I am the one called Pyroboo. I am one with darkness, so in truth, I exist in everything. Darkness exists in all. I am within the far reaches of where mortasl can't reach, yet I am within grasp. I am in the far off distance, but I am close. I am the regret that you have, yet I am also your anger. I twist your thoughts into the unthinkable, yet I am of your senses. I lurk next to your deepest secrets, and I can never be gotten rid of. I will always exist, as I have passed the trials between life and death. I am dead, yet I am alive. I can see you wherever you are, not blind to your existence. I know the difference between right and wrong, yet I choose to do wrong. Reality means nothing to me. I am darkness, so impossibility is possibility. I am Pyroboo, and this is my story.
...
The fog on that night seemed like no other. It glowed with a mysterious, eerie green, and no creature dared make a sound. I don't know why that night was so dark. Maybe it was just the position of the moon? The magic from the forest? I don't know for sure, but I do know what happened that night. My tribe was wiped out.
A young Yoshi boy sat on a boulder in the middle of the Forest of Illusion, and clenched a diary in his hands. His red skin and black spikes glistened in the sunlight that was allowed passage through the trees, along with his green eyes. A pen revealed itself within the confines of his abnormally long, black hair that was hidden in a bandana, while he stroked his paw through his thick bangs. He was Matthew Yoshi.
He read the passage again to himself, and took out the pen. After his last sentence, he wrote: I will kill those two who did it. I swear I will. Matt bit the tip of the pen and scowled. Those two of red and green… Who were they? He hid the pen in the paperloops of the diary and closed it shut. Matt then lay back on the rock, and thought about what had happened about a week ago.
Flashback…
Matt awoke to a scream in the night. He jolted up in bed and looked out the window of his room. Outside, his people, the Yoshis, were running amok. He scratched his head in wonder as he stuck his head out the window to see that two men were running around, jumping on Yoshis! Quickly, Matt rolled out of bed and was about to go downstairs when he bumped into his door. He fell over, dazed. While down, his paw had reached the red bandana on the floor. He picked it up and stared, and stuck it on his head, some of his messy hair still escaping.
When he reached downstairs, he saw his parents weren't there. "Mom? Mom! Dad?!" The boy yelled and called for his parents, but neither of them answered. Soon, another scream was heard from outside, and this one was very familiar. It was his mother!
Matt scrambled outside and snapped his head around, hoping to catch a glimpse of his parents. But all he saw was a mob of Yoshis, screaming in terror as the two men herded them around the village. Instantly, the Yoshi child ran to the crowd and slipped inside, in hopes of finding either his father or mother.
When inside the crowd, Matt was shoved around and pushed by several adult Yoshis unaware of his presence. He fell on his face many times as the mob swept him away. Sooner or later, the crowd broke up and scattered, hiding in fear. Matt was on the ground, knocked over once again. The men walked past him without even offering to help him up, nay, they neglected even glancing at the child. Matt picked himself up and fixed the bandana on his head. With a scowl, he restrained himself from sneak attacking those men. He knew they could take him. He was young, but he wasn't stupid. Feeling defeated, the young Yoshi ran off from the village limits while the few remaining stragglers scuttled for hiding…
End Flashback…
Matt sat up and scratched the back of his head. The forest magic seemed to make him more and more drowsy, but he didn't want to nap. He wanted to write more. He picked up the diary that lay on his stomach and thought aloud. "Wadam I gonna do? I ain't got a home... This rock doesn't really count, at least." His belly growled, making him want some food, or at least something to gnaw on, like gum. He looked around while he pulled the pen out of his book, and saw nothing but trees, bushes, and the occasional bird. The growling intensified, reminding him that he hadn't eaten in about three days.
Flashback…
Matt was running towards the village as the day broke, with tears streaming from his face. He had to return home! Maybe his parents had survived, and were looking for him! As he crossed the musty plains, he came across a broken sign. It said "Blackberry Yoshi Tribe". "Yep... I'm home!" said Matt, wiping the tears out of his eyes.
It definitely was worse than he'd comprehended. The entire village was nothing but ash! The Yoshi boy staggered back, his young mind trying to absorb this. When he finally understood that those men had set the place ablaze, he walked around, trying to find survivors.
"...HOLY COW!" That's all he could say when he moved a wagon aside, hoping to find some food. He saw his father, but not the way he wanted. He looked badly burnt, and had two deep slices, one on his neck, another across hischest. Matt knelt down and shook his dad's body.
"Dad?! ... Dad?!... DAD!!! ... No... NO! PLEASE, DAD!!!"
End Flashback…
It was too gruesome for him to even try to remember. He felt the tears in his eyes well up, knowing his father was dead. He took out his pen once again and continued to write.
