"Prologue: Run Cold" was written for a long time! This whole story has already been outlined, and I was trying to finish all the chapters before uploading, but it was a really painstaking process, so I ended up sitting on it for a while.
Finally! I decided to just bite it and upload the first chapter instead of making little edits here and there. (Thanks, Bestie, for the encouragement of "yes" when I asked if I should just go ahead and publish it, lol.)
The title is based on the term "Blood runs cold" and, of course, refers to Shelly's calculated plan that involves retreating to get Jacky alone for a one on one fight, which unfortunately leads to her being frozen solid, because Jacky was not alone after all. Shelly was never afraid of her, but that doesn't guarantee victory.
Invoking hot and cold was interesting to play around with in this chapter, from the sun setting, to Mike and Gale, to Jacky's flames lighting up the usually stifling, but now night-chilled town, to the Desert Princess being defeated by an Ice spell.
Jacky's introduction was really fun to write. She's a powerful Queen and obviously, I based her off of Bowser's role. Now, I get that the first scene in the Mario movie is meant to be silly, but I wanted her to be imposing and not just a petty bully right off the bat. (Though, we'll be able to dig into why she's doing all of this later!)
Also, while the Invincibility Star was focused on, it's not the only thing she was after.
Lastly, she retains the Royal Koopa stature that Bowser has. Her design is mixed with Ultra Driller Jacky, with a blue shell and silver spikes. Once I'm happy with a doodle of her, I'll happily load it sometime.
Princess Shelly was always going to be a Dryite, although they're not just wrapped up versions of Toads. (They may not be Toads, but they've always felt that way to me.) I am seeing them as slightly rock/earth based people, so they're sturdier and stronger than the average being in Wanderland. While she is based on the Princess Shelly skin (lol), I am still playing around with a few elements from her Sands of Time skin. (Basically, only the mask due to covering up for the sand). However, her outfit won't be given much importance anyway, so I'm not too worried about it.
Technically, she's based off of Daisy due to the desert kingdom she runs for the time being, plus being the secondary Princess. Funnily enough, endgame ship will be Fang/Shelly. It'll be more obvious as time goes on that this isn't 1:1 to the Mario movie/series.
This story is what made me start shipping Kickshots so much, though, so I hope I can let you guys see my vision through my writing.
I really liked this chapter! I listened to a few songs to get the tone right in this one. From Jacky's angered retaliation to Shelly's general mindset of being an action girl, but realizing she's bitten off more than she could chew here. Not that she'd ever admit it to the bitter end.
Mike and Gale are cute old husbands, too, aren't they?