Part I

Property, Polterpup, and Peaches

Some people found it strange that the brothers no longer shared the same house. Mario kept their old house while Luigi found his own. True, he had the mansion all to himself now, but he mostly used it for storage. It was too big. He never thought he would think that way. Years ago, he was terrified of living in a small house since it made him feel open to the world. Now, he barely considered the mansion a place to call "home". Needless to say, Luigi preferred a more private life. Mario didn't mind where he was, as long as he had a home. So, the brothers lived far apart from each other. Mario lived on one end of the kingdom (relatively close to the castle for obvious reasons), and Luigi lived on the other. It was the first time the younger Mario brother had lived on his own.

The house was simple with a two-floor plan. You enter through the front door, to the left is living room, straight down is the kitchen, and to the right is the stairs. Go up the stairs and you're faced with three doors. The first one led to the bathroom, the second one led to his room, and the third was just a closet with three shelves, all holding something different. It had only taken three days for Luigi to memorize the entire house. He could find his way around the house with his eyes closed.

The mansion, on the other hand, was just too huge. All these rooms and trap doors and strange items everywhere, it just wasn't his style. He was grateful that it was his, though; he just didn't want to live in it.

As Luigi entered his home, Polterpup picked up his head and yawned. He liked to take naps on the bottom step and wait for Luigi to return.

Polterpup jumped to his feet as he saw who it was. He let out a playful bark and wagged his tail, following his master into the kitchen.

"I'm starving," Luigi groaned, opening the pantry. He looked down at the ghost dog. "What about you?"

Polterpup barked again and did his little happy dance. Luigi knew that ghosts didn't need to eat. There were no consequences if they didn't eat, anyway. Luigi just liked to say things to the little fella.

After Polterpup's little night time run, the two returned home. Polterpup's collar jingled and jangled all throughout the house. Luigi had to take the collar off him if he expected any sleep that night.

Luigi changed into his night time wear and walked into his room. Polterpup was curled up on top of the bed, all warm and cozy.

"Off, you rotten mutt," Luigi shooed Polterpup off his bed. The ghost dog whimpered as he jumped to the floor. Luigi got into bed and looked down. "I was only kidding," he said. Polterpup held his head in shame, thinking he was a bad boy.

"Come here," Luigi picked him up and looked him in the eye. "You are spoiled, you hear me? Spoiled rotten."

Polterpup let out a yap and licked his master's face. Luigi wiped the dog slobber off his face and put the pup down. Luigi fell asleep almost immediately. Polterpup nestled himself beside Luigi, moving his arm over him with his nose.

He felt happy to be wanted again.

Polterpup had woken Luigi up early, anxious for his morning walk. The two left the house and Polterpup ranged ahead constantly, chasing butterflies and sniffing the flowers. Luigi followed behind him, with his hands in his pockets, following the sound of that little bell.

As they got closer into Boo Woods, Polterpup started to growl and bark in the direction of the mansion. He sensed an unwelcome presence there. Luigi could also see what looked like a moving truck right in front of the mansion.

"Ah, yes. Look at this beautiful plot of land. Perfect place, don't you think?"

"But, of course. The way the sun shines on such a mansion. We must take it at once!"

Polterpup barked and ran up to one of the men, digging his teeth into his leg.

"YEEEEEEOUCH!" He cried, twirling around to see what bit him.

Polterpup was persistent and refused to let go until his master pulled him away.

"I'm so sorry," Luigi said, "He's a little antsy around new people."

"Why isn't he on a leash?" The other man asked.

Luigi started to respond, but "I didn't think he would need one." sounded like a stupid answer.

The two men were tall, much taller than Luigi, and wore the same beige inspector coats. Their heads and faces were covered by inspector-like hats and their eyes appeared to be white.

"I will sue!" One man said.

Luigi scoffed. "He's a ghost dog, sir. I'm more than certain he made no marks."

The man lifted up his pant leg and looked at his ankle. Not a scratch to be found. The pain, however, was there.

"Watch that stupid mutt of yours, boy!" The other man scolded.

Luigi scoffed again. Boy? Luigi was 30 years old. He was no boy.

"Anyway," Luigi brushed the scolding aside, "Why exactly are you here?"

"We are vacationists!" One man said proudly.

"What?"