I have no home. I live amongst myself, and that's just fine. I have accepted the fact that I will never have a home, and I will probably die. I never knew it would end this way... No friends, no family, no home... No nothing. The only ones I could care about were wiped out in that massacre.
He then stopped writing. Well, he had a few friends left. He knew one of them lived in a village... He remembered the hybrid girl he'd befriended. "... How is she?"
Flashback…
Matt ran from his village, running from his past. His father was gone, probably his mother had left him, too. Tears streaked from his face as he huffed, shoving the flora aside as he sprinted towards the forest, wailing. When he had finally run out of breath, he put his hands on his knees and bent over. While trying to catch his breath, he cried extremely loud. When he stopped he wiped the tears out of his eyes and looked up. He was at the forest edge.
Through the trees, a village revealed itself. Matt walked towards the civilization and cut through the trees, still sniffling a bit. When he was in full view of the village, he saw a sign. "Silverleaf Yoshi Tribe?"
"Yep, that's us."
"Who-"
"Over here." Matt looked to his left to see a green Yoshi girl standing next to him. She had long, black hair tied in a purple ribbon that crept over her shoulders a bit. Her chest was a yellowish color, while she was small and delicate in stature, but looked his age, about six.
"Where am I?"
"You read that sign. You're here, in Silverleaf!" said the girl, pointing to the sign.
"I know that... But I mean, where am I?"
"Wow, you listen well," replied the girl in a sarcastic tone. Matt gave her a funny look, and what she did next made Matt more perplexed than ever. She turned to her side, revealing a Koopa shell! Matt turned to her, mouth agape. He then noticed her fingers were tipped with claws, and her feet as well. She turned back and saw him staring. Instantly he turned away, knowing it was rude to stare.
"Oh don't worry. I get that a lot," said the girl, who apparently wasn't so much a Yoshi... Her features reminded him of a Koopa AND a Yoshi.
"... Get what?" said Matt, trying to act dumb to be polite. He didn't want to say something rude, especially to a girl. Nor was he about to agree with her about it. He was young, but far from stupid.
"The YoshiKoopa thing, ya know?"
"Um... I didn't know. Sorry."
"Don't be. It's a long story. So, anyway, ya got a name?" The girl looked at him with prying eyes.
"Yeah, Matt Yoshi."
"Karma Koopa."
"Nice to meet ya, Karma. I kinda just blew in from outta town."
"Aren't you a little young to be doing that? My parents won't even let me! Yours must be pretty cool." Karma stared in wonder, while Matt turned his head down slowly.
"... Oh," said Karma, getting the message that he had no parents.
"Yeah, not the best of times for me," said Matt, cocking his head upward and back in her direction.
"Do you have a home?" asked Karma. Matt shook his head.
"... Well, why don't you come to my place? You could stay the night there. I'm sure Mom and Dad wouldn't mind."
"Really? Wow, you're the first person to offer me a roof... Thanks!" said Matt, as things started to turn for the better. "But I'll only stay one night. I don't want to trouble you guys."
"It's fine," replied Karma with a smirk. She walked Matt through town, where he saw many, many things he'd never expected to see: piles of fruit placed on top of one another, vegetable carts, even the occasional pastry stand! It was a very well put together town, with many Yoshis inhabiting it.
When they reached Karma's house, she opened the door quietly. "Mom, c'mere! I got something to show you!" called Karma, as she adjusted the ribbon in her hair. When Matt heard footsteps coming downstairs, he looked at the staircase. Within a few seconds, a beautiful, green Yoshi walked downstairs, and lay eyes on Matt.
"Oh, hello. Who are you?"
"He's Matt. From a different tribe across the mountain," said Karma, interjecting before Matt could say anything. "He doesn't have a home, and was just separated from his parents. Could we let him stay the night? Please, Mom?"
Karma's mother didn't even have to think. "You got separated from your parents, and you have no home? Of course he can stay. By the way, I'm Atara Yoshi, Karma's mother." Matt nodded. "Raymond, come downstairs. There's somebody here to meet you!" Expecting to see another Yoshi, when the Yoshi saw a Koopa walk downstairs, he was appalled, but didn't show any expression of it.
"Hello, I'm Raymond Koopa, Karma's father. Who're you?" said the Koopa, extending a hand out to him.
"I'm Matt Yoshi. Pleased to meet you, sir," said Matt, as he shook Raymond's hand firmly.
"Matt's staying the night. He just got separated from his family, so the least we can do is offer him shelter for tonight," said Atara as she smiled. Raymond nodded.
"Why don't you show Matt around town, Karma? I'm gonna finish dinner," said Atara.
"Sure. C'mon!" said Karma, leading Matt outside.
Karma and Matt walked around the village, passing several Yoshis of different sizes and colors. When Karma led Matt to the brook, they both sat.
