With a slow shuffle Mario took the stage. His signature reds and blues were faded a bit, no doubt drained from a long life of thanklessly saving the Mushroom Kingdom, year after year.
He walked with a hunch now. It reflected his mood: Beaten. Peach ran off with Luigi, you see, and all this defeated plumber had left were his signature overalls and his custom harmonica.
He gripped the cold, uncaring plastic to his lips for a moment, thinking back on better days. He chuckled a bit, in spite of himself. Now, silence. Then he poured out what was left of his heart into a meandering tune. [Threadless]