By Kuga, I've just figured it out.
Mario is dead. The princess is dead. That just leaves me, the mortal enemy of the happy royal couple to-be, presumed to have finally killed both of them. The MK will lynch us. Either that, or the man others suspected of being the cause of the world's end has just killed the leaders of two rival nations. He's a dead man walking, and there is nothing stopping the war.
Good game, Neil. I should have suspected it from you all along. But I'll tell you this, I know the true monster, and I'm not letting him go so easily.
If I'm going down, so are you.
But first...
I close my eyes. "Kamek, come in."
"Ezeki! I can't trace you, I can barely hear you- where are you?" He replies, clearly frenzied. Oh, Kamek...
My own reply is no calmer. "Kamek, I don't have much time, but it's up to you. I'm sorry!" I swallow as I realize the weight of it all. "I'm done for, Kamek. I'm sorry."
His reply has all the shock that you'd expect. "What?! What do you mean?"
I try not to trip on my words. "He's got me, and I can't get out. I'm gonna stop him, Kamek, but it's up to you now back at home to make things right."
He's persistent. "Ezeki! Where are you?"
"There's nothing you can do for me, nor should you. What I need you to do is keep my kingdom safe. Negotiate, bargain, be your amazing, incredible, insanely diplomatic self. Just bring us peace."
He becomes heartbreaking desperate. "Ezeki! You don't have to do this! I can-"
"Kamek, stop!"
Even through Mario's obnoxious voice my roar could still wake Neil up from his own dreams. It's enough to silence Kamek.
"Neil has me trapped in his mind. There's only one way out, so I'm not getting out alive. At this rate, it's for the better. He's got me beat."
A few seconds of hushed Juneaic mumbling are ended by "...you're right. I just tried to break through... oh my. I can't get you out. Ezeki, I'm sorry."
"It's okay, Kamek. Trust me. If I'm the only survivor, they'll expect the worst. They'll attack. Only if all three of us die will they realize this wasn't my doing, and that something needs to be done." I sigh. "Trust me, I don't like conceding that my enemy is right, but Neil has some things right here. It's just that he's a psychotic extremist that has too much power. Power I need to cut down."
I'm shaking as I continue. "So here's what you do; just do whatever it takes to bring peace for our people. The slate is clean. The kings and queens are gone. You're now our ruler. Just bring peace for my kingdom, and my kids. Can you do that, Kamek?"
"I can do that. I promise. I'll also keep your children safe; you have my word."
And despite it all, I smile. "I'd expect no less from you. You've been the biggest asset a king could have."
His voice cracks. "And you have always been like my child, and I'm very proud of how you turned out. You're not as bad as the others think you are."
I smirk, but I'm touched. "Heh, thanks. Best of luck to you all."
"May Kuga be with you, my king."
I laugh, to our surprise. "I should be so fortunate!"
He sighs, but I can hear his weary smile somewhere back in my kingdom. "I think you've got good odds. Doesn't self-sacrifice get you a few points with the true king?"
"I'll find out, and I'll let you know the results."
He laughs, as if he isn't about to cry.
"And hey," I add, ready to let go before I give in and stay in touch forever. "It'll be nice to be back in the snow for a change."
With that, I let go, whispering one final "good luck" before I go down to face the beast.