As the the sun set over the Mushroom Kingdom the Royal Ball began to erupt in a symphony of laughter and music from the heart of Princess Peach's Castle. The ball was thrown to celebrate the full year of peace that befell the kingdom and its inhabitants. All of those who called the kingdom home were invited to the ball, all of those who attended looked their best.
The royal ward, Toadsworth, stood at the entrance of the ballroom at the very large red doors. Two royal guards stood on patrol at the doorway and bowed politely to greet each arriving guest as Toadsworth himself cheerfully welcomed every guest in person.
Mario stood in his private chamber, as designated to him by Princess Peach herself, taking shelter from the growing mass of guests in the heart of the palace. He stood in front of the tall mirror in his chambers as he awkwardly adjusted the red bow tie on his tuxedo.
"I'm glad I'm not royalty. I'd hate to have to wear fancy clothes all the time." There was a gentle knock at the closed door. "Come in."
A Toad maiden slightly pushed the door open. "Excuse me, Sir?"
"Please, call me 'Mario'." Mario politely offered the humble maiden.
"Mario," she corrected herself before continuing. "the guests are waiting downstairs. Would you like some assistance?"
"No, I'm okay. Thank you though." Mario replied as he finished straightening his tie in the mirror.
"You're quite welcome. May I make one suggestion?"
"Of course, what is it?"
"Maybe you should take off your hat. Just this one time."
Mario looked at the well worn red hat in his reflection. "I think you're right. Thank you."
"You're welcome. Oh, and your brother is waiting for you." The maiden closed the door as she exited discreetly.
"Luigi." Mario still had a hard time believing that Luigi was his own brother. His younger brother. His younger twin brother! "I wonder how he'll react to a ball."
Slipping off his red hat Mario ran a come through his hair and gave his tuxedo one more glance before leaving his chambers. Walking with his head held high Mario traversed down the lengthy hallway to Luigi's chambers. The door was closed but never locked. Luigi hated locked doors.
Mario knocked twice before turning the handle on the door. "Luigi? Can I come in?"
"Yeah." Luigi responded from the balcony that extended from his chambers and out over the royal garden.
"Are you okay?"
Luigi stood on the balcony with both of his hands on the railing. He was leaning over the railing slightly and staring at the expansive garden full of flowers and the marble fountain at its center. Like Mario he was dressed in a tuxedo, but adorned a green bow tie instead of red. He had also taken off his green hat in favor of a nicely combed hairstyle for the occasion.
"I'm... I'm not going downstairs."
Mario joined his brother on the balcony. "What? Why? Are you sick?"
"No, I'm not sick. I'm just... uncomfortable."
"You hate wearing tux's, too, huh?" Mario tried to joke and lighten the mood.
Luigi smirked a little. "I just don't... belong at a royal ball. That's all."
"Why? Because you can't dance or because grew up under Bowser's roof?"
"Something like that..." Luigi still felt shame for his upbringing despite Mario, Peach and Daisy being understanding and completely supportive.
"Luigi, I grew up alone in Brooklyn and became a plumber. Do I seem like I belong at a royal ball?"
"Fair enough."
"Come on, Luigi. Everyone in the kingdom knows who you really are. How you saved Princess Peach and put your life on the line to save mine. You're a hero."
"No, I'm no hero. I'm..."
"What?"
"I don't know. I don't know what I am. An outcast, perhaps..."
"Confused." Mario quipped quickly. "That's for certain."
"Mario I don't think I should stay in the castle anymore. Bowser is going to want to get revenge on both of us and we're going to just going to make the target on the castle bigger if we're together."
"That's ridiculous Luigi. Us together is the reason why Bowser was stopped! That war between the Mushroom Kingdom and Koopa Troop was finally brought to an end! That only happened because we were together."
Luigi sighed and straightened up, folding his arms behind his back. "How do we know that wasn't just a fluke?"
"Stop doubting yourself. If anything happens to you I will be there to help you, just like I know you'll be there to help me."
