Tari got done taking a shower, after she got done, she got dressed again and went out to explain to everyone what happened, putting on a brave face.

Tari: Hey.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and listened up.

Y/N: Okay..she's here everyone, pay attention. Tari, the stage is yours now.

Beta: What stage? I don't see one-

Y/N: It's just a saying..

Tari: Thanks Y/N..

She looked around, feeling nervous, until she looked at you, you signaled her to take a deep breath and let it out. She smiled a bit and did so, after exhaling, she explained her story.

Tari: So I recently got myself into..some loan shark business..these people who I work for..said they had my ducky, Archibald..they said they would give him back to me as long as I brought them metal..that's why I've been going around looking for anything metal..

Mario: Oh..so thats what happened to Mario's pingas scratcher-

Tari: Wait that was a..you know what scratcher?..

Mario nodded stupidly.

Mario: Yup!

Tari: Ewwwww!!

She wiped her hands off on her jacket.

Beta: That's just wrong dude..in so many ways..

Meggy: Ugh..Red..

SMG4: I mean. I have one too-

Skully: No one should, Tari, Continue.

Tari: Right..

She continued her explanation, saying that she's basically being blackmailed by these assholes, as they're running a the same scam on other residents of the mushroom kingdom, and if you don't abide, they'll find you and you will be assassinated.

Tari: Now I'm starting to think that they don't even have Archibald..

Beta: No shit.

Y/N: I'm sure it's around here somewhere, we'll find it.

Tari smiled.

Tari: Thank you Y/N, you're a good friend, you know that?

Everyone adored yours and Tari's relationship, all but one. But other than that, they think you two are very good with eachother.

Y/N: Of course I do silly.

Beta rolled his eyes.

Beta: So..the duck?.

Tari: Right! It's in the arena!

Y/N: Alright, I can go find it.

Tari: A-Are you sure?..

Y/N: One hundred percent. You sit tight while I go.

Meggy: You need help?

Y/N: I'm ok, I think I learned my way around the place.

Meggy: Alright, just be careful.

You nod and leave to go to Inkopolis, in search of the  duck. Everyone else sat there, waiting, but Beta thought otherwise..

He followed you.

———

You arrived in Inkopolis, while exploring the arena, you find nothing but some dust and some old ink puddles.

Y/N: Hmm. If I were a duck, where would I hide?..

You continue to search the area, trying to find it. But to no avail.

Y/N: Great..now what?..

?: Ahem..

You turn around, and to your surprise. It was Beta.

Y/N: I Uhh..

Beta: If you wanted to look for a lost duck, try looking in more remote areas..

Y/N: What are you-

He points up on a wall, you look up and find the duck up there.

Beta: That's what you're looking for..

Y/N: Gotcha, thanks.

(?) Beta will remember that.

He nods.

You go and climb up as Beta leans up against the wall, humming to himself while tapping his foot on the ground.

?: Well..what a surprise..

You both are alerted. You were shot off the wall and landed on the ground.

Y/N: Ow!!

You felt your shoulder has been shot, leaking blood.

Jason: Great to see you again Y/N..

Beta: The fuck do you want?..

Jason: Simple, all I want is Y/N, since you don't seem to care about him.

Beta looks at you and thinks about it...

You look at him, afraid.. afraid of that he'll give you away.

But.

Beta: You are gonna have to kill me for that to happen..now.

He pulls out a handgun.

Jason: Huh?!

Beta: It's best you walk away, or I'm blowing your head off.

Jason: The fuck?!

Beta: That's the fuck. Now, walk away.

Jason: You think you're some tough guy huh..

Beta then pins Jason down with a swift move of his scythe. Jason began to sweat bullets.

Beta: I don't need to be tough to scare you. I know your kind, say some tough shit, threaten innocent people, but don't have the balls to actually look a man in the eyes, NOW WALK THE FUCK AWAY!

He threw Jason out of the arena, he scampered to his feet and ran off. You were shook by what he did, he sighed and looks at you.

Beta: You good?..

Y/N: Yeah..yeah..I'm ok..

Beta: Good.

He looks at your shoulder and winced a bit.

Beta: Yikes..that's gonna be a stinger later. Eh, we can clean it and patch it.

He goes and holds out his hand.

Y/N: Huh?..

Beta: Well? You gonna take it?

