The Most Unexpected Super Mario Costume

The music from the Halloween party echoed up from the floor below, but on the rooftop of the building, the silence was broken only by the cold night breeze and Saul's stunned disbelief.

Or rather, by Mario's stunned disbelief.

Saul adjusted his oversized denim overalls and straightened the fake mustache that stubbornly refused to stay attached to his upper lip.

Then he looked at his friend again.

Long, perfectly styled blonde hair. Impeccable makeup that emphasized her eyes and lips. Elegant white gloves reaching almost to her elbows. A short, puffy pink dress with a fitted bodice, topped off with high-heeled boots and a tiny golden crown that glittered beneath the city lights.

His friend, who until a few weeks ago had owned a wardrobe consisting almost entirely of band T-shirts and cargo shorts, gave herself a graceful little twirl while holding a star-shaped purse.

“Come on, Saul. Doesn't my costume look great?” she asked, her voice perfectly modulated as she made a dramatic little pout.

For some reason, Saul's heart skipped a beat.

That only made the situation even more confusing.

He blinked several times, still trying to process the complete transformation of his usual gaming buddy.

“Dude... I'm not saying it looks good or bad. I mean, it looks amazing, obviously! The quality is incredible. You clearly put a lot of effort into it and...” He paused, looking at her hair. “You apparently discovered a whole new talent with a curling iron.”

She giggled softly behind one gloved hand, in a manner that somehow seemed perfectly appropriate for video-game royalty.

“Ah, Saul, Luigi is so boring.”

“But that's the point!”

“You know I've always had a soft spot for Princess Peach.”

Saul stared at her.

“That still doesn't explain anything.”

She stepped closer and adjusted the little golden crown with a mischievous smile.

“Besides... who said Luigi couldn't get a radical glow-up before saving the Mushroom Kingdom?”

Saul opened his mouth, but no argument came out.

She gave another little twirl, making the skirt bounce around her knees.

“So, my Mario...” she said sweetly, holding out her hand. “Come on. Help me down the stairs.”

She glanced at her heels.

“These weren't exactly designed for running away from Bowser.”

Saul sighed.

Defeated by both the ridiculousness of the situation and the dazzling beauty of his newly transformed best friend, he offered his arm.

Halloween night was definitely going to require a lot of explanations.

And, judging by the way everyone downstairs was going to react, probably a few more surprises too.

Check out the most recent story: A Lesson in Hospitality