"What happened before you came?" asked Karma as her hair blew in the wind. Matt scratched the back of his head and sighed, knowing it was a gruesome story.
"Well, I lived in the Blackberry Yoshi Tribe for my entire life. Normal kid, no. I had no friends, and I was practically shunned by everyone. It's 'cause of my black spikes." Matt pointed to his back, poking the tips of the shiny, black spikes. "Said they were an omen."
"Kinda what I have to go through every day here. Ya know, my dad's a Koopa, and Mom's a Yoshi... They think I'm some sort of ugly freak accident," said Karma, running a claw on the plush grass. Matt was appalled.
"How could they say that? So your parents are different... That doesn't matter. I don't think you're ugly. In fact, you're far from it!" She smiled as he picked a marigold and handed it to her. She stuck it in her hair, and the dew on it glistened in the sun.
Later that night, Matt stayed and ate dinner, which was a delicious melon and banana pie. After dinner, Raymond made a bed out of a bed, and Matt found it to be quite satisfying. All night the Yoshi boy dreamt about his family and the people back home, who were lost in the battle.
"Wake up... Come on, it's breakfast. Now. Matt, get up!" Matt awoke to the sound of Karma's voice urging him to awake. He rolled off the couch and onto the floor, making her snicker. When he finally came into focus, they ran into the kitchen, and ate some waffles. When breakfast was over, Matt put on his bandana, as it was time to bid his new friends adue.
"Thank you for your hospitalities! I hope we meet again!" said Matt as he waved.
"See ya!" said Karma, as she returned the wave.
"I hope you do well out there!" said Raymond.
"You can always come back!" said Atara, waving as Matt disappeared back into the Forest of Illusion…
End Flashback…
Matt rubbed his head, as he was lightheaded from lack of nourishment. "Too many memories... I hate being alone. I HATE IT!" screamed Matt as he pounded his fists against the boulder. The diary fell off, making a dull thud on the ground. Right now, he believed that the only people that cared about him were Karma and her family... But he knew that wasn't true. He had another friend out there... "Meh," he said aloud to nobody in particular. "If anything, I'm not sure he counts so much as a 'friend'..."
Flashback…
Matt had just left the only people in the world that cared about him... the only ones that had offered to help him anytime he wanted. "Maybe I'll meet them again. I will miss 'em, though." He pictured Karma and her parents smiling, and knew deep down that he would meet them again. As he plopped onto a patch of grass somewhere in the forest, he heard a rustle in a bush. Instantly he was smitten with wonder, and walked over to the shrub. When he opened it, a bright light flashed, and when the light dimmed, he was on the ground, dazed. "Wha-" He felt his black hair, and noticed that he was missing his bandana! Instantly he turned around to see a young Koopa with wild, blue hair sticking his tongue out and waving the bandana. "Hey! Give that back, now!" said Matt as he lashed out a punch. He missed the Koopa but hit the tree behind him and cursed loudly while shaking his hand. The bandit laughed and ran off with the bandana, with the Yoshi in hot pursuit.
"You buzz off! It's mine!"
"NO IT ISN'T! THAT'S MINE!" yelled Matt as he jumped out and pounced on the Koopa, knocking him over. Matt got up and took his bandana hastily and drew back into an aggressive stance, waiting to fight. The Koopa got up, shoved Matt, and cut his eyes at him cockily.
"Are you asking to die?" said the Koopa as he drew back into a stance of his own.
"What do you want? My bandana? It's a rag!" replied Matt, sticking the bandana back on his head and dropping his guard. The Koopa boy, who looked about his age, ran his claws through his long, blue hair that spiked off to the sides.
"Yeah, so? You sound like you don't want it. Why don't you just give it to me, then?"
"Well, let's see. For starters, it's my rag. Second, it's lucky. Third, it-"
"Hides that mess of a mop you call hair?" said the Koopa, pointing to Matt's hair, which protruded from out of the bandana and swayed in the breeze of the Forest of Illusion.
"Hey, shut up, you should talk! What, did ya pour a bucket of blue paint on your head? And have ya heard of the wonderful invention called a comb?" spat the Yoshi, pointing at the boy's hair. He just scowled at him and stuck his tongue out once again.
"You know, my father is king of this area. If he heard you now, Yoshi boy, he'd-"
"I don't give any if your father is freakin' king!"
"He'd kill you!"
"Like I said before, I don't care!" yelled Matt, infuriated now. The Koopa just stood back and eyed him carefully.
"You... aren't afraid?"
"No! You're dad could do whatever he wants! Do you think I'd care?! If anything, your father could kill me and take me out of my misery!" Matt was actually considering that this boy wasn't joking, and his father was king. He never recalled his own mom or dad saying anything about royalty, but then people don't go around saying "Hey look, my dad is a king!"
