How long had it been since they last crossed paths?
Everything seemed like a distant memory to Johnny. The day he met THE Mario and had the pleasure of facing him in an honorable duel between men. It was something the shark cherished, a battle like not other.
One that filled his old heart with a maelstrom of excitement. It had been so long since he'd had an experience like that, and since that day he'd not been able to replicate the feelings of that day.
Peering up from the depths, the pirate basked in the dappled sunlight of the water. It was hard to think that this was once a world in peril, one clenched in the grasp of a cruel blacksmith...
He let the thought brew in the back of his mind, until something caught his eye from the pier. Someone had been sitting there, their feet inches from the water's surface.
It was a familiar silhouette.
As familiar as a rippled form could look below the water.
Could it be?
After all this time, could his mate Mario finally back in his part of town?
A wave of excitement crossed his form, and Johnny swam towards the figure. In a whirlwind of emotion, he shot up and grabbed the figure's leg with a big, toothy smile.
"Arrr! It's good to see you again, mate! How have you bee-"
That wasn't Mario at all.