"People who find the right spot for a tourist trap," the other man explained.

Luigi mentally began calling them Man One and Man Two since it was obvious that they weren't exchanging names.

"Yes," Man One nodded, "And this very mansion can be turned into one of the best resorts in the kingdom!"

"You've got to be kidding me," Luigi shook his head.

"We do not kid, boy," Man Two stated. "We are serious as can ever be. We are simply waiting for the owner to pop by so we can take the deed and start building."

"I'm the owner."

The men looked at each other and laughed. "You? The owner?" Man One chuckled.

"You don't look rich!" Man Two snickered.

"Well, believe it or not, I'm the owner of this fabulous mansion. If you want the deed, you'll have to get it from me."

The two men stopped laughing. They could tell Luigi was serious.

"Very well," Man One said. "What will it take to get this mansion off your hands?"

"Nothing," the two men were grinning at the thought of a free mansion. Luigi continued, "Because I'm not selling it."

"We will pay you handsomely," Man Two offered.

"I don't care. It's not for sale."

"We will make your life ten times better than it already is," Man One added.

"Not. For. Sale."

"We will let you own the resort. It'll be an 80-20 ratio," Man Two said.

"I'm not turning my mansion into a resort."

"You can have the hand of my daughter!" Man Two shouted, and then slouched when he realized what he just said.

"No, no, no. I told you once and I'll say it again. This place is not for sale and if it were, I would never sell it to you two. No amount of money or women will change that." Polterpup barked approvingly. Luigi faced both of the men. "Now, kindly get off my property."

The men looked at each other, then nodded. "Hear this, fool. We will be back, and when we are, we will have the deed to this mansion."

Their speaking in unison sort of scared Luigi, but he stood his ground.

"Good day, boy," they said together, leaving as mysteriously as they came.

Luigi had told the story of the two strange men to Mario. He had explained everything, even his thoughts on the men, but it seemed like Mario hadn't been listening well.

That was no surprise. Mario had been acting all lovey-dovey around the princess lately. Luigi agreed that the princess was a sight to see and that she was perfect for Mario in almost every way, but she was getting in the way of things.

Mario and Luigi had a much closer relationship before the princess became his romance interest. They used to do so much more together, but soon enough, Mario could never go an entire conversation without relating it to Peach. That was actually one of the main reasons Luigi moved out.

Mario once said that Toadsworth didn't think that he was 'proper' enough to be in a relationship with the princess. Luigi was sure that Mario's heart was crushed right then and there, but, no. Mario said it was all part of the chase.

But, at the end of the day, Luigi was always left behind. He was still Mario's brother, but at times, he just didn't feel like it.

"A resort? Why would they want to turn your mansion into a resort?"

The brothers were sitting around a table in the gardens. Polterpup was excitedly circling their legs.

Luigi shrugged. "They just came over and said they wanted the deed to the mansion. They even offered me money."

"Huh," Mario grunted. He was surprised that Luigi didn't accept the money. Luigi was known for being a little greedy at times.

"What do you think I should do? They said they would be back."

Mario shrugged. "Just don't give them the deed. Simple as that." Polterpup licked Mario's fingers and the older Mario brother patted the ghost dog gently on the head.

"Okay, but what do I say –" He was cut off when the princess arrived.

"I'm sorry, Luigi, but I need to speak with Mario for a second. There have been reports about Bowser's next attack and I want to make sure security is in check."

Luigi nodded. "Go ahead. I have to go back home, anyway." He stood up. "Goodbye, Princess Peach, Mario."

Polterpup bounded ahead and Luigi followed slowly after, looking at them from the corner of his eye. They were laughing and giggling. Luigi doubted they were talking about security.

What did it matter? One day, Mario and Peach will get married and what will happen to Luigi? Mario will forget about him. Mario is already starting to forget about him, about their brotherhood.

Luigi put his hands in his pockets.

It was going to be a long day.

I wanted to make a story that sort of revolves around the brothers' relationship and how they cope with each other. This'll only be four parts long, so it'll be done in time for me to focus on any left over stories. This first part is not my best work, but hopefully it'll get better. Google Chrome didn't pick up any spelling mistakes other than names, so I'm assuming that it's a-okay with spelling. It's just grammar that gets me.

Criticism or not, all reviews are appreciated!

- Great Mistake