AN: So after a few months of this idea being in my head, I finally decided to sit down and actually start my next multi-chaptered project. This is the result of taking the idea that Mario and Luigi didn't grow up in the Mushroom Kingdom and expanding upon it; they obviously lived some sort of life before they became well-renowned heroes, so what was it like? This collection follows the brothers and their parents as they live out their lives, starting with Mario and Luigi being young children and ending with the moment the brothers eventually wind up in the Mushroom Kingdom.

Something to note is that updates will not be consistent for this story, but I will try to have a chapter out at least once per month. Another thing is that I have an outline for this story, so I am not open to suggestions for whole chapters, sorry. As per tradition with multi-chaptered fics of mine, I will reply to reviews at the end of each chapter.

With that out of the way, our first chapter takes place when Mario and Luigi are five years old. A sound coming from the basement wakes them up, and they decide to go investigate...

~Throughout the Years~

/~/

~Age Five: Monster in the Basement~

A sudden whirring sound coming from the basement is what initially woke Luigi from his slumber. Blinking, the five year old shook the shoulder of his twin brother fast asleep next to him. "Mario, wake up!"

Mario stirred, eyes opening and yawning. "What is it Weeg?" he mumbled sleepily. "Did the monster under the bed come back? Do we need Mama to scare it away for us again?"

Luigi shook his head. "No... listen! There's something in the basement!"

Staying quiet, Mario listened for what Luigi was hearing. After a moment he heard the same whir, Luigi jumping and clinging to his brother in fright.

"What are we gonna do?"

"I think we should go wake up Mama and Papa," Mario whispered, while Luigi's eyes widened in fright.

"But monsters eat parents!"

Mario hummed, realizing Luigi was right. Getting out of the bed he grabbed his trusty flashlight from the nightstand and handed it off to Luigi.

"Then we should go and see what it is ourselves!"

"Won't the monster eat us then?" Luigi panicked, while Mario shook his head.

"Not if we have our lucky hats with us!" he declared, grabbing the red and green hats off of the coat rack; fitting the red one on his head while he handed the green one off to Luigi. "And we should take our blanket with us too. The monsters can't get you if you're under the covers."

"Good call!" Luigi grinned, switching on the flashlight. Together the brothers slowly opened the door to their room, the blanket wrapped around both of their small forms. Making their way through the darkened house with only their flashlight for protection, they made it to the stairs, peering down into the dark abyss that was the basement.

"Ready Weeg?" Mario asked, Luigi shining the flashlight down the darkened staircase, the beam of light wobbling as his hand began to shake.

"I guess so..." he answered hesitantly, gripping the edge of the blanket. Carefully the two made their way down the stairs, both of them jumping in fright as the whirring got louder. They were definitely close, and continuing their descent they found themselves outside of the door that led into the back room, where the whirring seemed to be coming from. Joining hands, Mario went to open the door before a voice from upstairs interrupted him.

"And what are you two doing up so late?"

"Mama!" Luigi called, breaking away from Mario and running into his mothers arms. "There's a scary monster in the back room!"

"A monster?" their mother questioned, staring down at Mario who nodded in confirmation.

"It's making a weird sound. Listen!"

Deciding to amuse her sons, their mother listened for the sound the monster was apparently making. After a moment the whirring started again, Mario leaping away from the door and scrambling up the stairs to be with his family. "See? Like that?"

Their mother laughed, bringing her sons into her arms. "Oh, you don't need to be afraid of that monster. His name is Mr. Furnace, and he's here to keep the house warm when it gets too cold."

"Fur...nace...?" Luigi stumbled over the unfamiliar word, their mother nodding.

"Sì, and he's not here to cause you any harm. In fact, he's quite the friendly monster. There's no need to be afraid of him."

"Really?" Luigi questioned, their mother ruffling his hair.

"Really," she repeated, extending her hands for both Mario and Luigi to grab. "Now, has the monster under your bed been giving you any problems recently?"

"Uh-uh. He's been leaving us alone." Mario responded, their mother smiling at the response.

"Then you two should head off to bed. After all, you have kindergarten tomorrow and need your sleep."

"Okay!" the brothers chorused as their mother led them back up the stairs and to their room. Flicking the light on, the brothers placed their hats back on the coat rack and Mario put the flashlight back on the nightside table. Getting back into their bed, their mother pulled the covers over them and kissed their foreheads.

"Buona notte, sons."

"Buona notte, Mama." Luigi murmured, closing his eyes.

"Buona notte, Mama," Mario repeated, their mother flicking off the light and closing the door behind her as she left. As Mario began to close his eyes, he heard the whir coming from the basement, and cracked an eye open. "Buona notte, Mr. Furnace." he whispered as his eyes fell shut again, falling into slumber soon after.