Super Mario Sunshine

Chapter 1 - Vacation Bound

The periwinkle sky spread out endlessly above the fluffy cloud layer below. Close above the blankets of cirrus and stratus, the sun shone brightly, almost seeming to touch the very clouds. The thick layer of white wisps reflected the dazzling sunlight that illuminated it, filling the place with an unreal light. All was peaceful here; it was as if there above the clouds, there existed a world all its own. It was a glorious void, with no shadows, no secrets, and no limitations.

In the heavy canopy of the atmosphere separating the sea from the sky, there existed only one tiny disruption; the single trail of a small plane, misty exhaust mingling with the clouds. Leaving its northward path streaking across the sky, it cut through the cloud layer and rose to hover above it, soaring gracefully like a small pink and white bird. Now, the great sky belonged only to her.

Such was the heavenly display visible from within, behind each of her small windows. Dreamy landscape followed dreamy landscape in the perfect view beyond. Watching the gossamer hills blaze by, Mario squinted against the sunny glare and brushed the pale curtains aside, scanning the surface for any signs of the blue planet beneath. His sapphire eyes, almost the same shade as the sky just beyond, were alight with a familiar fire. This was why he loved flying.

The clouds passed below and seemed almost to dissolve at the plane's underbelly. They seemed just inches away; if it weren't for the glass that separated him, Mario could have reached out a hand.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" A girl's voice spoke up behind him.

At her sound the young man turned. "Oh, yeah," he replied, in a cheery voice heavy with a foreign accent. Whatever else he didn't say was spoken clearly through the carefree smile that lit his face. Mario often didn't need to speak to elaborate; his vibrant expressions were usually enough.

At least, that was how it seemed to the girl who now watched him. With mild delight she looked over the features of the one who sat in the seat next to hers, familiar as they were.

He was just a young man, no older than she herself, really; and then he was a few good inches shorter as well. His durable brown boots didn't even reach the floor of the plane, and his denim overalls seemed to hug him perhaps just a little too snugly. Beneath that, he wore a looser red t-shirt, along with the pleated white gloves he always insisted to wear.

The fair skin and dark hair were the best giveaways to his Italian ancestry, all otherwise somewhat foreign to the girl. But she had long grown used to his enormous nose over an even more amazing mustache; a lustrous brown display that adorned his face, styled to near-impossible perfection as always. Sometimes it was so voluminous that it bounced when he ran, almost hiding the shapely little mouth that was nearly invisible sometimes.

Comfortably atop his head was his favorite red hat, his trademark apparel since before she could remember. It was certainly unique; it was similar to a flat cap, but never had she seen anything like it elsewhere. On the forehead over the visor was a white patch with a red 'M' embroidered on it.

Sticking out beneath it some brown hair and sideburns showed, almost glinting red in the sunlight. Sometimes she didn't know why he always kept it hidden; Mario had fabulous hair. But along with his fine dark eyebrows and mustache, it might have been too much to handle.

His always-bright blue eyes were filled with excitement, as on any other day; and when their eyes met she couldn't help but return the grin. Mario's was the most contagious smile, and his eyes ran deeper than the ocean.

Despite the slight chubbiness that might have detracted from his ideal form, the young lady saw much otherwise. He might not have looked like much, but he had more hidden beneath that small exterior than most. Always ready to go, never complained... And honestly, who would deny that he was charmingly cute?