Line #20 Fanfic/StrengthsOfTheHeartAndMind


1	''Strengths of the Heart and Mind'' is a DarkFic of ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' written by eeh1229
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3	One day, Mario and Luigi go off to search in the woods for a lost Toad girl, not knowing they are being baited into a trap. An evil spirit known as Conicus has taken interest in Mario's strength, and seeks to take his body to dominate the world. Can Luigi save his brother and everything else?
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5	The story can be found on [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13795541/2/Strengths-of-the-Heart-and-Mind Fanfiction.net]] and [[https://aminoapps.com/c/mario/page/item/strengths-of-the-heart-and-mind/6Pgi_YIY2d1NwWEPoneV8KGpblbbe1 Mario Amino]], though the Amino version has pictures and is more up-to-date.
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8	!!This fanfic contains examples of:
9	* AndIMustScream: While cap-tured by Conicus, Mario is fully conscious but is unable to control his eyes, voice, or movements in any way (except for [[BigBrotherInstinct when Luigi is in immediate danger]]). To make matters worse, he can still feel physical pain while Conicus cannot, a fact that Conicus [[ColdBloodedTorture readily uses to his advantage]] when Mario angers him or refuses to do what he wants.
10	* BloodierAndGorier: Multiple characters suffer stab wounds, most notably when Conicus cuts gashes on Mario's arm to break his will faster.
11	* DarkerAndEdgier: This fanfic hits full steam ahead with torture, mutilation, breaking of hope, and demonic possession, which even the [[VideoGame/SuperPaperMario darkest]] [[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiPartnersInTime titles]] in the games barely touched upon.
12	* DarkIsEvil: Conicus is a '''Dark''' Bonneter and the BigBad.
13	* TheDarkTimes: When the Dark Bonneters ruled the Corona Empire, they ruled by fear, keeping morale low on purpose to make their subjects easy pickings for their possession. Countless victims were possessed and subjected to horrific tortures so their spirits would fade and the Dark Bonneters would have full control over their bodies. These times ended when the [[LaResistance Red Berets]] stormed the capital and killed King Krános, sparking a war which killed most of the Dark Bonneters and forced the rest to set up laws against possessing humans and various other species.
14	* DemonicPossession: Conicus, as a Dark Bonneter, can attach himself to his hosts' heads and control their bodies. Unlike his more benign Light Bonneter counterparts (like [[VideoGame/SuperMarioOdyssey Cappy]]), he completely assimilates his victims over a grueling process rather than just briefly possessing them, and can do so without being thrown by a user.
15	* TheEmpire: The Corona Empire
16	* EvilCounterpart: The Dark Bonneters are a {{Downplayed}} version to the Light Bonneters (Cappy's species). Though not inherently evil, their cap-turing involves torturing the souls of their victims and permanently assimilating them as opposed to the brief, painless possession of the Light Bonneters.
17	* FatalFlaw: Conicus's impatience. He could have just sat in a cave and slowly assimilated Mario, but instead he used a knife to cut Mario's body (the body he was going to use to TakeOverTheWorld) in order to break his will faster. He also [[spoiler:chased Luigi into Peach's castle rather than retreating until full assimilation, resulting in his defeat.]]
18	* FlippingTheBird: Mario's spirit does this to Conicus (though Conicus [[ComicallyMissingThePoint thought it was to rub in the fact he had fingers]])
19	* FreudianExcuse: Conicus' hatred for humans comes from being raised to fear them after they nearly wiped out his species hundreds/thousands of years ago.
20	* HeroicWillpower: Mario's willpower slowed Conicus's assimilation process to a crawl. Within four days, the victim is usually fully assimilated, but with Mario, Conicus could barely even use his [[MindOverMatter telekinetic magic]] at that point and had to rely on knives to harm his opponents.
21	* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: It's a story where Mario gets possessed and Luigi has to fight him. What do you think happens?
22	* MeaningfulName: '''Con'''icus is a hat shaped like a '''cone'''.
23	* MindRape: After enough time in control, Dark Bonneters have the ability to plague their victims with disturbing visions inside their own heads.
24	* NotSoDifferentRemark: Conicus points out that Mario is also guilty of controlling the bodies of other creatures against their will.
25	* PlayingWithFire: Mario possesses the mighty Firebrand technique. Conicus cannot use it without his approval, even while possessing him. [[spoiler: After several days of torture, Mario eventually gives him approval in Chapter 8.]]
26	* RedEyesTakeWarning: Victims of Dark Bonneter possession, as well as Dark Bonneters themselves, have these eyes. Though when the victim's soul is nearly gone, its body's eyes turn [[ProphetEyes completely white]].
27	* RobeAndWizardHat: Conicus ''is'' a wizard hat, at least before cap-turing Mario and taking the form of his cap.
28	* SacrificialLamb: The Toad girl is assimilated by Conicus to show how dangerous he is.
29	* ShockAndAwe: Luigi possesses the mighty Thunderhand technique.
30	* VestigialEmpire: Long ago, the Dark Bonneter-led Corona Empire ruled a large portion of the world. Eventually, rebellion broke out and their territory was reduced to the small town of Varia in the Cap Kingdom. Most Dark Bonneters today are content with their small settlements, but not Conicus.
31	* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: The Dark Bonneters are allowed to possess frogs and even Goombas (which are shown in multiple games to be sapient), but it apparently becomes horrifying the second Conicus possesses a human (Mario). Even though him fully assimilating a Toad girl's essence is also treated as an evil thing, it is given very little focus and not even mentioned again after a few chapters. Conicus is very eager to [[VillainHasAPoint point this out]], mentioning how the humans nearly killed all of his kind out of fear.
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Context Fanfic / StrengthsOfTheHeartAndMind