SMG4 Apprenticeship AU Continued...

Welcome to Puzzle Park!

Mr. Puzzles smiled as he looked over the blueprints a final time, then towards the large park in front of him. He could barely believe this was really happening. He was finally doing it. Oh, if his father could see him now! He'd be so upset with himself for ever implying that he lacked creative vision!

Of course, it wouldn't be possible without the input from his friends. He squealed with glee as he put the blueprints away. He couldn't wait to show them! They were going to love this!

He took all of their input, everything they said. They came up with so many game ideas for this place too! Tari was so enthusiastic about the duck pond, Meggy wanted a water-gun shooting game, and of course one of the strong hammer games for Saiko!

He even thought of food! Of course there would have to be some form of spaghetti here at the park for his beloved husband Mario.

He clapped his hands excitedly, skipping over to the castle. He was so grateful that SMG4 allowed him to build this here using all of the land behind the Showgrounds.

He just hoped they liked it.

They were the ones who inspired him to do this after all...

A few nights ago, they had asked him about some of his favorite childhood memories, for some reason unknown to the cyborg. He couldn't quite remember much outside of his old dream about owning and running a theme park, before that dream was crushed to dust by his father, who... wasn't the best.

He remembered the sorrowful looks on their faces when he nearly broke down at the memories of him. He never was the best... he was part of the reason he watched TV all day. His parents constantly fighting... his lack of social skills... his... weirdness... oh, he sure was popular as a child! Heh...

Mr. Puzzles shook that thought away. He was in a better place down. He had friends who he cherished and who cared for him just as much (he hoped, anyway), a husband who he wouldn't change for the world, a semi-successful YouTube channel where he would post his creations alongside his friends.

Oh, that was the best part. Discussing script ideas with SMG4 and SMG3, costumes with Axol and Luigi, all of the goofy bloopers they recorded that he kept just for himself. Those moments where they were all laughing.

One in particular came to mind... they were filming a rom-com following one of Boopkins' ideas of doing a coffee shop romance AU with SMG3 and SMG4. The little fish wouldn't shut up about it, so Puzzles agreed.

They had to do several takes on the scene where SMG3 and SMG4's hands briefly touched while 3 was handing the other his coffee. SMG3 flinched a bit too hard when their hands touched, causing the coffee to fall from both their hands and spill all over them and the set.

Instead of either being mad, or even Mr. Puzzles being mad, they just... started laughing. It meant the world to Mr. Puzzles that his friends were laughing like that. It meant they were having fun. It made him feel like... he'd truly gotten better with these things. Knowing they were having fun while acting in his stupid shows, instead of being fearful and constantly vigilant for a chance of escape.

He felt... so happy... he had started crying. Liquid leaking from under his screen. Everyone had stopped what they were doing and went to check on him, asking what was wrong.

"Oh, it's nothing," he'd said. "I just... I'm so glad you guys are having fun with this..."

And they'd all wrapped him in a group hug.

He'd never felt so cared for as he did now. So... loved. So seen. So... wanted.

He still wondered how he'd gotten here. Such amazing friends. People who he would fight gods for. People who he even risked his own life trying to save...