"You need to step out of Dear Old Daddy's shadow, kid. Go out and grow some backbone," commanded the Yoshi, trying to act older than he really was. The Koopa squinted back at him and grit his teeth, with his one larger tooth protruding over his others.
"Why are you acting so vicious?"
"'CAUSE YA DON'T GO AROUND BEATING PEOPLE FOR THEIR STUFF!"
"Chill out! I thought the bandana was cool, that's all. If anything, you should feel proud that I tried to steal it. It's... very stylish," said the Koopa with a snide grin. Instantly Matt could tell he was lying through his big, goofy teeth.
"Oh get over yourself. If you're gonna lie, do it right," said Matt, turning around to leave. The Koopa scratched his head, and then ran back up to him.
"Tell me your name."
"What?"
"You heard me, Yoshi. Tell me your name."
"If it'll stop you from calling me Yoshi, then fine. Matt."
"... Matt what?"
"Wadaya think, braniac? Matt Yoshi," replied Matt. When his fists clenched together he knew he was getting very impatient with the Koopa. The kid nodded.
"It's Ludwig von Koopa. Don't forget it." This "Ludwig" character was trying to sound tough as he crossed his arms. Matt just laughed.
"Heh, I'm so sorry."
"Why?"
"Your name. I feel so bad for you!" said Matt as he faked a look of pity and shook his head, holding in a laugh.
"Hey, shut it, Yoshi!"
"You know what, Ludwig, congratulations. You win the award for the most racist person I ever met."
"That may be, but..." The Koopa's voice trailed off.
"But what?"
"You know what? Never mind. I'm sick of you anyway." Matt could tell Ludwig froze up after his last sentence. Ludwig knew he wasn't that cold. "I mean-"
"I forgive you," said Matt with a mock smile on his face. Ludwig eased up and walked back a bit.
"So... What are you doing out here?" the Koopa asked.
"Running."
"From what?"
"Nothing."
"C'mon, tell me."
"No, that's just it. I'm running away from nothing. I ain't got nothing to run from, but why shouldn't I run? I haven't got much to live for, but I don't want to die... But I guess I'm being too vague." He stopped there, knowing Ludwig was probably lost. Surprisingly enough, he was following just fine. Feh, he's smarter than he looks, thought Matt.
"But why? I mean, you've got a home, right?
"No."
"What about parents?"
"... No." Matt turned his head down and forced back the tears.
"Haven't you any friends you could stay with? I mean, there has to be somebody out there willing to take you in," Ludwig said. Matt thought for a moment. He'd already stayed with Karma for so a day, but he couldn't go back and trouble her more.
"I have a friend... But I'm... I dunno, too polite for my own good?" chided Matt, but Ludwig merely looked confused.
"Who is this friend?"
"Wow, aren't you the inquisitive one? She's just somebody I met."
"Oh... Well, I won't pry any longer. I've got to be getting home," said Ludwig, as he turned tail. Matt looked down and thought for a moment, and then ran up to Ludwig at the last second.
"What were you doing out here anyway?"
"... Just walking, y'know?"
"Oh... Well... Um, see ya later."
"Yeah, bye…"
End Flashback…
The Yoshi tossed and turned from side to side. His starvation was getting more and more serious with each passing second.
"... Ugh... My God, what I would give to have a melon right now." Lying on the rock, he thought he could subdue the hunger by writing some more. He took his diary back out and looked at the last passage: The only ones I could care about were wiped out in that massacre. "No. I have a couple friends left." He scribbled it out, and under it he wrote: The only ones I care about are out of reach right now. He froze up. "Ludwig and Karma are not the only ones out of reach... So are my parents!" Matt looked up towards the night sky, but it was cleverly concealed by the trees. "... Is that freaky or what?" It was as if the trees were motioning their leaves up and down, and the wind whistled through the hollows, making a dull "yesssssss" sound.
Matt tried to sit up, but his body simply didn't have enough energy. "Ahh, c'mon! I CAN'T EVEN GET UP?!" Matt screamed into the forest, hoping to get a reply. Nobody answered, not even the wind that wisped through the empty trees.
"Oh come on. Somebody help!" Nobody answered.
"The wind gave better conversation..." said Matt to himself. "Will somebody help?" Nobody replied.
Finally, he mustered the strength to pick himself up and jump off the rock. About time... he thought. When he roamed around the forest looking for food, he only saw trees... trees... and the boulder he lay on originally. "WILL YOU STOP MAKING ME GO IN CIRCLES?!" the Yoshi screamed, pounding his foot against the forest floor. He knew it was the magic at work, confusing him. Many people were left in the forest and never seen again because of this, but not him. "I'm gonna survive. I will. I know I will..." His voice trailed off deep into the forest. He actually started to doubt himself, knowing it was likely impossible to live. With that, he plopped himself back on the boulder and picked up his diary, urging himself to write more.
