(As Long as We're Together) Everything's Gonna Be Okay

This Whole Thing's a Mess, But Somehow Luigi's the Calm One

"Mimi?" Mario says.

"Mr. Hero!" Mimi greets him. "You going somewhere in a hurry?"

"No, why would you say that?" Mario replies defensively. "What...brings you here?"

"Trying to track down Mr. L. Have you seen him?"

"Why would I have?"

"Because Nastasia handed over the connection between Bowser and Wario. Mr. L said he was gonna come here to hand deliver it."

"Oh! That." Mario pretends to remember. "Yeah, he did do that, and his support means everything to me. But you knew that. We saw everything we need to know that Bowser is the one that stole the Sammer Kingdom money. But he left right after. I don't know where he went."

"Which is weird, cause he's not at home or at the racetrack."

Mario shrugs, starting to panic, "Sorry, but I can't help you. But thank you, again, for helping me with this. Tell Nastasia thank you for me, too."

"Aw, you don't need to do that." Mimi smiles. "It wasn't right what they were trying to do. Hopefully, Bowser won't try something again for a very long time."

"Yeah. Yeah." Mario says hurriedly. "If I see Luigi, I'll let him know you're trying to call him. But I really gotta get going."

"Can I tag along?" Mimi asks.

"Oh, shoot." Mario sighs. "Forgot something. I need to go get it from the princess. Don't worry about me, you should just get going."

Mimi shrugs, then teleports away.

Mario counts to 10, takes a quick look around, then walks out the side to clear the path to the hospital.

Mr. L's tightening the restraints on Wario's bed when Mario finally comes back to the clinic.

"Okay, I got us a way to the hospital."

"Did you see any of my footsteps in the grass?"

"Nope, and you should be very glad I didn't. I bumped into Mimi."

Mr. L goes stiff at that, "What? Why?"

"Because she's looking for you. She knew you came over here to tell me about Bowser and Wario, but it's okay. All I told him was that you dropped off the papers and left."

"Good, good." Mr. L nods. "Now let's hope this is one instance where she's not smart enough to see through that. Cause I do not want her in on this."

"Stars, why did this have to happen now?" Mario leans against a wall. "I hurt someone by trying to be a vigilante!"

"Stop that!" Mr. L orders. "You weren't trying to hurt him. Bowser tried to kill me, and you were protecting me the only way you knew how. How could you have known Wario was gonna get hit?"

"You think they're gonna care?" Mario argues, as he goes to start moving the bed. "He's hurt, and it's my fault. I'm not denying he's a bad guy, but who's to say this would've been where this was finally where learned his lesson?"

"No no no." Mr. L goes to stand next to Mario, pulling his arms away and moving them both away from the bed. "You're not doing that. Stop trying to make yourself into a martyr."

The order is so fierce, it throws Mario long enough to nod and say, "Fine. But the public isn't gonna stop and wonder about the details. All they're gonna see is that Wario was found unconscious in Peach's Castle, and I'm a pariah. I'll never be able to show my face again."

"Um..."

At that, Mario demands. "What?"

"Dr. Toadley walked in."