"Merlee, is there a dimension where they don't live in a magic kingdom created from kid's dreams?" Mario asked, referring to their other-dimensional counterparts as the Brotherhood whisked back onto the shelf.

"Yes, in fact there is," Merlee replied, solemnly bringing down another book that was pure white and at the center was a circle of gold with seals with of a lion holding a sword and an arrow, to the right one was violin with waves crashing at the shore in the back, the left were two swans, one black and one white, wearing a golden crown swimming on a golden lake, and to the south was a book with a staff and sword in the background. Inside the book, they saw two figures soundly sleeping under two comforters: one that was bright red with a picture of an arrow and bow, the other was white with baseball bats, mitts, and actual baseballs. Suddenly, the alarm blared and the boy who had been sleeping under the bow and arrow comforter popped up from bed. The boy seemed to be at least eight or nine, and he had solid, chocolate-brown hair and wore red, yarn pajamas. He wiped his dreary eyes, and walked over to the second bed where, they presumed, lied his sibling.

"Time to get up, bro," the boy drowsily said, and then leaving while the figure was still fast asleep in bed. "Well, I tried." The boy said and then walked over to the door where a tiny note was posted on the door that read.

We're gonna be gone when you wake up,

because we have a job in Manhatten

so we left you Pop Tart on the table

as well as your lunches.

Remember to wake up your brother.

The boy sighed as he reached down for their mail, and began sifting through the bills which were for their parents; this process continued until they came across a pink envelope with a big heart in the background. He quickly ripped open the envelope, and pulled out yet another letter.

Hey, Mario. Are you awake?

You better be. We have a school

today and remember we have that

sad song concert today. If you're not awake

by 8:00, we're leaving without you.

P. Daniella Toadstool

Penny

P.S. Momma packed four slices of cake for lunch,

I'll be happy to share with you.

Mario wiped his eyes, before his eyes seemed to bulge out of his skull. "LUIGI!" he cried racing into their bedroom, and quickly threw off his brother's green blanket which sent him flying to the floor. This boy was a tad thinner than his brother and had the same shade of hair as Mario's, and he was wearing green pajamas.

"Ow," Luigi said, trying to get up from the bedroom's floor. "What was that for?" he cried, pulling himself up to his feet, before his brother threw him some blue denim shorts, a shirt that looked like a Yankees jersey and baseball cap.

"Just get dressed," Mario said, grabbing his own clothes which was a red and orange striped shirt, blue pants, and red sneakers. After, they both dressed, ate their breakfast, and got ready for school, they slipped out the door and left for the bus stop. At the bus stop, they were two girls already there; the younger girl had fire-red hair that was tied into ponytails with bows, and a white blouse, and a school girl skirt, while carrying a mini freezer lunchbox; the older girl was about ten or eleven and had darker brunette hair than the boys, that was the color of oak that was tied into a low ponytail, and wore beige pants and a yellow top with white sleeves, on her arm was brown sack lunch. The younger girl had been practicing her ballet, and the eleven-year-old was singing lyricless song with much emotion, and reading a story.

The younger girl looked at the two boys, and said, "Mario. Luigi. Looks like my letter got you out of bed this morning."

"Sort of. I was actually awake already," Mario said, while the older girl pulled out another storybook from a backpack.

"You two practiced, right?" the younger girl asked, staring straight into their eyes.

"Yes?" the boys said simultaneously, and unsure. The younger girl raised an eyebrow at them.

"You didn't practice a note," the older girl said, not even looking up at them as she continued to read the book in her hand.

"Sorry," Mario shrugged, knowing that he should've done so, but he just "forgot", and so did his brother.

"Sorry, Daisy," Luigi cutely said to her, "I know we should have been, but we just got worried when mom and dad didn't get home."

"Luigi , you're a sweet kid, but that doesn't work on me," Daisy told him, while Penny and Mario argued in the background. Daisy then turned towards the arguing pair and said, "We still have time to practice."

"Fine, let's get to work," Penny angrily said. So, the four began to sing the acapella version of Hallelujah, and they finished when the bus came. The four mounted the school bus, but Mario couldn't help, but feel like they were being watched; like two creeping eyes were staring straight into his soul.

"Hey, kid you gonna get on or what?" the bus driver crankily said to Mario who had been having the feeling of watch creep down his spine.

"Wha...Yeah. I am," Mario replied, walking onto the bus, and sat next to his brother in their usual seat in front of the sisters. "Hey, guys. Do you ever get the feeling you're being watched?"

"All the time," Luigi said. "I know they are watching. They are always watching."

"Who are you talking about?" Mario asked, puzzled knowing about his odd behavior.

"Aliens, of course. They are always watching," Luigi answered, grabbing a tin foil hat from his backpack and putting it on. "Need some."

"NO!" the three yelled.

"What I mean is have you ever felt like being watched, but nobody is even there," Mario said, looking around at the other students on the bus.

Penny looked over at her best friend, and grew concerned. "Mario, I wouldn't worry about it. You're probably just nervous for the recital today," Penny said, giving him her warmest smile, and this calmed him and seemed to make all his troubles disappear. "Okay, now?" and Mario nodded. "Great," Penny replied, then looked over at her elder sister. "Hey, Dais. How about reading us a fairy tale?"

"You got it," Daisy replied, with a smile, and pulled out her storybook that was a birthday gift from their rich parents. Her storybook was real leather that was colored black and a beautiful fantasy scene colored in gold, that was big both vertically and horizontally. "Which one do you want to read?" Even if I'm the only one who's actually doing the reading.

"How about The Seven Ravens?" Mario and Luigi said in unison and Penny scoffed.

"We read that one yesterday. Remember?" Penny said in a fakingly stereotypical rich girl tone.

Mario seeing what she was doing said, "Well, Your Highness, what do you want? Or is it too much of a strain to tell us peasants?"

Luigi and Daisy gave a slight giggle, and Penny said, "No, but I do request The Little Mermaid, instead."

Daisy played along and said, "Why, of course." The boys put their hands up in surrendered and agreed to Penny's suggestion. "Don't worry guys, we'll read your story on the way back." Daisy then continued on with the story until they arrived at Nintendo Elementary School.

Meanwhile, behind the thick brick building, stood a man hidden by the shadows, but was seemingly talking to nothing but another voice was very present. "Did you find them?" the voice had asked him.

"Yes, ma'am," he replied. "Shall we give them their Gifts now?"

The voice then said, "No. At least not yet, but soon." The man looked down in the twinkling light were four amulets that looked like the seals on golden chains. "We must not bring attention to them just yet. Who knows what SHE'll do to them in this state if SHE finds them before us?"

"Alright," he said, then closed his palms to conceal the light of the glistening amulets. "Let's be ready though. They'll need to take up the totem soon."

"Yes. The seal is breaking," the woman said, before they heard hissing from behind them. Quickly, the man drew a sword from its sheath and looked around the pitch black alley in a frenzy. They looked around at the empty alley, but suddenly the woman's bloodcurdling screams were all that could be heard.

Author's Note: So, here's another spin-off of my original and is basically the Mario franchise and Dark Parables combined together.