I don't know what went wrong, or why this is happening to me. I have yet to cross over to death, but... I fear it may be coming soon. Is this what you call "Defeat"? Have I been "Defeated"? I hope the answer is no.
He couldn't write anymore. Physically, he was able, but mentally, he was destroyed. The Yoshi boy looked over the words he had just written. "But the answer isn't no. I'm here, lying on a rock, left to die. I'm gonna perish under the magic of this forest... I..." He stopped mid-sentence, as his hands went numb. He was afraid to accept it, but it was his time. But before he left, he had to finish this last entry. Matt picked up the pen and with what little strength he had left, he scribbled one last note onto the paper under his previous paragraph before his eyes closed.
I hoped the answer was no. But in truth, it was yes all along. This is my story.
With that, he felt into the everlasting sleep that was death.
...
"...?" A green and black darkness enclosed around Matt. It was some sort of subconscious, and he found himself at the mercy of it. As the darkness drew closer, it started to bind him. He tried to fight back by thrashing around, but he stopped when he found himself floating. He wasn't exactly standing on ground, for it seemed ground didn't exist in... wherever he was. But nonetheless, Matt thrashed around, not caring how dizzy he was getting.
When the green light dimmed, he rested. In short time, Matt found himself feeling strange. It was almost as if he was lightheaded, and then suddenly dropped. The Yoshi just fell... and fell... and fell some more. There wasn't an end to this dimension... He just fell. But how was he flying before? It was when he was letting the darkness close in on him... So, he decided to experiment. He stopped pushing out the darkness, and let it come back. The greenish black formed back around him, and he felt the binding sensation. "...!!" The bind started to get stronger almost instantly, and it made him want to resist. But he knew he'd stopped falling, so he just let the magic do as it pleased.
When the binding got to the point of breaking his bones, the Yoshi bit his lower lip to hold himself back. The darkness around him grew even stronger, so strong to the point that he bit himself so hard that blood started to trickle down his chin from the bite. Finally, the darkness stopped binding him, and it was almost instant. "??" He was still glowing that greenish light, and when it dimmed once again, it came back as a bluish sort. This time he felt a good sensation, like he wanted more. "..." He couldn't react. The feeling was so good that it felt like his mouth was taped shut, and his body did the talking.
Before he could move, the feeling went away. "!..." It was like he was tormented every second he was deprived it.
"Have you no fear of the Darkness?"
"!!!" The Yoshi turned around, back and forth, waiting for somebody to show up. Nobody was there.
"Don't you want it back?"
"?!" The Yoshi was getting irritated. What did he want back?
"I can give it to you."
The Yoshi looked around again, but nobody was there. So he just nodded vigorously.
"Wise choice. You see, when you resisted the Darkness, it hurt you. But when you trusted it, it healed you. I understand you want it back?
The Yoshi nodded again.
"Good. Now let's turn time forward."
...
"What the...?" He was back in the Forest of Illusion, but nowhere near the big rock.
"You'd love to be stronger, right?"
"... What are ya talking about?! And where are ya?" demanded Matt.
"Don't you remember? You accepted me. I am you." The Yoshi stood, perplexed. What was he talking about?
"I haven't the foggiest idea what you're blabbering about. But do as ya wish."
"Good." With that, the Yoshi felt the good sensation from earlier, and was teleported to a nearby village. He heard screams filling the night as the villagers ran around, trying to avoid something.
"What's happening here?!"
"It's the future. About seven years to be exact. Those men that terrorized your village, they're back. But this time, there is another target."
As the mysterious voice said, a mob of villagers were running amok while being chased by the men! Matt was enraged by the sight of their tyranny, and bolted towards them at full speed.
"Why don't we stop... here." As soon as the entity said that, time itself had frozen. The Yoshi was standing there, but he could move, while the villagers and the men weren't so lucky. "Now, look around. I'm sure you'll find her." The Yoshi did as he was told, and looked around. It was night, so this "person" was hard to find. He didn't really know what he was looking for, so he was about to give up... when he found her.
"Holy cow, Karma!" She was being swept away by the mob, while Raymond and Atara were nowhere in sight! "I need to help her!"
"No, you can't. Your powers aren't developed enough for you to be pulling such a reckless stunt as to change time. Maybe when you... strengthen…"
"But there has to be a way to aid her SOMEHOW! I mean, c'mon!"
"She is destined to die. Just as we all are. Except us. We don't die. It's because you accepted me and bested fate."
"... So, what are you saying? Is there some way I can prevent her from dying?" The Yoshi was desperate now. The entity merely laughed.
