"P-p-princess?" Luigi stuttered as he peeked around the corner.

"I know she came this way. Come on." Mario said running past him.

It was after midnight, the princess had been gone for almost two days. Mario got worried so he and Luigi went out to search for her. She had her own responsibilities and he was sure that she wouldn't just abandon them.

"What if she got kidnapped again?" Luigi asked.

Mario sighed. "Then we'd have to go save her, but I'm sure we would know if Bowser had come back."

"But what if it wasn't Bowser?" Luigi said getting more worried.

Mario looked up at his brother and smiled. "Relax okay? Everything's going to be fine."

Luigi nodded and followed him to wherever he was trying to go and that's when Mario spotted a faint shadow that lied in the bushes.

"Peach?" He called out.

After calling her name again and still not getting a response he tried to approach it but then it ran away.

A bit confused, he turned to Luigi who looked distraught. "You alright bro?"

Luigi nodded not looking too sure.

"How about you stay here and I go see who that was." Mario said.

"Wait! Don't leave me in these woods alone! Besides that wasn't even Peach!"

Mario rolled his eyes "Maybe they know something, and you'll be fine. It's safer if you stay here than if you go deeper into the woods."

"Besides, if you see something scary you know your way back home.'

"But why can't I just go with you?"

"The longer I wait the more danger the princess could be in. I have to go." Mario said before walking away into the dark woods.

Luigi hated being alone, he didn't really know how to properly defend himself. Even though he did know his way back home he always felt safer with someone around.

He knew the real reason Mario wanted him to stay. It's because he didn't want him to slow him down. The last time they had to save Peach Luigi twisted his ankle and Mario kept having to slow down so he could catch up.

"I guess it's better not having a burden to slow him down this time." He thought. "But why should I feel sorry for myself? That's all I am after all, a burden."

Frustrated, he kicked a rock that was on the ground and waited patiently for his brother to return.

Mario wasn't sure if he should chase after whoever or whatever he saw but he knew if there was any chance that he could get information that could help him find the princess he needed to take it.

Not only could Peach herself be in danger but if she is gone for too long the entire Mushroom Kingdom could be as well.

He shook his head. He'll find her. Everything will be back to normal eventually.

He kept walking deeper and deeper into the woods, it was so dark he could barely see. "Why didn't I bring a flashlight?" He thought as he just narrowly avoided bumping into a tree.

He stopped as he saw the same figure as earlier.

It wasn't the princess, It seemed to be a person...

"Um, hello? My name is Mar-" He was cut off.

"I know who you are. I know who you're looking for. She's gone Mario." The voice was deep enough that he could tell he was male, but it echoed almost as if it were coming from his own mind.

"What do you mean she's gone? Who are you?"

"My name is Mario." The figure said.

Mario raised an eyebrow, confused. "Do you know anything about where she might have gone?"

"All I know is she's gone."

"Did you have anything to do with it?"

"Yes."

"What did you do with the princess?!" Mario shouted.

"I did nothing. She's gone."

"You just said you had something to do with it!"

"Yes."

"Where is she?!"

"She's gone."

"Where did she go just tell me!"

"Going this deep into the woods in an attempt to find something you knew nothing about, that was very foolish of you."

"Who are you?!"

"I told you I'm Mario."

"No that's MY name! Tell me who you are!"

The figure started to move closer and then attacked Mario.

Mario then started to feel a suffocation feeling and like someone was trying to force him out of his body.

"What are you doing?" He said as it got harder to talk and breathe.

"Luigi!" He called out for his brother even knowing he wasn't anywhere close.

"It was foolish of you." The voice echoed through his brain.

A deafening noise blared through his head causing pain throughout his entire body.

"Stop it!" Mario choked out as he had the life drained out of him.

He could feel himself start to lose consciousness as the screaming in his head grew louder and louder repeating over again, the pain was excruciating!

He couldn't take it anymore and blacked out.

Luigi sat there. Waiting. He started to worry again.

"What if Peach is hurt?" He wondered. "Or worse..." He cursed himself for thinking that way, but usually when the princess is missing it's because of Bowser and he never really hurts her, he just tries to use her to get what he wants.

"I shouldn't worry. Mario will find her." He thought. He wished he knew what time it was, he was exhausted.

"Maybe I should just go home. It's not like he really needs me." He looked out to where they came. It shouldn't take too long right?

But he was afraid of encountering something scary. That shadow figure they previously saw, he could sense it's presence. It wasn't human.

It sent shivers down his spine, and Mario... He went after it. He could only hope he was okay.

Luigi could hear someone come up behind him. Trying not to panic he slowly turned around and breathed a sigh of relief as he saw it was his brother.

"Thank God you're back I was starting to get worried!" Luigi said as he hugged him.

"Hmm..." Mario just stared at the ground as if he were deep into thought.

"Did you find any information about where the princess could be?" Luigi asked.

Mario shook his head. "Let's just go home." He said without making eye contact.

Luigi had that feeling again, that uneasy feeling. Like when they saw the figure, but the only ones there were Mario and himself.

He thought he was just being paranoid.

"Oh, okay bro." Luigi said as they both began to walk out of the woods.

"I think it will be easier looking for her during the day time." He said trying to remain optimistic.

"No, I'm done looking for her." Mario said.

Luigi was shocked! Did he just hear what he thought he heard?

"What?! We are just getting started you can't give up now! Why would you say that?"

"Because she's gone." Mario said as he continued walking.

Luigi didn't say another word after that. "He's probably just tired, he'll be back to his normal self once he gets some rest." He thought.

They finally reached their home and Luigi collapsed on the couch ready to sleep until spring, but Mario just stood there at the door

"Are you okay Mario?" He asked as he pulled himself up.

"I'm fine. You're not." Mario said continuing to gaze at the wall.

Luigi got up and shut the door trying to keep from more cold air getting in. He looked into his brother eyes. Something was different about them.

"Do you need help getting upstairs?" He asked.

"No, get out of the way." Mario said shoving his little brother aside.

"He's just going through a lot. I know he'll feel better tomorrow." Luigi told himself.

He went up to his room, changed into his pajamas and climbed under the covers in his bed.

Thank you so much for reading! I know it's short and it might have some misspellings and grammatical errors but I just want to know what people think about it.

Updating very soon!