Prologue

"Thank you all for coming," the statuesque princess announced, cradling the child in her arms. "This means so much to us."

The room was filled with allies old and new, and many had come from afar to get a glimpse of the heiress to the Mushroom Kingdom throne.

"She looks just like you," Luigi nudged his elder brother with a chuckle. Mario nodded in agreement, but looked away, as if distracted. "Are you alright, Bro?"

"Yes, of course," he grinned nervously in reply, taking Peach's free hand.

"Honey, you can sit down if you like," she said, turning to him. "You seem a little worked up."

He simply shook his head.

"She's right," Starlow chimed in. The yellow star sprite sighed. "You're awful sweaty."

Without a word, he took the sleeping infant and bounced her up and down lightly. She had his brown hair, his blue eyes, a pudgy little nose and a few freckles. She was everything to him, but something felt...wrong.

"Princess, I-"

"Mario, we're married now. You don't have to call me 'Princess'. Besides, I'm a queen now."

"R-right," he stammered, clearing his throat. "It's just...something doesn't feel right."

"Everything's fine. Everyone's having a good time, and you should too. For Mara."

He looked back down at the child in his arms.

"I, too sense that something's amiss," Dreambert added, upon gliding to them through the halls. The Pi'illo prince was slightly out of breath, and his red clothes were now somewhat tattered.

"Dreambert, I thought you said you couldn't make it," Peach stated. "But I'm glad you did. Help yourself to some tea. We have desserts downstairs if-"

"No, something's-"

The room became quiet as a small thud was heard. This was followed by another, and then another.

"Take her somewhere safe," Mario handed the baby to Dreambert, who exited the room, Peach and Starlow following.

Everyone froze and the room turned to a frenzy as the wall smashed into many pieces. Bowser stood there, arms folded, with at least two hundred minions behind him.

"Looks like someone forgot to invite me to the party!" Bowser chuckled as the majority of the guests darted from the room. "Now where's the little brat?"

"You take your pathetic army and get out of here!" Mario growled. "What do you want?"

"I just came to welcome the new princess to the world, is all."

"Look, I can kick your sorry tail like I have many times before, or you can-"

"Hey, no need to get hostile, Mario. Just hand over the kid, and this'll be easier for the both of us. Unless you want my minions to do it for you."

"Mario, we're outnumbered," Luigi said nervously. "There's no way we can-"

"I've had enough of this," the koopa king rolled his eyes and turned to his minions. "Seize them. I'll get the kid."

"WAIT!" Peach barged out of the next room, her head down. "You can take me...just don't hurt my baby."

"Hm...that might interfere with my plan" he said to himself as about thirty elite soldiers detained the Mario Brothers. "Very well, your highness. Let's go."

He proudly threw hew over his shoulder and turned around.

"Protect her, Mario! Don't worry about me this time!"

Bowser and his army left, and Mario was stunned.

"It's okay, we'll get her back," Luigi nodded. "As long as Mara's safe, right?"

"Mario, Luigi!" Starlow cried as she and Dreambert approached.

"He took her..." Mario seemed more of a wreck than before. "I couldn't do anything...why couldn't I have done something?"

"It's not your fault," The prince handed Mara to him, who was now crying. "He's a lot stronger than he used to be."

"But...I have a family now. This can't keep happening..."

"What would he want with a six-month-old child?" Starlow wondered.

"I don't know, and I don't want to find out," Mario sighed. "I'm going to have to defeat him once and for all. No more games this time."

"But Mario...you'd just kill him? Like that?" Luigi tilted his head.

"I have to."

"How?"

"I don't know," he looked down. "It's either that, or a truce. And that's not going to happen."

"I'm not sure if I can agree with you here...I mean, that's a little harsh. I'm sure you can come to a compromise...or-or-"

"Luigi, what do you know? You don't have a child to worry about, nor have you lost two others. I mean, he's not going to stop, and I'm not going to lose Peach or Mara."

"Who lit the fuse on your tampon, fratello?" Luigi mumbled.

"What was that?" Mario growled.

"Guys, now isn't the time for bickering. We just need to get Peach back before she gets hurt!" Starlow cried.

"I'll keep her safe," Luigi nodded.

"Okay...fine," Mario handed her to him and walked out the door, Dreambert and Starlow following.

Several hours passed, and Luigi spent most of them pacing around the castle. He had finally gotten Mara to stop crying, and was exhausted himself. With a proud sigh, he headed to put the formula away.

"Fa la ninna, fa la nanna...Nella braccia della zio...Fa la ninna bel bambin..." He stopped singing and looked up at the clock on the wall. "Geez, it's late...I hope Mario's on his way home."

By midnight, Luigi was worried sick, and couldn't sleep. Mario never stayed out this long.

Finally, he heard the door open. Except, it was just Starlow.

"Luigi!" she was panicked, and Mara began to cry.

"Starlow, what is it? Where's Mario?"

"You need to come to the castle now! Mario needs you!"

"Okay," Luigi put on Peach's baby sling and placed Mara inside. He could hear Starlow mumble something about how ridiculous he was before they headed out the door.

Once they arrived at the castle, he could see that Bowser was waiting for him. He had an ominous red glow, but what alarmed him the most was that Mario was on the ground, unmoving and covered in blood.

"Mario!" Luigi rushed to his brother's side. Mario opened his eyes a little.

"L-Luigi...take...care of them..."

"No, Mario, you're not going to die! Please, I can't go on without you!"

His eyes closed, and Luigi's filled with tears.

"Poor Mario," Bowser taunted. "It was about time I showed him who was boss."

Luigi looked over and Peach was several feet away, unconscious, but not nearly as bad as Mario. She was sickly and pale, but she was definitely alive.

"Peach..." he looked up at Bowser. "What did you do to them? Y-You better stop!"

"I don't take orders from some...player two!" Bowser smiled, folding his arms. "Now hand over the girl, and maybe I'll spare your life."

"You'll have to pry her from my cold, dead hands!" Luigi cried. He came to Peach's side. "Peach, wake up. We need to get you home!"

"Don't you get it, Green Stache? It was easy- all I had to do was harvest the queen's magic to use for myself. I'm sure she won't mind once I marry her. She is a widow, after all."

"Luigi," Peach's eyes were half open. "Please...look after Mara..."

"No, I can save you! I can save you both!"

"You can't save them. It's too late," Bowser said. "That is...unless you surrender the child. Hand her over and I can heal them. Both of them."

"No...Luigi...run. Don't try to fight him," Peach gasped. "He's too strong..."

"I can't leave you!" Luigi cried.

"Luigi, Mario's dead...and you need to protect her."

Tears ran down his face. He held the baby close and darted towards the door.

"AFTER THEM!" Bowser cried, and a plethora of minions followed him out of the castle gates. He was faster than all of them, but he was going to run out of breath sooner or later.

"Luigi!" Starlow and Dreambert glided alongside him. "Get to safety. We'll hold them back!"

"Thank you..."

He ran as fast as his legs could carry him as his friends used their magic to detain the enemies.

It was like a nightmare, except he couldn't wake up.

Hey again. It's me.

So, I wrote this awhile back, and I decided to publish it now. I've been having problems concentrating and stuff, so don't expect quick updates. I think I do have a completed chapter two somewhere around here, but I would love some feedback. Any tips or ideas?

Alert me of errors or anything of the sort, please.

If you have questions or comments, PM me. I'll respond. :D