"No, you cannot change her destiny now."
"..." Matt fixated his eyes on Karma's. She seemed so scared... like she was being swallowed by some sort of monster. She had definitely grown since he last saw her... She looked about twelve, give or take a year. She looked much more mature physically, since she was gaining the traits of a younger woman. It was like she was reaching out to him, like she wanted to grab his hand... He shivered at the thought. But nonetheless, he focused on her.
"... Will she die tonight?"
"No."
"Will she be hurt?"
"No. Why don't you let fate take its toll once it's ready? Then you'll know." After he finished his sentence, time averted back to its original speed. Karma was swept away in the crowd as the Yoshi's vision faded intoblack.
...
"Ugh... Where am I?" Matt awoke on the cold floor of some kind of corridor. He picked himself up and looked around.
"You're in the Kastle Koopa."
"... Kastle what?"
"Kastle Koopa, the home of King Bowser and his minions." Matt looked around, trying to comprehend what the voice had said. It was true, he was in a castle, but he wasn't aware if he could trust the voice.
"No, I can't believe ya. Ya already filled my head with the images of Karma dying-"
"But she didn't die. I only wish for you to know the truth. You have to trust Darkness."
"... Whatever, just show me why I'm here." The voice laughed a bit at Matt's confident voice.
"I want you to know the inner workings of fate." The voice's words seemed to fill the Yoshi's head with utter confusion.
"What are ya talking about? God, I thought I was vague." Matt shook his head as his words echoed throughout the hallways of the castle. The entity laughed once again.
"It will all make sense in a few minutes." With that, Matt felt the teleport sensation once again as he was pulled through time. When he finally stopped, he appeared behind a fountain.
"See him?" asked the voice. When Matt lay eyes on the Koopa sitting under a tree, he nearly choked on his own spit.
"Ludwig?!"
"Yes, Ludwig von Koopa. Seven years older." Matt peered from behind the fountain, gazing at Ludwig. He was reading a book, apparently one of interest from the transfixed look on his face, as he twisted his out of place blue hair with a claw. He looked older, about fifteenish, shy of sixteen, but way older than Matt. "Now, watch how fate works." Matt peered past the fountain, as he heard a rustle in the trees above Ludwig.
"NO! Jumper, you stonehead!" The Yoshi looked up to see a blur of green and purple drop from the sky into Ludwig's lap as the Koopa emitted a surprised cry. The thing was turned to its backside, so he couldn't quite see who it was.
"Holy... What was that?" Said Matt, awestruck.
"Watch." The Yoshi did so, and what he saw next probably shocked enough relief into him that he would've died a second time.
"She did survive!" Karma lay in the lap of Ludwig von Koopa, shaking her fist at the treetops threateningly. Ludwig's expression of confusion was incomparable as Karma squinted her eyes at him, which started him up.
"And just who are you?!"
"Come again?"
"Who are you? What are you doing in King Koopa's territory?" For a few minutes they carried on, while Matt watched from behind the fountain, his eyes unmoving. His two friends had met each other for the first time... It was an odd feeling.
"So... How does this turn out?" asked Matt, hoping the voice was still there. But, before it could reply, Ludwig answered the question.
"You look... You look weird," said Ludwig, as Karma's face heated up and she cocked her right arm back.
"Figures," sighed Matt, seeing Ludwig was still as much a jerk as he was seven years ago.
"Things do not appear as they seem. For when these two get older, they will marry." Upon hearing this, Matt fell over, awestruck.
"Are you serious?!"
"I wouldn't joke about something like this."
"That's..." He looked over to the two. Ludwig rubbed his nose from the blow Karma delivered from earlier, while she smirked cruelly.. "I don't get it. They're gonna kill each other right now."
"Yes, but I did say before, things do not appear as they seem. Ludwig and Karma are actually Metbonded." Matt merely shook his head while fixing his bandana.
"I don't believe you."
"I thought you trusted the Darkness. You don't believe in yourself?"
"What? I don't get it..." The Yoshi squinted towards the blue sky as he threw his hands outward.
"I will explain later. For now, watch them." Matt nodded, knowing he was getting nowhere fast.
Ludwig and Karma were violently wrestling on the ground, and it seemed Karma had the upper hand. When Ludwig found the right position, he threw her off him and pinned her to the ground, gripping her wrists mercilessly. She surrendered nonchalantly, knowing Ludwig's superior weight had won the battle. After a while of just keeping her on the ground, Ludwig finally eased up and picked her up, eyeing her carefully as he gripped her wrists.
"What's your name?" he asked when he got the grit to ease up a bit and loosen his grip.
"None of your phracking business," she said while crossing her arms. After a second, she sighed. "Karma. My name's Karma."