Luigi looked at the big brother he never knew he had, and never knew he wanted, until they met. "Thanks Mario."
"Now come on. Let's go downstairs. Princess Daisy is already here!" Mario teased.
"Hmph," Luigi was a little amused by Mario's reaction. "she's a very kind young woman, very beautiful, too; but... I don't think she's the one for me."
"Really? I thought you two really hit it off when you first met."
The brothers exited the chamber together and walked toward the towering door at the end that led to the royal ballroom. "We get along just fine, but I don't see myself, you know, with her in the long run."
"Do you have anyone in mind?"
"Not really." Luigi blushed a little at the question, but managed to hide it. "Growing up I was the only human in a castle full of Koopas. I've literally never thought about being with anyone."
Two guards at the doorway pulled the large doors opened for Mario and Luigi to walk through. They found themselves at the top of a a grand staircase that overlooked the ballroom.
Taking a deep breath, the brothers prepared to join the ball.
Guests from all over the kingdom; Toads, Goombas, Squeaks, Cheep-Cheeps, Yoshis and even some Boos were all dressed for the occasion. All of the guests were smiling as they chatted and danced through the elegant ballroom.
From the main entryway of the ballroom at the far end of the room, Toadsworth cleared his voice as he respectfully announced the arrival of the two heroic brothers. "Ladies and Gentlemen of the Mushroom Kingdom; it's my honor to introduce our kingdom's heroic brothers and dearest friends of our beloved Princess Peach: Mario and Luigi."
The guests all turned toward the staircase and applauded the duo. Mario and Luigi awkwardly blushed as they discreetly waved at the guests and descended the stairs.
Standing along the second balcony across from the first, Princess Daisy silently watched as the brothers joined the party.
Upon reaching the bottom step the brothers were practically swarmed by the appreciative guests who overwhelmed them with a mass of questions and compliments. Their excited voices all blended together into a single sound of muffled tones.
A loud symphony of royal horns sang out as Toadsworth prepared to introduce another guest.
"Ladies and Gentlemen: Her Highness herself; Princess Peach."
Everyone turned their attention to the staircase from whence Mario and Luigi descended. The two brothers joined the mass of guests as they watched in awe as Princess Peach appeared at the top of the staircase. In place of her usual pink dress she was now wearing a strapless rose red dress that flowed on the ground behind her. A rose red wrap rested around her shoulders, her long blonde hair was pulled into a braid and wrapped around her head like a halo with a single rose pinned in her hair, just above her eye. Long white evening gloves extended the length of her arm and covered her hands.
"Thank you all for attending." Peach greeted her guests. "In this era of peace it's my honor to be in the presence of the good denizens of the Mushroom Kingdom and share this wondrous prosperity."
Gracefully descending the staircase Mario and Luigi watched as Princess Peach joined the party and easily mingled with her invited guests.
With the gathered guests now focused on the always lovely Princess, Luigi took the opportunity to stealthily walk to the edge of the room and stand alone in the shadows.
"This feels better..." Luigi said aloud to himself as he leaned against the wall, again his hands folded behind his back. "Unseen. Unheard."
"Hello, Luigi." Princess Daisy approached the attempted recluse.
"Princess Daisy." Luigi turned to face her as she greeted him. "It's nice to see you again." He noticed that like Peach she wasn't wearing her usual dress. She was now wearing a deep amber colored dress that hugged her figure. A caramel colored sash was tied around her waist and amber brooch gem was pinned to her chest. Her brunette hair had lengthened since their last encounter and was now pulled up in a small bun with a white daisy pinned to her hair. She too wore long white evening gloves.
"Likewise. Why are you standing here all alone?" She asked curiously but politely. "Don't you want to dance?"
"No. To be honest I don't want to be here. But I was invited and... Well..."
"I understand." Daisy gently rested her glove hand on his arm. "It's not easy adjusting to a different lifestyle, regardless of who you are of where you come from."
"I appreciate it." Luigi tried to look away from Daisy but felt it would've been rude. "How are you this evening?"
