SMG4: War of the Backstabbing Betrayers

Nemesis

The Showgrounds are quiet. SMG3 is behind the counter of his shop, lazily polishing a coffee mug, looking bored. SMG4 sits alone at a nearby table, staring into space, unusually somber. SMG3 eyes him suspiciously for a moment before sighing and reluctantly approaching.

SMG3: (fake cheery) Hey, SMG4. What's with the long face? You look like you just realized Mario ate the last slice of cake... again.

SMG4: (sighing, dejected) It's nothing, SMG3. Just... thinking.

SMG3: (raises an eyebrow, sits across from him) Thinking? You? Now I'm scared. What's going on?

SMG4: (pauses, looks down) I just... I miss having an arch-nemesis, you know?

SMG3: (snaps) WHAT?! (throws his arms in the air) HELLO?! You have an arch-nemesis! ME! I'VE BEEN RIGHT HERE THE WHOLE TIME! YOU IGNORANT POTATO!

SMG4: (calmly) No, SMG3, you're more of a frenemy now. We have coffee together. Friends don't usually try to blow each other up with bombs anymore.

SMG3: (grabs his coffee pot) Wanna test that theory? I still got a few bombs left behind the counter!

SMG4: (smiling weakly) See? That's exactly what I mean. It's not the same anymore.

SMG3: (throws hands up) Oh, for the love of-what do you even want, huh? You want another villain who's worse than me? I thought I was doing a pretty bang-up job of making your life miserable!

SMG4: (leans forward, looking serious) That's just it. I miss the fun kind of chaos. You know, the days when Mario and I fought goofy bad guys like Wario or a giant spaghetti monster. But now? We've been dealing with real nightmares-like SMG0, Lawyer Kong, and Mr Puzzles. It's too much now. No more fun antics. Just... existential pain. I'm starting to miss the old days when being a hero didn't involve saving the multiverse every five minutes.

SMG3: (mockingly) Oh, poor little SMG4. What's next, you're gonna tell me you miss me sneaking explosives into your mushroom stew?

SMG4: (shrugs) Honestly? Yeah, kinda. At least it didn't come with puzzles that gave me an identity crisis. Plus, you were never trying to destroy the universe. Just mess up my day a little.

SMG3: (throws hands up again, dramatically) Oh, WOW! So now I'm too nice for you, huh? You want me to be some nightmare demon instead of the charming antagonist I've always been?!

SMG4: (grins) You're my friend now, SMG3. I'm just saying, I miss the simplicity, the good old days before we had to deal with... (shudders) real threats.

SMG3: (mock gasp) FRIEND?! FRIEND?! (puts his hand over his heart) How dare you insult me like that! I thought you respected me as your arch-nemesis! Now you're saying I'm nothing but a sidekick to you!

SMG4: (laughs) Oh come on, it's not that bad. We've been through a lot together.

SMG3: (genuinely offended) Yeah, through MY attempts to ruin your life, and now you want another villain? What, you want to fight some other lunatic like Mr. Puzzles and end up traumatized again? Why not go fight a black hole while you're at it!

SMG4: (groaning) Exactly! That's what I don't want! We keep facing universe-ending psychos and evil lawyers! I just want something... manageable! Something that doesn't involve mental gymnastics or risking all of existence! Is that too much to ask?!

SMG3: (throws his hands in the air) You can't have it both ways, man! Either I get to throw a bomb in your face, or you go cry to Mario about some puzzle-themed existential crisis. Pick a lane!

SMG4: (leans back, sighing) I miss when the worst thing that could happen was Mario eating my sandwich. Now, we've got to deal with whatever the heck Mr. Puzzles was... and don't even get me started on SMG0.