"This isn't exactly telling me much except that their kids will have some violent parents," commented Matt in a sarcastic way. The voice responded back in an expressionless tone.
"This is what I want to show you," said the voice. Matt looked to the side of the roaring fountains.
"I don't think you fully comprehend the position you're in," said Ludwig with a sound of defiance in his voice.
"Oh, I understand it just fine. You're dragging me inside to show off what you caught to your daddy just like a big boy in hopes you'll get a pat on the head. How hard is that to see?" retorted Karma with a look of satisfaction.
"Would you like to see how well you fight with a pair of broken arms?" threatened Ludwig while tightening his grip by tenfold as Karma gasped.
Oh no. He wouldn't hurt a girl. That's low. That's just low. Matt felt his stomach churn as Ludwig was twisting Karma's arms down. You son of a gun! Matt was THIS close to jumping out and ripping Ludwig apart. Karma cried out, wishing he would stop while Ludwig looked at her without the slightest trace of mercy.
"You wanted to show me Ludwig killing Karma? ... What are you?
"You know why Ludwig did bring Karma inside, correct?"
"... To torture her?"
"No. Fate made it so. Fate told Ludwig to bring her inside. Fate made Karma follow. What do you think Metbonded them in the first place? Nobody knew them both, besides you. Did you ever expect them to wed?" Matt stood there and crossed his arms. Finally, he spoke.
"... If fate did this... then who made fate?"
"Nobody makes fate. Fate was born itself."
"But that doesn't make sense! Haven't ya ever heard the expression 'You can change your own destiny'?"
"Lies. All lies."
"... So everything is set in stone?"
"Yes. Except your story. You have Darkness. To you, fate is nothing. You have the potential to change your future in unimaginable ways." With that, his vision blurred once again, until everything went black.
...
"What now...?" whined Matt, as he was back in the Forest of Illusion. The voice came back, now ready to finish his duties.
"I have but one more thing to show you. Follow me." With that, Matt was teleported for the last time.
"Not here." Matt halted on the familiar ground of a village. The houses were torn apart, the area was desolate, and the water had run dry. A weathered sign on the ground read "Blackberry Yoshi Tribe". "Why bring me here? All that's here is memories."
"Exactly. Now, walk around. Refresh yourself. I freely allow you to roam the village." Matt scowled and looked upward, while clenching his fists and spreading his feet about shoulder-width apart.
"Hey, I don't need any of your permission to go anywhere! I could very well walk out on ya right now and continue my life the way it is! I certainly don't need anyone to hover over my shoulder!"
"What life?"
"What are ya talking about?! Cut the riddles!"
"I only asked you. What life?"
"My life!"
"You haven't one." Matt clenched his fists harder, trying to understand what he was implying. Of course he had a life. Why would he be here without one?
"Listen buddy, I'm about to punch a hole through that mouth of yours if ya don't cut the enigmatic stuff! Now show yourself!"
"Get a mirror."
"Shut up! Just show yourself!"
"Don't you get it yet? I am you." Matt stepped back. What is this guy talking about?
"There is nobody else here. We are the only one here."
"YOU'RE TALKING IN RIDDLES AGAIN! HOW COULD 'WE' BE THE ONLY ONE HERE WHEN YOU SAY YOU'RE ME?! AND ANOTHER THING, I AM THE ONLY MATT YOSHI! THERE ISN'T TWO OF ME!" Matt was screaming now, his young body unable to take this stress. The entity's voice was sounding more and more dangerous as Matt rebutted.
"I know there is only one Matt Yoshi. We are him."
"NO YOU AREN'T! I AM, NOT YOU!" With that, Matt started to sprint through the town, as fast as his little legs could carry him.
"You cannot escape what you are. You are Dark. You cannot deny what you are. You live in Darkness. If you deny us you accept death!"
"STOP IT! LEAVE ME ALONE!" Matt yelled while starting to cry. He ran more and more, blowing through the wasteland. When he couldn't run anymore, he pushed himself even more and sprinted harder than before. While the land around him began to crumble under the power of Darkness, he tripped. The world started to peel away, and the voice became louder than before.
"This is your truth! You accepted me, you accepted the Darkness, you accepted yourself! WE ARE ONE!" The area around him shattered entirely, revealing nothing but black. "You're life is a shamble! It has left your body, and you have passed on! YOU ARE DEAD!" The Yoshi then glowed the greenish black color, and it enveloped his entire body. He began to scream as his vision faded, and nothing was in sight.
...
"Uhh... Wha... No... What happened?" Matt awoke on a large tree branch inside the Forest of Illusion. Instantly he jumped up when he realized what he had just went through. "Oh God... Wait... What?" He looked down, to see that he hadn't jumped up. He had floated up.