You hesitated but take it, he pulls you up.

Y/N: Thank you..

Beta: For what?

Y/N: For saving me.

(?) Beta won't forget that.

Beta: Ah..anytime, so..let's go and return that duck, shall we?

Y/N: But we don't have it-

Out of nowhere, he picked you up and threw you up the wall, you quickly grabbed onto it and climb up. Grabbing the duck, you were wondering how to get down.

Y/N: Uhhh..

Beta holds his arms out.

Beta: Cmon. I promise I'll catch you.

Y/N: Like hell I'll believe that!

Beta: Hey. You can trust me, I scared away someone who was threatening you and shot you, so why not trust me?

You sigh and look down at him, he gave you a small nod.

Y/N: Okay..but if you drop me, you're gonna regret it..

Beta: Yes, I'm afraid of a guy with a broken back and a bullet in the shoulder, very logical.

Y/N: Whatever..

You jump down, Beta caught you. Placing you down.

Beta: See? Unharmed.

Y/N: Thanks..again.

Beta: You're welcome, again.

You two head back, hoping to not run into anymore trouble. You held your shoulder in pain, your other hand had the duck.

Y/N: O-ow..

Beta: Relax, we're almost there.

Y/N: O-okay...I..

You collapsed.

Beta: Ah shit!

He picked you up and puts you on his shoulders, then grabbed the duck and puts it in his pocket.

———

SMG4: Where are they?

Skully: I just hope Beta didn't do anything reckless..

Tari: I hope they found my duckie..

Then they hear the door opening, seeing Beta with Y/N on his shoulder, scythe in hand. Everyone gasped.

Saiko: What the?!?

Meggy: What did you do?!

Beta: Hey! Relax. I've already had to put up with bullshit back there and I don't wanna hear it right now..

Saiko: Why the fuck did you hurt him?!

Bob: LmAo! GoOd OnE!

Beta: I-

SMG4: Beta! Why?!

Tari: You hurt him?!

Beta: Excuse me-

Mario: You mamaf*cker!

Beta loses it and yelled at them.

Beta: CAN YOU ALL SHUT THE FUCK UP?!

He waved his scythe at everyone. Everyone immediately shuts up.

Beta: Thank you..

He puts his scythe away.

Beta: I didn't hurt him. Some jackass octo boy came down with a gun and shot him in the shoulder.

Tari seemed the most heartbroken..

Tari: I-is he gonna be ok?..

Beta: His heart is still beating, so yeah.

Skully: Lay him on the bed, I'll patch him up..

———

He got done patching you up. Once it got dark, everyone went to bed, hoping you're ok. Tari couldn't sleep, tossing and turning, so many thoughts were going through her head until she heard a calm knock.

Tari: C-come in..

She looked to see it was Beta.

Tari: Beta?..

Beta: Hey.

He pulls out a rubber duck, making Tari gasp.

Tari: Y-you found him?!

Beta: Actually. Y/N did, all I did was carry him back.

Tari: T-thank you..and I'll be sure to tell Y/N thanks as well!

Beta nods.

Beta: I should get going now..see ya Tari.

Tari: Bye Beta, thanks again.

Beta: Yep..

He closes the door behind him and leaves. Tari felt happy again, hugging the duck close to her chest as she thought about you going out of your way to getting Archibald.

———

The door opened to your room, you were still unconscious. Tari was then seen, a little nervous, she got right next to you and leaned down, if you were awake right now, you'd be a flustered mess, but..

She kissed your cheek.

She backed away slowly while blushing.

Tari: T-thank you Y/N..

She quickly leaves the room before anyone noticed.

Mario: What are ya doin?

Tari let out a squeak and leaped.

Tari: M-Mario! Don't sneak up on me like that!!

Mario: Oop, Mario's sorry. What we're you doin in there?

Tari: N-nothing..just checking up on Y/N..

Mario: Hhhmmmmmmmmmm.......

Mario looks at Tari, making sure she isn't lying. She was blushing hard and sweating like crazy.

Mario: Eh, okie dokie. Imma go eat some spaghetti!

Tari: Ok..

Mario launched himself into the kitchen. Tari swiped the sweat off her forehead and her blush went down. She went back upstairs, and to her room, she plopped herself in bed and slowly closed her eyes.

(How cute!)