Luigi said. "Eh, she'd definitely scream at us for that." Mario jokingly said as he snickered, with the younger twin getting worried about it instead. As everyone celebrated the castle's quick renovation, SMG4 only stared at the castle instead, as if they were thinking about something..

Is there a chance that he may completely destroy the castle again?

Will he ever go insane over that stupid perfect video creation again?

Those thoughts are taking over them, the urge of wanting to scream, but couldn't, until SMG3 called them out.

"Yo, 4, is everything okay? You're spacing out there! We're having a small celebration here y'know?" "O-oh! It's nothing! Heh, I'm just minding my own business." SMG4 smiled awkwardly towards SMG3. "Anyways, I'll head back into the castle." "And, you're not gonna like, work on that video again right?" SMG3 asked again. "Nope, not really." He awkwardly chuckled. "Alright, I gotta go, see ya!" SMG4 waves at SMG3 as he runs towards the castle, for SMG3, she seems suspicious about that smile on SMG4's face, as she could probably tell, that's not a real smile..

Something is up with him.

As SMG4 went back to his own room, he finally started working on his own stuff again, while he started working on it, that *smile* faded, the highlight on his eyes disappeared, letting him return to what he is now.

Hollow, loss of his former self, he's currently lost. He didn't know what to do, he just wanted to do something related to the stuff he's passionate about, but instead, he's still being controlled to do the same thing instead. "Why..why can't I be free..?" He murmured to himself, a monotonous of his voice took over as well, he can't seem to feel those emotions anymore. Without thinking any longer, he then started working on his videos, and as they wanted, it needs to be perfect. Every time he starts recording, he puts his mask up to hide his true feelings and pain from the public audience, and makes sure that he doesn't mess up for a bit. "You did well Sarut, let's hope you can finally work on that perfect video again after some time, you need that award don't you?" They spoke to him again. "Yes..I'll do my best to work on it.." After working on his video, he finally uploaded it, and some time later, it gained positive feedback. "Well, aren't you happy with the results? Now that's a step up that you're going to work on that perfect video again." They said, SMG4 nodded slowly in response. "I will go for now, make sure you finally work on that video after a couple of uploads~!" And thus, the voice disappeared, leaving SMG4 behind, as he looked around his surroundings, he murmured to himself.

"I should probably do something to..ease the pain.."

Outside from the room, everyone hangs out at the usual spot, that being the castle lobby itself of course. Everyone seems to be happy doing their favorite hobbies in their favorite hangout spot, although, SMG3 seems to feel quiet after seeing that smile from SMG4, at first he seems like he was panicking over something, but as soon as she thought of it even further, it could be something else. 'When I first saw that smile..I thought he's in a hurry or something, but it's definitely not that. Something's off..' As soon as she started to get lost in her thoughts, his worries started to grow, until someone called him. "Hey SMG3! You seem lost in your own thoughts, is everything alright?" It's Meggy, the one who accompanied him saving SMG4 alongside Mario despite messing it up in the middle. "Oh uh, it's nothing. Just spacing out, that's all." He looked away immediately. "Heh, whatever you say then." Meggy said, leaving her in a sigh. As Meggy thought for a moment, she said something regarding the events from yesterday. "Hey, sorry for messing up the whole reaction thing to get pass through that little fella. It's just that, I don't even get it, or maybe it's because..my taste in jokes are not even that good? I don't know.." Meggy sighed at the realization, SMG3 knowing about it, reassured. "Hey, it's fine. I know you don't really have good humor and all that, but of course not all of us have the same humor y'know?" "..yeah, I guess that's true. Thanks for that." She smiled. As the two talked with each other for a bit longer, a door opened from the second floor, showing that SMG4 came out from his room again. "Hey everyone, sorry for the long wait! Been busy with the good ol' stuff, hehe." "Oh hey SMG4! Not working on that one video again right?" Meggy asked, SMG4 responded with a nod. "Alright, good. We don't want those events to happen again after all." Hearing that response from him gave everyone a relief, although SMG3 still remained suspicious regarding the smile SMG4 brought. He can actually sense, something was not right, indirectly, Melony also sensed that as well. That smile was not a real smile, something is wrong behind it. "Hey, how about we have some sort of feast to celebrate this small renovation?" Luigi offered. "Dude, we're literally just repairing the castle, why in the world are you thinking that this is a big thing to treat as?" SMG3 said, as if she was about to refuse the offer. Meggy slapped her in response to that. "HEY!" "You realized that the castle almost got destroyed yesterday right? Everyone must be tired and hungry after trying to repair the castle back to its former glory!" "I..ugh..fine.." "Great! This would be a nice little party to celebrate the castle's small renovation!" Everyone else accepted Luigi's offer, including SMG4. Although, of course, They wouldn't even like it when their precious little puppet was dragged into this, but even so, they'll let it slide for now, until someone really decides to take him away from doing videos.