Unwritten: Diary of a Lean Green Plumber

Out of the Loop 3D: Odyssey Edition

19 September 2017

Smash Mansion

Dear Diary,

Roland's attitude toward me has changed significantly since our adventure with the Rabbids. And I guess my attitude toward him has changed as well. I still hate how he acted—but I don't hate him anymore. When we got sucked into that portal, we were the other man's only sense of familiarity. He needed me, and I needed him.

The Butters' therapist had suggested that they bring me to one of their sessions, and they did. Their marriage counselor was a patient, middle-aged woman with a slightly cherubic face, and she was genuinely determined to get Roland and Grace's relationship back on track—not just in this business for the money. She devoted this particular therapy session to shining a spotlight on how Roland and I interacted with each other, since it was the root of the problem. First, she invited me to tell my side of the story, which I did, unfiltered and unbiased—I got a little emotional as I talked about what I'd endured by Roland's hand. After I was finished, Roland was encouraged to air his side, which still made little sense to me. Finally, the therapist had Grace talk to both of us, where she clearly distinguished the differences in her relationship with me versus her relationship with Roland.

I was very glad I went to that session, as Roland finally got to look me in the eye and admit his wrongdoing. The two of us also had the chance to understand each other more. We'd broken the ice during our encounter with the Rabbids, but that therapy session completely shattered the animosity between us. However, things would never completely go back to the way they once were.

Today, Roland called me in a jovial mood and told me that he and Grace were taking a little vacation, on their counselor's advice. They didn't know their destination yet; Roland would spin a globe, and wherever Grace's finger landed, they'd go. This vacation was expected to last two or three months, tops. I wished them both well before hanging up and continuing my day.

It's still very quiet on the Koopa front. Too quiet. Mario is dividing his time between here and the MK to keep watch. I wanted to be on the lookout with him, but Mario just smiled at me and assured me he'd be fine. He just doesn't learn, does he? But I swallowed the feelings threatening to swell and released them via my bouts.

People are still talking about my fight with the black swarm—which now had a name—Master Core. We all thought that we'd completely destroyed Tabuu, but we were wrong. Master Hand discovered, and revealed to us, that the black, shadowy swarm was a final "[bleep] you" from the Ruler of Subspace. After that final battle, Tabuu had used the last of his strength to transfer his conscience into this Master Core. For years, Master Core had roamed the Smash World, waiting for a chance to strike and avenge its creator. And when Smash 4 commenced, it had made its way into the Smash Mansion and hid. Since Mario and I had landed the finishing strike on Tabuu, it made sense that Master Core would target us directly—and I was the first person it saw. Mario could've helped me, and the same could be said for Fox, Link and Kirby—but I couldn't risk them getting hurt. Had I not decided to barricade myself in that room with Master Core, then Tabuu would've posthumously gotten his bloody revenge. Despite myself, my mind races just thinking about it.

Phew—Tabuu was craftier and more dangerous than we thought! Who could possibly be worse than him?

Luigi