The Final 1-Up

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Prompt / Lyrics

(Intro – broken 8-bit melody glitching into silence) Coins fall like memories in the dark… A final level… a final start…

(Verse 1 – tense, building) Fire in the sky, castle shaking to the core, This time it’s not like every time before, No extra lives, no second chance— Just one last fight… one final stand.
Side by side like we’ve always been, Through every loss, through every win, But something’s different in your eyes… Like you already said goodbye.

(Pre-Chorus – rising choir) The ground cracks under destiny, A loop that ends in tragedy, We’ve played this game a thousand times… But not like this… not this time.

(Chorus – EXPLOSIVE BOSS DROP) THIS IS THE FINAL STAGE—NO RESET, NO SAVE, JUST FIRE & FURY IN A DIGITAL GRAVE, JUMP INTO THE FLAMES, HEAR THE KINGDOM CRY— TONIGHT A HERO… HAS TO DIE.
NO POWER-UPS, NO 1-UP HEART, JUST BROKEN WORLDS TEARING APART, WHEN LEGENDS CLASH AND FATES COLLIDE— SOMEONE WINS… AND SOMEONE DIES.

(Verse 2 – faster, intense) Bowser roars, the heavens break, Every step makes the world quake, Flames collide with fearless will— Two forces locked, both fighting to kill.
You charge ahead, I hear you shout, “Luigi, run! Get out! Get out!” But I won’t leave, I won’t let go— We started this… together, bro.

(Chorus – BIGGER, chaotic) THIS IS THE FINAL STAGE—NO RESET, NO SAVE, TWO TITANS FALL INTO THE FLAME, FIRE MEETS COURAGE, CLAWS MEET LIGHT— ENDING EVERYTHING TONIGHT.
NO EXTRA LIFE TO HEAL THE PAIN, NO CONTINUE AFTER THIS GAME, WHEN HEROES BLEED & MONSTERS CRY BOTH STRIKE TRUE… BOTH DIE.

(BREAK – silence… heartbeat…)
(Soft, distant) …Mario?

(Verse 3 – aftermath, quiet piano) Ash falls slow where fire once burned, Two shadows gone… neither returned, The castle’s still, the sky is gray… The music stopped… no one to save.
Your cap lies broken in my hands, A silent world I don’t understand, You were the brave… I was the side— Now I’m alone… & you’ve died.

(Pre-Chorus – trembling voice) They’ll call me hero… say I won… But what’s a victory when you’re gone…?

(Chorus – emotional, stripped down ) THIS WAS THE FINAL STAGE—NO RESET, NO SAVE, JUST ECHOES LEFT IN A QUIET GRAVE, I WON THE FIGHT… BUT LOST MY LIFE— THE DAY I SAW MY BROTHER DIE.
NO POWER-UPS TO FIX THE PAST, NO WAY TO MAKE THE MOMENT LAST, THE WORLD MOVES ON… BUT I STILL CRY— WHY DID YOU… HAVE TO DIE?

(Bridge – haunting, echo vocals) All those levels… all those years… All the laughter… all the cheers… Every jump, every run… We were always two… never one.
Now every road feels twice as long, Every victory feels so wrong, I hear your voice in every sound— But you’re not here… you’re not around.

(Final Chorus – rising grief → quiet collapse) THIS IS THE AFTERMATH—NO CHEATS, NO GUIDE, JUST AN EMPTY WORLD AND THE TEARS I HIDE, YOU SAVED THEM ALL… YOU PAID THE PRICE… A HERO’S END… A BROTHER’S LIFE
I’LL KEEP MOVING… I’LL CARRY ON… BUT NOTHING FEELS LIKE IT BELONGS, A ONE-PLAYER GAME… IN A WORLD FOR TWO… I’M STILL HERE… WITHOUT YOU.

Press Start..
(Long pause)
No player 2