My Dear Brother,
You asked me once why I stopped taking you along on my "adventures". And while I provided many excuses at the time, I hid from you the truth, knowing that it was too horrible to describe. But knowing that I am now only a few minutes away from certain death, and that this may be my last moments to explain things to you, I write as fast as I am able as the observatory rockets towards the enemy.
The first time I rescued the princess, we didn't know what to expect. That day was just supposed to be a simply plumbing job. Neither of us knew where we had landed. Looking back it's obvious you thought I was fearless, bounding forward to save the day. Bro, I was terrified. Terrified of the unknown, terrified of losing you. All I knew was that what Bowser was doing was wrong, and that the people of this crazy world needed help. You came with me, picking me up and taking my place when I fell, and we made it through because we had eachother's backs.
Bro, more than anything you were lucky those first few adventures. You made it through those levels without taking any harm. In the serials they show back home, they show me leaping up into the air and falling off of the level. Believe me, the true horror of those levels are grossly understated. Imagine having your flesh ripped off by the fangs of ravenous goombas, or being bludgeoned to death by mobs of koopas, or having every bone in your body crushed by a falling Thwomp. But still, I wasn't worried. Despite those horrors, I was confidant that there would always be another 1-up to pick us up.
Then he came. I still have nightmares about him and his mechanized monstrosities, of the cold sterilized metal walls, the heat from his forge. And always it ends with the plummet into the graveyard of metal corpses. It was Smithy that made me realize that I have something to lose. Not my life, I'd give that faster than Koopa the Quick's mile time if it meant saving someone else. No, I realized that this world, these people that I protect, can be taken away from me. And that includes you, bro.
We're nearing the center of the universe, now. Bro, I know that you have the potential to do great things, to be greater than even I have been. You just need to take the leap into the unknown. I know you'd tell me that you're not brave enough, that you're too scared. Bro, I am terrified whenever I am behind enemy lines and know that one misstep cold mean me plummeting into the abyss. But courage isn't not being afraid, it's being afraid and doing what's right anyways. And bro, if I don't come back, promise me you'll be brave. For the princess, for the kingdom, and for me. I know we've had our differences, but never doubt that I love you. As Rosalina would say, may the stars shine down on you.
Sincerely,
Mario