"MY LEGS!" Matt was right. His legs were gone! "Wait a second... Why am I white?!" His entire body was a shimmering white color, its radiance glowing like a beacon through the night. He looked at his hands, and saw he was missing his fingers and thumbs, and what was left were two perfectly shaped, cylindrical cones that rounded at the end. "No... What happened?!" He stuck his tongue out to check if he was sick, but saw that his tongue was much wider than his old one. "Oh my God..." He then levitated off the branch onto ground, where he defied gravity by flying in place.
"This is too weird..." He cut through the woods with his entire body lying low. He was more circular than normal, like a big, white volleyball. When the silence of the forest was broken by the sound of water, he floated away to it.
When he reached the source of the sound, he saw a pond. The moon glistened in a reflection, while Matt looked down. In the water, he saw not a Yoshi, but something very different. He saw a white sphere with hands and a small tail that rippled in the reflection. He looked at his face and saw the same green eyes, but had no humongous nose, nor a tiny, hidden mouth. Instead, he had a concealed nose that dared not show, and a large mouth curved into the frown he had. On his head was his bandana, which covered his black, messy hair. He was a Boo.
"... I guess that guy was right. I am dead." He walked through the forest, trying to get the hang of flight. Many times he bashed into trees, along with the occasional fall. When he finally got balanced, he started floating to what he really wanted to see.
After fifteen minutes of floating, he found what he was looking for. "My body." The red Yoshi just lay on the boulder, motionless. The black hair that used to be his own wavered in the breeze under the other identical bandana. He felt the cloth on his head, and scratched it. The original was only about six years old in life, the body halted in growth. He saw the diary and pen resting on the ground, so he decided to pick his journal back up and write one last entry.
I am not among the living anymore. I have descended to the dead.
He stopped writing momentarily and flipped through the book to previous entries, when a small, yellow paper fell out of the book and hit the ground silently. He floated down to it and picked it up, unfolded it, and looked at it. It was bordered with a picture of purple thorns, and was written in a fancy cursive. It read:
You have been sleeping for seven years. You know the truth. You accepted the Darkness. Open yourself to it, and you will experience true power. You are the one who does not fear the Darkness.
"Seven years? I'm twelve?! And I thought I was done with this whole Darkness bit. And how do I 'open myself' to it?" He thought back, trying to remember the void he was in when attacked by the Darkness for the first time. Matt had blown it back, and it reappeared stronger. And when he let it engulf him, he was much more powerful. "Maybe... I can call for it?" He shut his eyes and held his hands up into the air, hoping for a reaction.
"Darkness... Awaken!"
...
For a second, all was black. He couldn't remember who he was, where he was, or anything. Matt floated in nothing but black, and all seemed quiet... until the Darkness arose. He glowed a bluish sort, and felt great power. Instantly, his hands surged with green light, and he felt a warm sensation. "This feels... otherworldly."
As the feeling compelled itself, a powerful dizziness fogged his mind. The dizziness turned to pain as it throbbed through his mind. "GAH!" The pain shot through his body, snapping him into a mental submission. He rubbed his temples vivaciously as he staggered around in the seemingly-endless abyss of black, and the green light infected his entire body, from top to bottom.
Expel it. The words continued racing through his mind until it was his only option. The Boo shut his eyes and focused on the Darkness. He raised his hands and yelled, "Out of me!" In a flash of light, everything around him was smothered in vicious, greenish black flames. Matt raised his hands higher to relieve more pain, and the fire grew stronger. With one more raise, the fires intensified into an inferno that rivaled even the hottest of volcanoes.
When the pain had stopped, he lowered his hands, and the fire was extinguished. Matt floated, exhausted as several tiny embers smoked and died, then falling back. A white light veiled his eyes...
...
Matt stood in the Forest of Illusion, staring at the diary. He wrote:
I am not among the living anymore. I have descended to the dead. But, I have not moved on. Perhaps I am still alive, but not in physical form. I have become a Boo.
I have become one with the Darkness, and I know true power. I have harnessed Dark Pyrotechnics, a style used in Dark magic. I don't know why I was picked to do this... Maybe because of my abnormality with my cursed spikes... Maybe just because of my unluckiness... Or maybe something else. One thing is for sure. I am not who I used to be. Therefore, I will abandon the name "Matthew Yoshi", and take on a more appropriate name.
He looked at himself. He had a name in mind. His hands glowed a green and black sort, flames spouting out of them. They danced in the wind, almost as if they were reading his mind and accepting the name. He looked up, fixing his black hair and his bandana. "Pyroboo," he said.
My new title is Pyroboo. My story is unspoken, for I haven't made it yet. I have the power of Darkness, and my strength is growing... just as I do. This is what I am. All of me.