Daisy smiled warmly. "I fear my evening mirrors yours. I'm here because I love my cousin and I want this peace to last forever, but I don't enjoy fancy balls or elaborate parties myself. Would you be so kind as to escort me to the Royal Garden?"
Luigi stood up straight and offered his arm to Daisy. "It'd be my pleasure."
From across the ballroom Mario watched as Luigi and Daisy elegantly walked away from the party together. He was standing beside Princess Peach and making polite conversation, but was far more interested in what his brother was doing. 'Strange. I thought Luigi didn't see Daisy like that...' He thought to himself.
"Master Mario!" Toadsworth happily walked toward the honored hero. "Tonight has turned into a grand evening and I must say it's all thanks to you and your brother's heroic deeds, merely one year ago!"
"Thank you Toadsworth. But Luigi and I can't take all the credit. Without Princess Peach, her fearless army and the loyal citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom; this day would have never come. We're all here to take a bow, together."
"Well said, my boy. Very well said. By the by, where is Luigi at this moment?"
"I saw him escort Princess Daisy out of the ballroom. I believe they were headed to the Royal Garden."
Toadsworth cocked an eyebrow in a intrigued manner. "Oh, ho! Sounds like a lovely evening indeed. I shall not disturb them. Good evening to you."
"Good evening Toadsworth..." Mario discreetly shook his head. 'I'm beginning to think you were right Luigi. These things are uncomfortable!'
Outside the palace in the heart of the Royal Garden Luigi and Daisy sat together on the edge of the marble fountain. The center of the fountain was adorned with a statue of Princess Peach's late mother, Queen Orchid, dancing with a small star in her hands.
"I love it out here." Daisy happily exclaimed as she looked lovingly at the colorful garden. "Peach and I used to play in the garden all the time when we were little. Aunt Orchid planted every flower in the garden herself."
Luigi looked around at the amazing display of flowers in every color, size and fragrance. "They are pretty."
"Peach loved looking up at the stars at night. She used to tell me wonderful stories about how someday we'd get a chance to play amongst the stars and see new worlds we'd never even dream of. Sound silly?"
"No, not at all." Luigi answered sincerely as he looked up at the sky. "I watched the stars as a small boy, too. Except..." He looked down abruptly ad sadly.
"Except what?" Daisy asked gently. "It's okay, you don't have to hold anything back anymore. You're with family and friends, now."
Luigi took a deep breath and swallowed the sadness welling up inside. "When I watched the stars as a child, I watched them behind bars of iron set in cold stone..."
Daisy put her hand on his shoulder. "Those days are over."
"Yeah. That's what I keep telling myself..."
"Stop saying it and start believing it."
Luigi didn't say anything, he just slowly looked back up at the dark sky adorned with bright stars.
"Luigi, what's on your mind?"
"Hm? Oh, nothing. Just... thinking."
"About 'her'?" Daisy smirked playfully.
"What?!" Luigi blushed brightly as he tried to turn his face away from Daisy. "Who?"
"Peach."
"I-I don't know..." Luigi stammered nervously as he felt guilty for feeling the way he felt.
"Luigi, it's okay. I've seen the way you look at her. And to be honest I think you would be very happy with her, and she would be very happy with you."
Luigi's face slowly lost its rouge as the embarrassment faded. "But... she's with... I can't possibly-"
Daisy patted Luigi's shoulder sympathetically. "Having feelings for her isn't wrong. It's difficult to explain, but... it's not wrong to love her even if it's in secret."
Luigi put his hand over Daisy's. "Thank you. But how can I love someone who can never love me back?"
"I have a feeling that things will work themselves out in the end. Just be patient."
A thunderous crash at the front of the castle caught the duo off-guard. Luigi shot to his feet while Daisy stayed seated on the fountain. From the inside of the castle the guests began to cry out in fear and panic as a cloud of smoke rose from the center of the chaos.
"Luigi! What's going on?!"
...to be continued...